America's 10 Favorite State Parks for Hiking, According to Google

And Google’s latest research is being used for good — at least, if you think checking out some of the most popular state parks in the country before summer ends is a good thing. In early August, Google shared on its blog three interesting lists: the most popular state parks of summer 2025 (based on how many times people requested directions in Google Maps), the most popular state parks for picnicking (based on reviews that mention picnics), and the most popular state parks for hiking, based on how many reviews mention hikes. While some of the results are probably explained by the parks being close to major cities and easily reached on a day trip, most are on this list for one reason: they’re truly fantastic places to be out in nature.

Photo: Google Blog

Of the three rankings, it’s clear that proximity to major cities is the least important when it comes to hiking — reviewers are praising state parks with excellent views and trails, not just those that happen to be close to their homes. Each state park on the list has something distinct about it; Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin and Turkey Run in Indiana are known for dramatic sandstone cliffs and trails through gorges, and Starved Rock State Park in Illinois has more than 10 canyons carved by still-flowing waterfalls. Out west, Smith Rock in Oregon and Valley of Fire in Nevada are renowned for otherworldly geography (think: volcanic rock spires and fiery sandstone formations), and Texas’ Palo Duro Canyon State Park has the well-earned moniker of “The Grand Canyon of Texas.” Here are Matador Network’s picks for the trail you won’t want to miss in each park.

• Devil’s Lake State Park: West Bluff Trail: A loop past the park’s iconic quartzite cliffs and sweeping views over Devil’s Lake, passing “Devil’s Doorway” (the park’s most famous rock formation)
• Starved Rock State Park: St. Louis Canyon Trail: A short but dramatic trek into a sandstone gorge ending at one of the park’s tallest waterfalls, framed by sheer rock walls.
• Palo Duro Canyon State Park: Lighthouse Trail: An out-and-back to the park’s signature rock spire, “The Lighthouse,” with sweeping red-rock canyon views along the way.
• Watkins Glen State Park: The Gorge Trail: One of the prettiest trails in the Finger Lakes. From the trail, hikers can see 19 waterfalls, stone bridges, and narrow rock tunnels.
• Valley of Fire State Park: Fire Wave Trail: A quick and easy route to the park’s most famous formation, where swirled colors of rock look like frozen waves of fire.
• Turkey Run State Park: Trail 3: It’s the park’s most adventurous trail, winding up ladders and through creek beds and ravines. It feels more like a natural obstacle course than day hike.
• Bear Mountain State Park: Major Welch & Appalachian Trail Loop: Send it up a scramble on the Major Welch Trail, then have a gentler descent back down along the Appalachian Trail (plus Hudson River views from the summit).
• Letchworth State Park: Inspiration Point and Lower Falls via Gorge Trail: Often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” (yes, it’s a nickname tossed around a lot), the trail strings together canyon overlooks and waterfalls that are especially strong in late spring.
• Cloudland Canyon State Park: West Rim Loop Trail: This trail hugs the rim of one of the state’s deepest canyons with cliffside views nearly the entire time.
• Smith Rock State Park: Misery Ridge and River Trail: A well-loved loop that starts with a steep climb to “Monkey Face,” the park’s famous rock spire.

Photo: Google Blog

This summer’s most popular state parks, according to the Google announcement, are primarily those that serve as outdoor escapes for major population centers. Many are in the northeastern US, like Watkins Glen and Letchworth state parks in New York, along with Jones Beach on Long Island and Hammonasset Beach in Connecticut. That shows how much demand there is on the densely populated eastern seaboard for outdoor access, with residents of cities like New York, Boston, and Hartford probably looking for scenic day hikes and easy access to beaches.

However, not all the most popular parks can be explained away just by proximity to cities. Silver Falls in Oregon and Point Lobos in California prove that West Coast waterfall hikes and rugged coastal scenery will always be on road-trippers’ bucket lists, while Warren Dunes in Michigan and Starved Rock in Illinois highlight the Midwest’s well-known love of lakeshore beaches. Blue Spring State Park in Florida is known primarily for being a place to spot manatees in the wild. So while proximity may be a major driver for some parks, others are on the list simply for their protected natural wonders.

Photo: Google Blog

This summer’s most picnic-friendly state parks, according to Google, suggest that people are searching for a blend of convenience and nature. The fact that so many parks are again in the northeastern US, like Liberty State Park in New Jersey, Bear Mountain and Letchworth in New York, and Colt State Park in Rhode Island, probably means that city residents are seeking out places to find wide lawns and waterfront views without straying too far from home.

But there are some exceptions. Devil’s Lake in Wisconsin is known for its dramatic bluffs and lakefront beaches, rather than its proximity to population centers — the closest large town is Madison, about an hour away. And in Texas, while McKinney Falls State Park is relatively close to Austin, it draws picnickers for its things to do before and after lunch, including cliff jumping and waterfall-fed swimming holes.