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USA's Top 10 State Parks
Description of the best
state parks
St
Joseph Peninsula State Park Florida
Chugach State
Park, Alaska
Big Basin Redwoods State Park,
California
Sunset Bay State
Park, Oregon
John
Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Florida
Wasatch
Mountain State Park, UTAH
Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire
Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park, Tennessee
Palo Duro Canyon
State Park, Texas
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park, Michigan
Descriptions
Florida State Park
St
Joseph Peninsula State Park -
has striking dune
formations, miles of white sand beaches, and a heavily forested interior.
Dr. Beach once rated this beach as best beach in America. This 2,516-acre park is
bounded by the waters of St. Joe Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Alaska State Park
Chugach State
Park - Beyond
the foothills at Anchorage's edge lies the third largest state park in USA.
A 500,000 acres of some of the most accessible hiking, skiing, camping,
wildlife viewing, snowmachining, rafting, and climbing in Alaska. Those of
us lucky enough to live here feel the influence of Chugach State Park almost
daily. The mountainous backdrop to Anchorage reminds us that, although we
live in an urban setting, we really reside in the middle of a vast
wilderness. The Chugach foothills are a beacon for changing weather and
resident wildlife have been known to wander into town.
California State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Established in 1902, Big
Basin is California's oldest State Park. Home to the largest continuous
stand of Ancient Coast Redwoods south of San Francisco, the park consists of
over 18,000 acres of Old Growth and recovering Redwood Forest, with mixed
conifer, oaks, chaparral, and riparian habitats. Elevations in the park vary
from sea level to over 2,000 feet. The climate ranges from foggy and damp
near the ocean to sunny, warm ridge tops.
Oregon State Park
Sunset Bay State
Park -
Situated in one of
the most scenic areas on the Oregon coast, Sunset Bay State Park features
beautiful sandy beaches protected by towering sea cliffs. Only a short walk
from the beach, the campground has sites for tent camping and RV's, as well
as cozy and comfortable yurts. Day-use and picnic facilities are located
along the bay to allow easy access for beachcombing, fishing, swimming, and
boating.
Florida State Park
John
Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park -
John Pennekamp is the nation's first underwater park. Formed in the
1960's, Pennekamp Park represents over hundred square miles of mangrove
shoreline, grass flats, and of course our famous coral reef. Adjacent to
Pennekamp is the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary.
Utah State Park
Wasatch
Mountain State Park
- Wasatch Mountain State Park is in
beautiful Heber Valley and is Utah's most developed state park. Tucked away
in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, the park is both a summer and winter
destination. One of Utah's finest and affordable 36-hole golf courses is
found here. Soldier Hollow at Wasatch Mountain State Park was the 2002
Olympic Winter venue biathlon and cross-country events. Soldier Hollow is
open year-round to the public for cross-country skiing, tubing, biathlon,
snowshoeing, and many more events.
New Hampshire
Franconia Notch State Park
- Franconia Notch State Park is located
in the heart of the popular White Mountain National Forest. Franconia Notch
is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway which extends
from the Flume Gorge at the south to Echo Lake at the north. Franconia
Notch was once the home of the famous Old Man of the Mountain, the same
"Great Stone Face" immortalized by Nathaniel Hawthorne and Daniel Webster.
While you are here, visit the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and walk through
Flume Gorge, ride the aerial tramway at Cannon Mountain, and explore the New
England Ski Museum. Also, you can swim at Echo Lake, net a trout while fly
fishing at Profile Lake, ride your bike on the Recreational Trail, watch for
rock climbers, hawks, and falcons on Cannon Cliffs, or hike on the
Appalachian Trail.
Tennessee
State Park
Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park
- Fall Creek Falls State Resort Park is one of the
most scenic and spectacular recreation areas in America. Its waterfalls,
cascades, sparkling streams, timberland, gorges and an unmatched
variety of recreation facilities. Fall Creek Falls is one of the highest
waterfalls east of the Rockies, plunging 256 feet into a shaded pool at the
base of its gorge.
Texas
State Park
Palo Duro Canyon
State Park - Located about an hour's
drive from Amarillo lies the grandeur of Palo Duro Canyon, a sixty
mile-long and eight hundred foot-deep canyon carved out of the Texas High
Plains. Visitors to 16,402-acre Palo Duro Canyon State Park are treated to
towering cliffs layered with bands of red, yellow, purple and white. Patches
of juniper, mesquite, sunflower and prickly pear cacti adorn the canyon
slopes, while red clay and veins of white gypsum blanket the ground.
Michigan State Park
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park,
-
Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is over 60,000 acres and is
one of the few remaining large wilderness areas in the Midwest. Towering
virgin timber, secluded lakes, and miles of wild rivers and streams make a
visit to the "Porkies" a trip to remember. This park Park was
established in 1945. Since then, many changes have taken place in the way we
live; however, the Porcupine Mountains are almost unchanged. The remote
interior with its towering pine and hemlock seems to defy time, and the
solitude of the park is mysterious and exciting.
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