The Most Underrated State Parks To Visit Across The US, According To Visitor Reviews

America's national parks are home to an array of spectacular and unique landmarks. Because of this, they tend to dominate travel bucket lists, drawing millions of outdoor enthusiasts every year. In 2024 alone, the National Park System recorded nearly 332 million recreation visits! And there's no denying that places like Yellowstone, Zion, and the Grand Canyon are absolutely stunning and, in some cases, record-breaking. 

That said, the United States is also home to 9,817 state parks. While they don't typically receive the same level of attention the National Parks enjoy, many state parks rival, or even surpass, their federal counterparts in terms of outdoor recreation options, crowd levels, and overall experience. Among the biggest benefits of choosing a state park is accessibility. Not only are there more state parks — so there's likely to be one closer to home — but they don't often have long lines or timed-entry systems like some National Park properties.

In this guide, we'll explore 10 underrated state parks to visit across the United States. Some of these are overlooked by travelers simply due to their close proximity to more famous destinations, while others are true hidden gems that only locals know about. From dramatic desert rock formations to enchanting forest waterfalls and mountain peaks, we'll journey to state parks around the nation that showcase the wild diversity of America's landscapes.

Located about 20 miles from Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park in South Dakota is frequently overshadowed by the iconic and imposing landmark. However, it delivers an incredible, less crowded experience for vacationers and day trippers. Occupying approximately 71,000 acres in South Dakota's Black Hills, Custer State Park has plenty of space to explore. Known for its range of scenery — from the granite Cathedral Spires to peaceful lakes and vast prairies — this park has something for everyone. 

Specifically, Sylvan Lake is a popular attraction. Surrounded by rocky outcrops, guests can enjoy a variety of non-motorized activities on the water, including kayaking, paddle-boarding, and canoeing. The park's elegantly rustic hotel, Sylvan Lake Lodge, offers incredible views and easy access to everything the park has to offer for overnight guests. Originally built in 1937, visitors can choose to stay in the original portion of the resort, an updated section constructed in 1991, or in one of 31 individual cabins.

One of the most amazing parts of Custer is its wildlife population. The park is home to a free-roaming herd of about 1,300 bison, as well as elk, pronghorn, coyotes, prairie dogs, and more. Perhaps the most adorable wildlife experience here is the chance to encounter a "begging burro" — these cute creatures will come right up to vehicle windows to eat marshmallows from visitors' hands. The 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road affords an exceptional opportunity to enjoy some of the country's most incredible native animals up close from the comfort of the car. For those craving something a little more thrilling, Needles Highway is a 14-mile drive that offers breathtaking views and hairpin turns. With fantastic scenery and exceptional wildlife viewing but significantly lower crowd levels, Custer easily makes the grade as one of America's most underrated destinations.

About 45 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, Valley of Fire State Park feels as if one has stepped onto another planet. Despite the fact that tourism has recently skyrocketed in Nevada, the state's oldest park is still an underrated gem. Despite its close proximity to both the country's most legendary party city and Utah's famed "Mighty Five" national parks — Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion — Valley of Fire receives far fewer crowds than nearby attractions do. 

This means visitors can often explore surreal attractions like the Fire Wave, Elephant Rock, and the slot canyon at White Domes Trail without the overwhelming congestion at nearby National Parks. Valley of Fire is especially famous for its namesakes, flame-colored Aztec sandstone formations that have stood since the Jurassic Era, and give the park its otherworldly appearance.

In addition to its vibrantly colored geography, Valley of Fire also features ancient petroglyphs. These markings, which are largely concentrated along the Mouse's Tank Trail, were left by Basketmaker and Ancestral Pueblo peoples over two millennia ago. Those who wish to stay overnight in this Mojave Desert park often enjoy camping amid its unique scenery in the park's two on-site campgrounds. Travelers also highly recommend stopping by the Valley of Fire State Park visitor center, which offers curated, educational displays for all ages.

Often referred to as the "Little Smokies," Brown County State Park is the biggest state park in Indiana, offering 16,000 acres of fun. Located just outside Nashville, an artsy Southern Indiana haven, this part of the state, and the state park specifically, offers hills and forests that look nothing like the Hoosier State's farmland stereotype. Visitors who come here are rewarded with stunning scenery, including panoramic vistas and thickly wooded areas that feature some of the nation's best fall color every year. 

Travelers highly recommend the park's nature center, which offers everything from taxidermied local wildlife to interactive displays for kids. It's also near the park's open-air amphitheater, which has an amazing view, and is often rented for weddings. Scenic overlooks like Hesitation Point and the historic, 90-foot-tall Fire Tower are other popular places to savor the views. From the moment visitors set foot in this state park, it's easy to see why the "hills o' Brown" have attracted painters and photographers since the 19th century.

Visitors who wish to stay on-site should consider the rustic Abe Martin Lodge, which opened to guests in 1932. Families can enjoy a variety of activities, including horseback riding, hiking, and boating on Ogle Lake. Brown County State Park tends to fly under the radar because of its location. One Tripadvisor reviewer who has lived an hour from the park their whole life visited for the first time as an adult, proving that Brown County State Park is even underrated among locals. Outside of the park, Indiana is home to many charming, retro small towns, but Nashville is among the most unique. This artist colony is packed with great local restaurants, almost a dozen galleries, and shops selling handmade goods.

Oregon offers many can't-miss tourist attractions, but Silver Falls State Park often goes unnoticed since it's only about three-and-a-half hours from the world-renowned Crater Lake National Park. In fact, many travelers focus on Crater Lake without even realizing Silver Falls is within driving distance. However, there are a variety of fantastic outdoor activities here — and it doesn't take long to see why Silver Falls State Park is sometimes called the "crown jewel" of the Beaver State's state park system. 

Since the park opened in 1933, families have been enjoying picnics, hiking, and horseback riding on gorgeous trails. Today, there are also games like horseshoes and kids' playgrounds for a full day of family fun. Those wishing to stay overnight can choose between the campground and the private cottages at Smith Creek Village.

The most amazing thing to experience at Silver Falls State Park, however, is the Trail of Ten Falls. This 7.2-mile trek allows hikers to visit 10 stunning waterfalls in one fell swoop. Pathways lead behind four of the falls, allowing guests to enjoy unique viewpoints. The experience, especially at the park's most popular South Falls, is similar to Niagara's "Journey Behind the Falls," but without the overt commercialization. Despite offering one of the most incredible waterfall hikes in the country, Silver Falls lacks the name recognition of larger waterfall destinations, including Oregon's own Multnomah Falls. This means visitors often find relatively low crowds consisting mainly of locals, leading to an overall experience that feels at once peaceful and grand.

Much like neighboring Indiana, Ohio is rarely associated with dramatic landscapes. This is exactly why Hocking Hills State Park is so underrated and so unexpected. Located in southeastern Ohio, this 2,356-acre park is not as large as others on this list, but it more than makes up for its size with its setting. The park is home to an ancient forest, waterfalls, and seasonal scenery like wildflower fields in the spring and huge icicles during winter, making it a year-round destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Named after a hermit who lived in its caverns in the 1700s, Old Man's Cave is among the must-see attractions at Hocking Hills. Hikers should also stop by the unique Devil's Bathtub — a small, whirlpool-like basin with a strange swirling appearance. Hocking Hills State Park is the result of erosion from glacial meltwater, which carved massive fissures, caves, and grottoes thousands of years ago.

Hiking is a draw here, with multiple trails of varying lengths. Distances range from the quarter-mile Ash Cave Gorge path to the 6-mile Buckeye Trail. Hocking Hills offers a wide range of accommodations for those who want to make a weekend of it, including cozy vacation cabins, the rustic-modern Hocking Hills State Park Lodge, and the Medieval-inspired Ravenwood Castle. Since Hocking Hills doesn't receive the same attention as the gateway towns near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it often gets overlooked by travelers. It is, however, part of the Appalachian foothills, so it has similar scenery to its much more popular Tennessee counterpart. Visitors on Tripadvisor praise the peaceful nature of this stunning Ohio state park, but warn that the trails can be a bit challenging for those with mobility or balance problems.

With the beautiful landscape at Canyonlands National Park stealing most of the attention in the Moab area, Dead Horse Point State Park is often overlooked by travelers. For those in the know, though, this state park — about 10 miles from Canyonlands — offers similarly dramatic scenery with significantly sparser crowds. Some Tripadvisor reviewers even assert that the views from Dead Horse Point surpass those in the more iconic Canyonlands, and the main overlook here offers especially sensational sunrise and sunset views perfect for photography enthusiasts. Stargazing is also incredibly popular at this state park, since it offers an expansive view of the sky unsullied by light pollution. This is truly one of the most immersive places in the American West to experience the Colorado Plateau.

For those interested in hiking through Dead Horse Point's incredible landscape, there are several trails appropriate for a range of skill levels. While there are no technically advanced treks here, the Bighorn Overlook and West Rim hikes are not for novices. Meanwhile, for those traveling with young children, or visitors who simply want something peaceful and easy, the Visitor Center Nature Trail is perfect. The visitor center here also doubles as an art gallery, comes highly recommended by past guests, and it's an excellent jumping-off point for everyone who comes to this gorgeous Utah state park. For those interested in overnight accommodations, Dead Horse Point State Park offers both standard campsites and yurts for a full-blown glamping experience.

Baxter State Park is home to Mount Katahdin — Maine's tallest summit, standing just over a mile high at 5,269 feet — and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Despite this claim to fame, however, the state park is largely overshadowed by the popularity of Acadia National Park, just 200 miles south. Even many native Mainers have never visited this park, despite the state's relatively small size. By contrast, Acadia National Park recorded some of its highest visitor numbers ever in 2025. While Acadia does offer some of the best hiking in the National Park System, Baxter State Park rivals it with some of New England's rawest wilderness. The massive 200,000-acre park's natural state has been preserved intentionally, and its limited development means that hiking trails here are quite rugged.

The grueling 10-mile Traveler Loop requires summiting three small mountains, while all of the trails leading up to Mount Katahdin's peak require at least eight hours of hiking time. The aptly named Knife Edge is another incredibly harrowing, incredibly narrow trail where multiple deaths have occurred, which makes it clear these journeys are not for the faint of heart. 

Despite Baxter State Park's utterly untamed atmosphere, there are also a couple of less challenging trails here. The River Pond Nature Trail, for example, is a well-marked path that offers the potential to see wildlife like moose. Camping here is primitive and there are no on-site lodges due to the lack of development. For travelers interested in an underrated state park that offers a truly rugged experience, Baxter State Park is a diamond in the rough.

As the biggest state park in the Golden State, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park occupies an astounding 650,000 acres. Although it offers stunning desert scenery, unique native plant life, and exceptional hiking, Anza-Borrego often finds itself overshadowed by the state's marquee national parks — including Yosemite, Sequoia, and Joshua Tree. Admittedly, Anza-Borrego offers a very different type of beauty than, for instance, Yosemite's pine trees and breathtaking waterfalls. However, it is no less gorgeous. 

This desert park boasts incredible spring wildflower blooms that contrast with its otherworldly scenery, and it's dotted with over 100 sculptures of extinct and mythical animals crafted by artist Ricardo Breceda. This gives Anza-Borrego a one-of-a-kind, open-air art gallery feel. Wildlife is also present, with sightings of bighorn sheep often delighting visitors, according to Tripadvisor.

For hikers, Anza-Borrego's 110 miles of trails are paradise. The Slot Canyon Trail — which offers an easier 0.94-mile trek or a longer 2.2-mile journey — affords one of the most amazing experiences here. As its name suggests, hikers are able to walk through a gorgeous, albeit very narrow, slot canyon with walls that stretch 40 feet in the air. The Palm Canyon Trail is another popular mid-difficulty hike. The reward at the end of this 2.8-mile walk is a stunning palm tree oasis in the middle of the California desert. Accommodation-wise, the Borrego Valley Inn in Borrego Springs is an immersive place to stay for those who want to explore for several days. All in all, for travelers interested in destinations that don't always make the cut on lists of California's most legendary landmarks, Anza-Borrego delivers in spades.

Devil's Lake State Park is known among Wisconsinites, but it rarely receives national attention and is certainly underrated on a national scale. According to Tripadvisor, road trippers who have randomly stopped and families with small children have all found themselves pleasantly surprised by this park's accessibility and variety. Some parents even note that children as young as four have successfully navigated certain trails here. 

Located near the town of Baraboo, Devil's Lake State Park's most striking feature is its quartzite peaks, which stand 500 feet above a brilliantly blue glacial lake. For hikers, 11 miles of trails here are part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, where explorers can relish the fact that they are very literally walking through history, along landscapes where ancient creatures once trod. Autumn is an especially great time to visit Devil's Lake, with mid-October typically marking peak leaf-peeping season.

One of the things that makes Devil's Lake underrated is that travelers — yes, even those from nearby states like Illinois and Michigan — frequently pass on Midwestern parks to visit larger mountains out West, or the ever-popular Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and North Carolina. However, the stunning scenery here rivals that of many more well-known parks, and some proponents of Devil's Lake State Park even believe it should be elevated to National Park status. Those who want to explore prehistoric trails and take in the sights for more than a day will find plenty of lodging options, including campgrounds, cabins, and bed and breakfasts.

With a 2,000-acre lake at its center, Chicot State Park serves up a side of Louisiana that many travelers never see. While New Orleans dominates the state's tourism, other popular activities here include LSU football games in Baton Rouge or coastal escapes like Holly Beach. As such, inland state parks like Chicot typically fly under the radar. This is a shame because Chicot's cypress groves, mossy outcrops, and scenic gardens look as if they fell directly out of the pages of a Southern Gothic novel. 

As the largest state park in the Pelican State, visitors to Chicot State Park have access to more than 20 miles of hiking paths, including the Walker Branch Trail, which is known for a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Paw-Paw Loop Trail is another great option, offering a leisurely and sparsely populated hike that even beginners can tackle. The truly adventurous, however, should take on the "Chicot Challenge," which requires hikers to traverse the entire 20-mile trail system in one day.

Chicot Lake, of course, is the main attraction. Past visitors on Google praise the lake for canoeing with their families, kayaking, motorized boating, or simply watching the water on a beautiful afternoon. One great thing about the lake is that narrower canoe trails allow those in non-motorized watercraft to easily row away from larger boats, exploring the scenery in peace. Guests also recommend visiting the park's arboretum for brilliant seasonal blooms. Chicot State Park is so cinematic that it seems a Nicholas Sparks film could be set here. It's a version of Louisiana so far removed from Bourbon Street, and so wildly underrated, that travelers will immediately feel as if they've been transported to a more genteel time and place.

To land on our picks of the top 10 underrated state parks to visit across the United States, we relied heavily on review sites. This primarily included Tripadvisor and Google, focusing on destinations averaging ratings of 4.5 stars or higher to ensure they meet the criteria and are consistently recommended by visitors. To complement visitor feedback, we also used the official websites for each state park, along with official state tourism websites, as well as high-authority travel sites like National Geographic to gather accurate, up-to-date information.