Best State Parks to Visit in the West This Summer

Towering trees piercing the sky. Canyons glowing as fiery red as a summer sunset. Trails that lead to glistening lakes, splashing waterfalls, or secret beaches. 

These are the things that memorable summer vacations are made of. You might think you have to go to one of our country’s amazing national parks to find them. But the truth is that these and other wonders can also be found in the great state parks of the West. They might not be as world-famous as their national counterparts. But they can be just as awe-inspiring, and just as fun. 

They are also much less crowded. Yosemite National Park averages 4 million visitors a year. Not far away, the towering forests of Calaveras Big Trees State Park attract about a twentieth of that. Yellowstone also gets over 4 million visitors a year. Idaho’s gorgeous Harriman State Park about an hour away: 86,000. 

So if you’re hankering for natural wonder but worry that a national park vacation will be too complicated, uncertain, or stressful to arrange this summer, don’t fret. Here are eight state parks that offer superb alternatives.

Alternative to Canyonlands National Park: Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

Talk about a cinematic landscape: the famous "Grand Canyon" finale of 1991’s Thelma & Louise was actually filmed at this Utah park. Take the short walk to the point and you’ll see why: You’re standing high atop a sheer sandstone cliff, gazing down at the Colorado River curling 2,000 feet below. It’s a view that should rank high on anybody’s life list. 

Where to Go

Given how precipitous Dead Horse is, hiking is remarkably gentle. The trail leading to the point itself is a mere 200 feet long. For longer, view-filled walks, follow the Desert View Overlook Trail (1 mile round trip) or the East Rim Trail (3 miles round trip). Save time to explore the visitor center, which has some great exhibits on the region’s history. And consider lingering past sunset. Dead Horse is far enough from city lights to be designated an International Dark Sky Place; rangers regularly host nighttime stargazing sessions.

Eat and Drink

Nearby Moab is rich in restaurants. The Jailhouse Café is deservedly popular for breakfast (Southwestern eggs Benedict, breakfast burritos), as is the Moab Brewery for brews and burgers.

Alternative to Yosemite National Park: Plumas-Eureka State Park, California

This 6,700-acre refuge northwest of Lake Tahoe may be both the most appealing state park in California and the least well-known. Stretching across the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada, Plumas-Eureka has a full supply of craggy mountains (including 7,447-foot Eureka Peak), serene lakes, and intriguing gold rush history. 

Where to Go

Plumas-Eureka is especially good for hikers who aren’t looking for marathons. The gentle 1.6-mile Madora Lake Trail runs through meadows around the lake; the 4.3-mile Eureka Lake Trail gives you fine views of the lake and Eureka Peak. Before or after your walk, explore the historic buildings that date from the area’s gold rush days: a miners bunkhouse turned into a museum and visitor center, the immense Mohawk Stamp Mill, a blacksmith shop, and more. 

Eat and Drink

In nearby Graeagle, try Cuccia’s for Italian fare; in Johnsville, The Iron Door serves up steaks and salmon in a historic general store.

Alternative to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks: Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California

Writing about giant sequoias, John Muir wrote, “The Big Tree is Nature's forest masterpiece, and, so far as I know, the greatest of living things.” Sequoiadendron giganteum naturally grows only on the western slopes of California’s Sierra Nevada, and the 6,500-acre Calaveras Big Trees is one of the best places in the state to see them. A stroll through the groves, as shafts of sunlight illuminate the soaring trees, can seem like a religious experience.

Where to Go

The flat, easy 1.7-mile North Grove Trail ambles among Calaveras’ best-known big trees, including the grove’s largest, the Empire State Tree. You’ll also find giant tree stumps, a reminder of the era when the trees were relentlessly felled for timber or display. Even more giant trees can be viewed on the 3.5-mile South Grove Trail. 

Eat and Drink

Twenty minutes down Highway 4, Murphys is a lively gold country town with wine-tasting rooms and good restaurants. Gold Country Roasters is an excellent choice for morning coffee and baked goods; Alchemy offers comfort food (meatloaf, fried chicken, steak) in an appealing setting. Oyster fans should check out the Kumamotos and Shigokus at Murphy’s Grade.   

Alternative to Crater Lake National Park: Wallowa Lake State Park, Oregon

In a state filled with beautiful lakes, Wallowa is one of the very best: a cool, clear glacial lake backdropped by the Wallowa Mountains. This Eastern Oregon gem specializes in water recreation, from swimming to kayaking to boating. And it’s right next to one of Oregon’s most charming small towns. 

Where to Go

Wallowa Lake is made for cooling off on a hot summer day. For basic beaching, there’s a swimming area near the park campground. For on-the-water fun, head to the Wallowa Lake Marina to rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and motorboats. Want breathtaking views of the lake and mountains? Ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway to the top of 8,150-foot Mount Howard. Finally, allow time to explore nearby Joseph, where Main Street is lined with shops and restaurants and bronze statues forged at the town’s Valley Bronze foundry. 

Eat and Drink

In Joseph, hit Embers Brew House for pizza and IPAs, Cheyenne Café for breakfasts, and Blue Mountain Donut Company for—you guessed it—donuts.

Alternative to Grand Canyon National Park: Red Rock State Park, Arizona 

Two hours south of the Grand Canyon, the luminously lovely red rock country of Sedona has become an internationally renowned hiking and biking destination. With brilliant red-orange cliffs rising above burbling Oak Creek, Red Rock State Park shows off Sedona at its best. 

Where to Go

Five miles of trails loop around the park; the 2.5-mile round-trip Eagle’s Nest Trail provides especially impressive views. If you can, time your visit to join one of the daily guided naturalist hikes, which will introduce you to the area’s wildlife and geology. You’ll learn, for example, why the park’s rocks are indeed so red (high iron content in the sandstone). A half-hour north, Slide Rock State Park caters to your inner 8-year-old: Soak your feet in cooling Oak Creek, then, if you’re feeling adventurous, take a 80-foot ride down the park’s namesake water slide.  

Eat and Drink

Sedona has many, many dining options, from informal Mexican food to white tablecloth meals. Two of the best are the Coffee Pot Restaurant for breakfast classics (omelets, huevos rancheros) and René at Tlaquepaque for elegant French Mediterranean cuisine. 

Alternative to Bryce Canyon National Park: Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah

With a name like Kodachrome Basin, you expect dazzling, astonishing, can’t-believe-what-I’m-seeing scenery. And this park—a Creamsicle orange-and-white valley studded with nearly 70 stone spires—more than delivers. Where did the name come from? A 1948 National Geographic expedition. They weren’t wrong. 

Where to Go

The half-mile Nature Trail provides a good introduction to Kodachrome’s plants, animals, and geology. To see the basin at its most photogenic, follow the 1.5-mile Angel’s Palace Trail, which gives expansive views of the park and, in the distance, Bryce Canyon. The park is just off Utah Highway 12, one of the most spectacular roads in the world. The 30-mile drive west from the park to the junction with US 89 or 40 miles east to Escalante are well worth the time and mileage.

Eat and Drink

In nearby Tropic, i.d.k. Barbecue is good for brisket, the Route 12 Grill for burgers and burritos, the Stone Hearth Grille for grass-fed steaks in an upscale setting. 

Alternative to Yellowstone National Park: Harriman State Park, Idaho

Here’s a park with an aristocratic pedigree: Harriman was for generations a cattle ranch that also served as a rustic retreat for New York’s wealthy Harriman and Guggenheim families; the ranch was donated to the state in 1977. Today, you can tour some of the ranch’s historic buildings, then hit the trails (the park has 22 miles of them). Anglers take note: Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, which flows through Harriman, is considered among the best fly-fishing spots in the country. 

Where to Go

Start with a tour of the historic ranch buildings; they run Friday to Sunday during the summer. If you’re up for a hike, the easy John Muir Interpretive Loop is named for the naturalist who was a friend of the Harriman family. Anglers will find good access to Henry’s Fork on the River Trail. 

Eat and Drink

In nearby Island Park, local favorites include Connie’s for soups and chili, Café Sabor for Mexican food. For a special occasion, the menu at Henry's Fork Lodge runs from Wagyu New York strip steak to juniper berry-rubbed duck breast; there’s an extensive wine list to match.

Alternative to Olympic National Park: Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington

You’ll find no disappointment here, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. (The misleading name was coined by an 18th-century British sea captain who was annoyed at getting lost.) What you will find is a lovely beach, lighthouses, and the superb Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. 

Where to Go

The park has not one but two historic lighthouses. The 1898-vintage North Head Lighthouse is  accessible by a short walk and open to visitors in summer. The Cape Disappointment Lighthouse—reached via an easy 2.4-mile round-trip trail—can only be admired from outside, but it’s a handsome beacon and the surrounding views are amazing. For beach time, head to Waikiki Beach. Despite the tropical name, the water here is anything but warm, but it’s still a pretty spot with fine sunset views. Finally, the interpretive center is a must-visit, both for its setting (on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River) and for its interactive exhibits on the explorers who completed their across-the-continent journey here in 1805. 

Eat and Drink

In nearby Ilwaco, the Salt Pub makes a warming clam chowder and fine fish tacos; try Serious Pizza + for thin-crust Neapolitan-style pies.