One of the things I love about state parks is that they offer so many different ways to enjoy the outdoors. Some have beautiful lakes and waterfalls, others have quiet forest trails, scenic overlooks, or peaceful places to sit and enjoy nature.

I feel like state parks sometimes get overlooked when people plan outdoor trips, even though many of them have incredible scenery and plenty to explore without needing a big travel budget.

For those who enjoy visiting state parks, which one has left the biggest impression on you? Was it the scenery, the hiking trails, the wildlife, or simply the feeling of getting away from everything for a while?

I'd love to hear about your favorite state parks and what makes them worth visiting.

Today is the last day of my season so I made and gifted these ornaments to my co-workers. They’re little work trucks and I put our Oregon State Parks logo on them. They were a hit 🌲just wanted to show them off a little more

Got to Mastadon early on accident (thought they open at 7, but they don't open until 8). Still got to catch the last bit of sunrise though... always my goal! Happy Monday!

October 24 2026

Hi everyone,

Have a cabin reservation for this upcoming week at RGSP however i just received an email that due to a water pump issue there is no running water in the park at all. No flushing toilets or showers
I spoke to the park officials earlier today. They mentioned that the issue is something that their maintenance staff can’t do and that it’s not getting looked at till sometime Monday.
Considering my stay would be till Thursday and would enjoy a shower while I’m there I’m trying to get any information about the issue
I’m about 2 and 1/2 hrs away and was thinking of still going up Monday in hopes it’s fixed by Tuesday but not sure that’s realistic

Thanks

When people talk about outdoor adventures, the conversation often turns to famous national parks, dramatic mountain views, or bucket-list destinations. But state parks can offer something special that doesn't always get enough attention.

Sometimes it's a quiet trail with almost no one around, a lake you can visit on an ordinary weekend, or a familiar picnic spot that becomes part of your family's traditions.

What do you think state parks offer that more people should appreciate? Is there a particular experience, activity, or little detail that keeps you coming back to them?

Redding, CT

This morning's hike through Pokagon State Park in northeast Indiana

So glad I found this group! I made a goal last year to tent camp all of the Virginia State parks ❤️. This is park #3

This is from my trip last weekend. I camped solo for the first time and experienced my first international dark sky park. The rangers were super great. They saw me walking around and called me over to look through the telescope at 2 active solar flares happening on Friday. The pink circle photo is the sun!

Really enjoyed this park and how dark it was. I already booked my next state park, another dark sky park, for a star party in November 🌟

i was really hoping to see some fall foliage but it’s just south enough that everything is still green!! 🌲 still beautiful. maybe i can get down there and take some cool autumn pics once the leaves turn! 🍁 🍂 you can see the missouri river in the last pic