Top Unique Natural Places in Every State
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| Find out the Unique Beautiful Place in Each U.S State |
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With so many states, countless different kinds of activities, and endless landmarks scattered throughout the land, it can be hard to pick between them.
Here are the top 1 most natural beautiful place in America - state-by-state list of that you should visit in your timelife.
Alabama: Magnolia Springs
In this small coastal community along the Magnolia River, mail is still delivered by boat year-round, making it the last such practice in the nation. The town, which dates to the late 1700s, is named for its natural features, including gushing springs and a shady canopy of magnolia trees.
Alaska: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Like few other states, Alaska captures the public's imagination. And Wrangell-St. Elias, the largest national park in the United States, with its 13 million acres, encapsulates the overwhelming beauty of the far north. This park contains some of the highest peaks in the nation. Hiking here takes you through a boreal forest, along glittering glaciers (the Root Glacier trail goes right on the icy mass; crampons recommended), and up to ridges for wild mountain views.
Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park
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How shall we put it? The Grand Canyon is Arizona's most picturesque location. Nothing quite matches the majesty of Arizona's most prominent feature, even though breathtaking natural beauty can be found in every part of the state, from the charming Emerald Cove to the revered Canyon de Chelly.
Havasu Falls (or Supai Falls) contrasts the red rock in this natural wonder of the world with its seemingly impossible turquoise water, and you shouldn't miss the Colorado River's circular arc at Horseshoe Bend.
Arkansas: Ozark National Forest
The Ozark National Forest, which dominates northwest Arkansas, is a haven filled with activities year-round. Its ferny oak-hickory woods are dotted with grottoes, swimming beaches, campsites, horseback and ATV trails, and caverns (the tour-friendly Blanchard Springs Caverns has an underground river). Rock climbers and hikers alike love Sam's Throne and Whitaker Point.
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California: Yosemite National Park
The third-oldest park in the country is highly regarded by the National Park System, UNESCO, and travelers from all over the world. The high-country Sierra Nevada beauty of the alpine wonderland, highlighted by granite domes, soaring sequoias, and sheer-drop waterfalls, draws millions of tourists each year.
Take a hike or drive to Glacier Point to see Yosemite Valley from 7,000 feet in the air. The million-dollar view includes Yosemite Falls and the well-known Half Dome, which is incredibly close and rises 4,800 feet above the valley floor.
Colorado: Garden of the Gods
The sight of Garden of the Gods might leave anyone who has even a passing interest in geology (or photography, or just stunning natural splendor in general) speechless. Two pointers Take the Siamese Twins loop for a view of the snowy Pikes Peak, the inspiration for "America the Beautiful," set in a frame of red rocks, and visit the lofty sandstone formations early on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Connecticut: Connecticut Shore
Old Lyme, Mystic, Old Saybrook, and other coastal Connecticut villages are probably not too far off from your ideal seaside town in New England if you close your eyes and try to visualize it. The small towns scattered along Long Island Sound combine peaceful coastal beauty with oodles of antiquated charm (imagine white-painted inns and warm taverns).
Delaware: Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge
You don't have to be an avid birder to treasure this nature preserve. It's one of the largest surviving tidal salt marshes in this part of the U.S., the boggy domain of bald eagles, snowy egrets, great blue herons, and other birds and animals.
Florida: Everglades National Park
This watery 1.5 million-acre wilderness, a UNESCO World Heritage site and an International Biosphere Reserve, is home to extraordinary flora and fauna, including American crocodiles, manatees, otters, and wading birds. You can go on an airboat tour, canoe or kayak through the mangroves, bike the well-known Shark Valley Tram Road, or take the level Anhinga Trail through a seagrass marsh to see it.
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Georgia: Cumberland Island
It's difficult to think of a location more ideal for those looking for peace, birdwatchers, or even history buffs than Cumberland Island, which is car-free. The opulent Greyfield Inn is the only development on the Georgia barrier island; the remaining almost 10,000 acres are federally protected natural areas. When you're not strolling the beaches covered in driftwood, you can kayak the serene waterways and visit the Dungeness ruins from the Gilded Age.
Hawaii: Nāpali Coast
Along Kauai's Npali Coast, where sheer, fluted sea cliffs (pali) plunge into the Pacific, the wrinkles of the Earth are spectacularly on display. The arduous 11-mile Kalalau Trail, which follows the rugged, jade-colored coast's gulches and valleys, is the only land access. Popular day hikes are only allowed for the first two miles; any further requires a permit. Although it's one of the riskiest treks in the world, you can also take a helicopter tour to see the stunning scenery.
Idaho: Sawtooth National Forest
Four mountain ranges and four major rivers collide in Sawtooth National Forest, a 2.1 million-acre great-outdoors paradise whose landscape has remained virtually unchanged since Lewis and Clark explored it in 1805.
The forest is home to dozens of 10,000-plus-foot peaks, hundreds of sparkling alpine lakes, and more than 3,000 miles of gushing streams, as well as grassy meadows, sagebrush flats, and pine and aspen woods. Manners of exploration are as vast as the land itself and include backpacking, rafting, skiing, and mountain climbing.
Illinois: Cache River State Natural Area
This bald cypress and tupelo swamp is the northernmost of its kind in the United States, giving the impression that you are deep in a Louisiana bayou. Using the park's trails and boardwalks, you can kayak, canoe, or walk through the nearly 12,000 acres of wetlands. Some of the cypress trees you'll see are over 1,000 years old and have enormous flared bases that are more than 40 feet in diameter.
Indiana: Hemlock Cliffs
Indiana is a state with many surprises for the uninitiated. It has the sand dunes and lakeshore of Michigan, the covered bridges and backroads of Vermont, the country lanes of Michigan, and fall foliage that could pass for Smoky Mountains. This box canyon in the Hoosier National Forest is a fantastic location with ravines and waterfalls that you probably wouldn't associate with the middle of the country.
Iowa: Maquoketa Caves State Park
Avid explorers will be in their element at Maquoketa Caves State Park, where bluffs, miles of trails, and more than a dozen limestone caves await investigation. Some of the caves, such as the 800-foot Dancehall, can be walked through upright, while others require serious spelunking. Either way, bring a headlamp.
Kansas: Castle Rock Badlands
This quirky site is off the beaten path — literally. Located on private ranch land accessed by 4WD-demanding dirt roads, Castle Rock is a relic of an inland sea that once covered this part of the continent. The fragile, fossil-rich limestone pinnacles provide a near-shocking change of scenery from their Kansas prairie home.
Kentucky: Mammoth Cave
The world's longest known cave system is located beneath the untamed hills of south-central Kentucky. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a vast limestone network of chilly caverns, cathedral-like rotundas, and cramped crawl spaces that is still being mapped. The lushly forested park above Mammoth Cave offers hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, and kayaking on its two rivers, dispelling the notion that Mammoth Cave adventures are exclusively underground.
Louisiana: Wild Azalea Trail
Before going on a forest hike, you might think of bar hopping in Louisiana. The Wild Azalea Trail is the longest in the state at 31 miles, and visitors can expect serene surroundings with pine trees, crystal-clear creeks, gentle hills, and perhaps even wild horses. Plan your journey for March or April to see the region covered in the name-flower's light pink flowers.
Maine: Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park holds a special place on the list of Maine's most beautiful locations thanks to its rocky shores, crashing surf, and coastal mountain hiking trails. You can incorporate one of our other contenders by traveling there via Coastal Highway U.S. 1. To see the first sunrise in the United States (for the majority of the year), head to the summit of Cadillac Mountain early in the morning.
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Maryland: Weverton Cliffs
Part of the famed Appalachian Trail, Weverton Cliffs is a switchback two-mile hike in South Mountain State Park. The reward for your effort? Views from 500 feet above the Potomac that include neighboring Virginia and West Virginia.
Massachusetts: Cape Cod National Seashore
This delicate chain of federally protected land is rich in natural appeal, including marshes, woodlands, wild cranberry bogs, windswept dunes, walking paths, and miles of sandy beaches. This is one of the last remaining blocks of Atlantic coastal pine barrens, a now-rare forest ecosystem teeming with animals and birdlife.
Michigan: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Out-of-staters might not equate Michigan with sandy beaches and striking sand dunes, but both are found along the state's largely coastal boundaries — most notably, on the 35 miles of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This carved-by-glaciers shoreline is home to a beech-maple forest, scenic hiking and driving, and the immense namesake dunes rising high above Lake Michigan.
Minnesota: North Shore Scenic Drive
The North Shore is a road-tripper's daydream. Many Minnesotans and Midwesterners drive this Lake Superior-adjacent route time and time again, hitting the four-tiered Gooseberry Falls, the precariously perched Split Rock Lighthouse, and the tallest waterfall in the state, High Falls (shared by the U.S. and Canada). And don't miss World's Best Donuts, a very important stop for cinnamon-sugar donuts and deep-fried "skizzles."
Mississippi: Natchez Trace Parkway
Beauty and blacktop meet on the Natchez Trace, a 444-mile drive that crosses Mississippi like a pageant sash, following a Native American foot trail that goes back millennia. Instead of billboards and interstate exit signs, you'll cruise past cypress swamps and meadows edged by black-eyed Susans and log fences, with lots of pull-over opportunities for picnics and nature walks.
Missouri: Ozark National Scenic Riverways
The spring-fed Current and Jacks Fork rivers anchor this national park. Swim, canoe, and fish in its crystal-clear waters and explore the area's caves (more than 300 have been discovered so far, some only accessible by boat), trails, natural springs, and historic mills.
Montana: Going-to-the-Sun Road
Take the ride of your life on the white-knuckle Going-to-the-Sun Road, a 52-mile route that climbs above the clouds in Glacier National Park. Looking out the window takes a bit of bravery, but your prize is jaw-dropping views of alpine valleys, flowing rivers, and fields of wildflowers far below the surrounding peaks and ridgelines. The road crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass (elevation: 6,646 feet), where you can get out and hike Hidden Lake and Highline trails.
Nebraska: Toadstool Geologic Park and Oglala National Grassland
Nebraska's native prairie land is thrown into splendid relief at Toadstool, a tract of unusual wind- and water-carved rock formations and vast fossil beds. Some rock layers contain tracks of animals long vanished from this part of the world, like rhinos and camels.
Nevada: Red Rock Canyon
Just 30 minutes from the LED skyline of Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon, named for its giant cliffs and craggy jumbles of yellow and red sandstone. The hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and scenic driving on offer here are a pretty amazing contrast to the gaming, buffet visits, and pool parties that define a typical Sin City getaway.
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New Hampshire: Kancamagus Highway
The Kancamagus Scenic Byway ("the Kanc") is arguably the most beautiful drive in New England. It meanders past the White Mountain National Forest's rocky gorges, waterfalls, swimming holes, campgrounds, and trailheads as it connects the small towns of Lincoln and Conway. The journey is best taken in the fall, when moose sightings and foliage colors are at their best. Just remember to bring snacks and plenty of fuel because there aren't any shops or gas stations for about 30 miles.
New Jersey: Cape May
Cape May's main claim to fame may be its late Victorian-era houses and hotels — some 600 structures in all — but this seaside resort town has non-architectural virtues as well. There are wineries, gardens, biodiverse wetlands, and, of course, end-of-a-peninsula beaches. Head to west-facing Sunset Beach at twilight for an amazing natural show over Delaware Bay.
New Mexico: Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness
Millions of years of erosion have created this sci-fi, fantasy-like display of pinnacles, spires, and other weirdly wonderful bodies of weathered rock. This high-desert wilderness (read: no marked trails) is essentially the geologic record of a prehistoric coastal swamp where dinosaurs once roamed.
New York: Finger Lakes
This stunning upstate landscape was shaped by glacial activity, leaving 11 finger-shaped, long, narrow lakes in its wake. In the summer, the area is a tourist's dream with endless lake activities, waterfall hiking (Watkins Glen and She-Qua-Ga Falls are popular stops), and more wineries, vineyards, and breweries than you can shake a stick at.
North Carolina: Outer Banks
Pirates, colonists, and early aviators have all been attracted to this isolated section of North Carolina coastline. It is now the domain of beachgoers seeking solitude, stillness, white sand, and salt air. The barrier islands' wild dunes, including the largest on the East Coast, and multiuse paths make for an incredible area for quaint coastal exploration. It's even possible to bike the entire 100+ mile length of the Outer Banks.
North Dakota: Maah Daah Hey Trail
Take a hike, a bike ride, or mount a horse and ride through North Dakota's wild landscapes. The nine trails that make up this 144-mile system range in length, difficulty level, and scenery from grassy prairies to dizzying badlands buttes. The trail is appropriately named for the Mandan phrase: "A place that will be around for a long time." It is a timeless American landscape.
Ohio: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
You can pretend you're in Victorian London in the Crystal Palace-evoking glass greenhouse that is the cornerstone of this botanical landmark. And its biomes and gardens might transport you to the desert, rain forest, and even the Himalayas.
Oklahoma: Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
Native grasslands, the ecosystem that is arguably most inextricably linked to our sense of national identity, are in decline. The largest expanse of tallgrass prairie in the nation and the world can be found in this protected preserve. The American plains can be seen in this location as they appeared hundreds of years ago, complete with herds of bison (about 2,500 of the shaggy-haired animals roam freely) and expanses of purple prairie clover.
Oregon: Crater Lake
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| Every year, visitors from all around the world converge on the rim of Crater Lake to stare down upon its pristine surface. The famously clear and crisp caldera—the deepest in the States—was born of a volcanic eruption 6,000-8,000 years ago, and is fed today by snow and rain. |
Crater Lake is evidence of the tectonic activity that's eternally shaping the planet. A long-ago eruption formed a giant caldera, which filled with rain and snow over time. The gradual result is a deep lake (the deepest in the country, in fact) with intense blue waters and fantastic clarity. Crater Lake's mountain setting atop the Cascade Range makes it even more hypnotic.
Pennsylvania: Appalachian National Scenic Trail at the Delaware Water Gap
The famous Delaware Water Gap area spans 70,000 acres (Pennsylvania and New Jersey), yet its namesake point is where the river carves through the rugged Kittatinny Mountain. See the Gap from Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT, to in-the-know hikers), which offers a clear view from Mount Minsi.
Rhode Island: Block Island
You might be excused for thinking you've been dropped on a distant British shore if you saw Victorian buildings, dramatic cliffs lashed by the Atlantic, and fieldstone walls encircling emerald-green fields. Visit the two begging-to-be-photographed lighthouses, ride a bike or moped around the island, and stop at a classic New England restaurant like Block Island Oyster Bar and Grill for lobster bisque and freshly-harvested local oysters.
South Carolina: Hilton Head Island Bike Trails
Wide, undeveloped beaches may be a major draw, but Hilton Head residents and visitors alike praise the island's bike trail network for its easy, breezy cruising (and for avoiding the occasionally congested roads). You can easily travel the 85-mile, well-maintained network to some of Hilton Head Island's favorite locations, including Sea Pines Forest Preserve. A late-afternoon bike ride is especially lovely as the sun sets over the marshes.
South Dakota: Badlands National Park
It is impossible to determine which location in South Dakota is the most beautiful among the steep buttes, crystal-lined caves, granite spires, prairies, and ponderosa pine forests, but the fossil-rich setting of Badlands National Park must be close. Meadows meet colorful, layered hills and whimsically eroded canyons in this area. Drive the perimeter road around the South Unit and the Badlands Loop Road (Highway 240). If you can arrive at the south-facing Pinnacles Overlook just before sunset, all the better.
Tennessee: Cherokee National Forest
It's a tough job for outdoor enthusiasts in Tennessee, especially on the state's eastern border. Whether you're looking to hike the Appalachian Trail or go on other backcountry expeditions, whitewater raft down the Pigeon River, set up camp next to Watauga Lake, or take in the stunning rhododendron summer bloom in the Roan Highlands, the 650,000-acre Cherokee National Forest has something to offer adventurers of every kind.
Texas: Guadalupe Mountains
The 400-mile Capitan Reef, one of the best-preserved ancient reef systems in the world, ends at these mountains in windswept West Texas. Explore the more than 80 miles of hiking trails, which include everything from leisurely nature hikes through the Chihuahuan Desert to strenuous ascents to the "Top of Texas" (also known as Guadalupe Peak, the state's highest point).
Utah: Arches National Park
We'll admit that the abundance of options available has left us unable to make a decision. However, bizarre Arches National Park wins out. A 65-million-year chronicle of our planet can be found in its naturally occurring sandstone arches, high cliffs, and honeycomb rocks. Both the scenery and the strenuous Fiery Furnace hike (requires ranger guidance or a personal permit) will leave you breathless.
Vermont: Mad River Valley
The Kennedys and other A-listers frequented Mad River Valley's snowy ski resorts in the 1950s. It continues to be a popular destination for all kinds of outdoor and simple-pleasure activities, including hiking, tasting cheese and maple syrup, shopping for crafts, and looking for local swimming holes, to name a few. Its craggy mountains and quaint small towns also contribute to this. Even just driving along Route 100 is enjoyable.
Virginia: Blue Ridge Parkway
The slogan "America's Favorite Drive" for the Blue Ridge Parkway is more than just clever marketing. The 469-mile drive, which is split between Virginia and North Carolina, passes through some of the most beautiful countryside in the Southeast. an illustration? A 90-foot-long "overpass" that is 215 feet tall and connects two solid limestone cliffs is called Natural Bridge. There are countless trails and photo opportunities, so don't forget to bring good hiking shoes and a phone charger.
Washington: Hurricane Ridge
This mountainous area within Olympic National Park packs the best features of Washington state into one enchantingly alpine package: snowy peaks, glassy lakes, grazing black-tailed deer in steep meadows, and thick evergreen forests.
West Virginia: New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
A highlight of West Virginia is the seemingly endless reserve of spectacular river ravines and mountain views. New River Gorge gets a special mention for its iconic bridge. With a 3,030-foot steel span that's nearly 90 stories high, it will make your heart skip a beat.
Wisconsin: Apostle Islands
There's so much to explore on the 20-plus islands that make up this archipelago. Hike through the wilderness, hop in a kayak, scuba dive to shipwrecks and underwater sea caves (Lake Superior really does look and feel more like an ocean), and check all eight lighthouses off your list.
Wyoming: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
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| Grand Prismatic Spring in Wyoming |
This location is a high point, even in a state where gorgeous scenery is everywhere. The deep river gorge is a rumbling mass of unmatched natural beauty, complete with roving wildlife (bison, elk, and even a grizzly crossing may cause traffic to halt), tumbling waterfalls, and canyon walls painted vibrantly by iron compounds.
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