305 State Parks.
How many have you visited?

Unique fact: Home to one of the largest free-roaming bison herds in North America with over 1,300 animals, plus wild burros that will stick their heads in your car windows. The park's Wildlife Loop Road is one of America's best wildlife drives.

Why visit: Witness the annual buffalo roundup each September when cowboys drive the entire herd across the prairie. Cruise the scenic Needles Highway through granite spires, spot bighorn sheep and pronghorn, and watch sunsets paint the Black Hills gold.

Unique fact: The largest state park in California at over 600,000 acres, bigger than some countries. Hidden throughout the desert are 130 giant metal sculptures of prehistoric creatures created by artist Ricardo Breceda.

Why visit: Time your visit for spring to witness spectacular wildflower super blooms that carpet the desert floor in vibrant colors. Hunt for the whimsical metal sculptures, explore slot canyons, and camp under some of the darkest skies in Southern California.

Unique fact: Contains Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail, and remains one of the most primitive state parks with no electricity or running water. Gifted to Maine by Governor Percival Baxter over 32 years.

Why visit: Experience true wilderness where moose outnumber people and cell phones don't work. Hike to Katahdin's summit via the famous Knife Edge trail, congratulate thru-hikers completing their six-month journey, and disconnect from modern life completely.

Unique fact: The second largest canyon in the United States after the Grand Canyon, stretching 120 miles long and 20 miles wide. The canyon was carved by a fork of the Red River and features stunning layers of red, yellow, and orange rock.

Why visit: Watch the outdoor musical drama "TEXAS" performed under the stars in the canyon amphitheater. Hike or horseback ride past hoodoos and colorful rock formations, spot the rare Texas horned lizard, and explore where Comanche once roamed.

Unique fact: Nevada's oldest state park features 3,000-year-old petroglyphs carved by ancient Puebloans and sandstone formations dating back 150 million years to the age of dinosaurs. The name comes from the brilliant red rocks that appear to burn at sunrise and sunset.

Why visit: Photograph the fire-red sandstone formations as they glow in golden hour light, especially the famous Wave-like Fire Wave formation. Explore ancient petroglyphs at Mouse's Tank, squeeze through narrow slot canyons, and visit a petrified forest.

Unique fact: Features 19 waterfalls along a 2-mile gorge trail that descends 400 feet through 200-foot stone walls, carved by Glen Creek over 12,000 years. The gorge was formed when glaciers retreated at the end of the Ice Age.

Why visit: Walk directly behind waterfalls on the famous Gorge Trail as water cascades around you. Climb 832 stone steps through tunnels and over bridges while mist from the falls cools you on hot summer days. It's like walking through a natural cathedral.

Unique fact: Home to McWay Falls, one of only two waterfalls in California that plunge directly into the ocean. The park is named after a Big Sur pioneer woman and sits on one of the most scenic stretches of Highway 1.

Why visit: Gaze at the iconic 80-foot waterfall cascading onto a pristine turquoise cove, the most photographed spot on the Big Sur coast. Hike through redwood forests, explore tide pools, and drive one of the world's most beautiful coastal roads.