7 State Parks for Adventure, Unique Landscapes and More

In 2024, my husband took-off on his dream adventure—traveling around the US for six months in his  Class B sprinter-type vehicle. This self-contained camper van allowed him to experience America up close and personal. The trip had been a dream for years, and during the planning process the list of places to visit grew longer and longer. When all was said and done, one thing was clear to him, the U.S. is filled with many unique, amazing, & beautiful places to explore. You will miss out on the “hidden” public lands if you restrict yourself to the big-name national parks. These 7 state parks are perfect examples, with activities that span from mountain biking and hiking, to seeing massive trees and searching for banana-slugs. Keep reading to learn what each state park offers and why you should add them to your travel list.  

When planning first started, there were MANY national parks my husband wanted to revisit (including Zion, which has topped his list for years), along with a few new ones like Canyonlands, Redwoods National, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. But as plans filled out, he discovered that in some cases, state parks were in close proximity to the places he wanted to visit. Others were found by accident, for example, when he stumbled across a sign on the highway. In all, he traveled through 27 states, visited 26 national parks and monuments, and spent time in state parks in at least 4 states. He also explored various other public lands and forests. But special memories from these 7 state parks will always stay with him. 

Hobbs State Park, Arkansas

Mountain biking was high on the list of activities for this van adventure, and Arkansas was considered the top spot. Avid riders already know that Bentonville, Arkansas, is called “The Mountain Biking Capital of the World” for good reason. The city is home to dozens of miles of trails and has maps and other resources to make the most of the trail network. The world-class parks and trail system are host to national biking competitions such as the Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championship.  

Roughly 20 miles northeast of the city, bikers will find Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area. It’s Arkansas’ largest state park, coming in at over 12,000 acres and home to 54 miles of trails. Part of the Arkansas State Parks Monument Trails, these trails are open to not only bikers but hikers and trail runners. Never had I heard my husband so excited about a mountain biking adventure as when he was in Arkansas. He describes the varied trails as exhilarating, with cool features like metal bridges, rock gardens, creek jumps, and flowy berms. The trails are engineered so that riders can easily get to the proper speed to clear and enjoy the special features. 

Another state known for outdoor adventures is Utah. It’s the state he was most excited to return to, home to what is called the Mighty 5 (Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and Capitol Reef national parks) and their incredible beauty! He has been talking about revisiting Utah’s parks, especially Zion, for years after our Southwest road trip, and was excited to explore a few new ones like Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. The plan also included mountain biking and hiking adventures in several of Utah’s colorful state parks. 

​Dead Horse Point State ParK, utah

When we visited the Moab, Utah area a number of years ago, I didn’t know much about Dead Horse Point State Park. Fast forward a few years and both my husband and daughter have explored the park and rave about the spectacular scenery. It was a favorite stop on my daughter’s Colorado and Utah road trip with its expansive views of the winding Colorado River and earth-tone buttes. Did I mention the views?

So what makes Dead Horse Point State Park worth visiting? You don’t have to go far on the Overlook Trail (ADA accessible) to find spectacular views, just a short walk from the parking lot. Other short to moderate trails in Dead Horse Point State Park, including the East and West Rim Trails, will provide another vantage point of the layers of rocks, buttes, and river. Even the drive in from Moab on the Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway is quite scenic. The views and colors are even more spectacular if you can visit during sunrise or sunset.  

Kodachrome Basin State Park, Utah

If you are looking for a place for biking combined with awe-inspiring scenery, then consider Utah’s Kodachrome Basin State Park. It’s a great stop if you are visiting the nearby Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The Panorama Trail, a 3.6 mile loop, is open to biking as well as hiking, and there are a very limited number of bike rentals available in the park. Angel’s Palace Trail has  spectacular views with optional side paths that are narrow and high (not for everyone). 

The park also has family fun activities, including a geocache challenge and an 18-hole disc golf course. You can even take a guided ride on horseback, an option we found worked well when our kids were tired of hiking while in Zion National Park. I always recommend checking in at the Visitor Center to find out what is happening during your visit, and this one has a shaded outdoor seating area and ice cream!  Be sure to plan well in advance for any state park camping. 

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

After boondocking nearby, an early morning ride to the visitor center was pleasantly interrupted by a herd of pronghorn sheep. It was a memorable start to a day visiting the unique formations in Goblin Valley State Park. Geology lovers will enjoy all of the interesting rock formations known in the park as “Goblins.” Who wouldn’t want to explore places with names like the Valley of the Goblins, or the Goblin’s Lair. Just know there are no marked trails in the valley, so have a sense of direction, and/or be prepared. A one mile loop trail takes you to the popular Three Sisters formation. Mountain bike riders will love the challenge on the 7 miles of trails that form the Wild Horse Trail System. The views alone are incredible and unique, and colors change throughout the day! 

Besides hiking, biking, and camping, visitors should know that Goblin Valley State Park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park. The park is around 5,000 feet in elevation. 

The next 3 parks were  a happy accident, discovered while driving on California’s Highway 101 traveling towards the Oregon border. It started with a sign announcing the Avenue of the Giants, which led to several days of walking among majestic redwoods and being surprised to find 7 banana slugs along the trails. We later learned that California is home to a whopping 49 Redwood State Parks, not just the handful that you typically hear about. Sounds like a future road trip challenge to me! 

Humboldt Redwoods State Park, California

Roughly 4 hours from San Francisco will bring you to beautiful Humboldt Redwoods State Park. This massive park is home to the “largest remaining old growth redwood forest in the world.”  Pick up an Auto Tour pamphlet and head to the 32 mile Avenue of the Giants; drive slowly, as many Redwoods are very close to the road.  Eight stops along the way will bring visitors to highlights of the park, including  the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree (Myers Flat). Don’t miss a stop in the Rockefeller Forest, where you can take a .6 mile walk among the trees (pay attention when driving so that you don’t miss the sign.) The park offers several campgrounds, along with activities including hiking, fishing, swimming, and walking among the giants. 

Stop in the Visitor Center to see Charles Kellogg’s Travel Log, a true piece of Americana. Consider it the first RV, made from a hollowed out redwood trunk! Once complete, he drove this one-of-kind vehicle across the country, 4-times, so that folks could learn more about the preservation of the redwood forests. 

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California 

Continue north on Highway 101 until you reach Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. This is one of 3 state parks that make up Redwoods National and State Parks, a unique collaboration between California State Parks and the National Park Service. Besides the magnificent coastal redwoods, the park offers hiking and biking trails, Gold Bluffs Beach, and offers a good chance to safely view the  Roosevelt elk. 

Visitors can drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway, a 10-mile alternative to Highway 101 that takes you through the park. Make a reservation in advance if you want to visit Fern Canyon or Gold Bluffs Beach. Before you go, browse the online national park visitor guide, a great resource with park details and maps. Keep in mind that some roads are closed to RVs so be prepared before you head out.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, California

The last but definitely not least state park visited in northern California was Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. The majesty of the trees, the beauty of Mill Creek and the Smith River, and the far northern California location of this park create some of the most pristine trees of the redwood parks visited.   

You can take Howland Hill Road to the Grove of the Titans, but based on experience, know that the road is unpaved and VERY dusty, and RVs or vehicles over 22 feet are not permitted. The .5 mile Mill Creek Trail leads to the Grove of Titans. The Redwood National and State Parks Visitor Guide is a good resource to use when planning a trip to any of these 3 California state parks; it contains information about campsites, pets in the parks, and maps. 

Know Before You Go

​*Camping in state parks is quite popular, and many sites book up months or longer in advance. Plan accordingly and understand the reservation windows if  you are looking for campsites. 
*Be familiar with local laws regarding overnight van parking and boondocking. These vary from state to state. Sites that can help with finding places include Hipcamp and iOverlander. 
*State parks offer a bit more flexibility with pets than national parks. However, it’s best to check before you head out to find out where dogs are, and are not, allowed. California and Utah both have information on their sites about visiting with pets. For the Redwood National and State Parks, find out more about the BARK! Ranger program. 
*As a reminder, always check the latest alerts on park sites before venturing out. This can be helpful in terms of road closures and impacts from extreme weather or fire, which sadly is becoming more frequent. 
*My husband learned, from a California National Park Ranger, of a most useful smartphone app - Watch Duty: Wildlife Maps. It has regularly updated forest-fire information, including acreage, containment %, activity status, and evacuation warnings levels and orders. It came in handy during the summer months when he had to change his California travel plans due to wildfire activity and smoke.  

One thing is for sure, we both realize that each of these parks has so much to offer, and they are definitely back on the list for a future van adventure!