Some urban parks are a spot of green in a landscape of gray concrete and steel, the only spot for blocks and blocks with trees and grass. Atlanta has lots of tr

The stone observation tower atop Mount Constitution – at 2,409 feet, the highest point among Washington’s San Juan Islands – offers panoramic views of gre

You don’t have to go to the boondocks to go hiking or horseback riding in deep woods teeming with deer, raccoons and even coyotes. You can do that in Rock Cre

Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, may be the world’s largest sculpture garden — a place where Mother Nature has used wind and water to carve more than 2

You can take the rugged outdoors approach (rock-climbing, anyone?) or simply enjoy the views from one of eight overlooks at this scenic Alabama park.

City leaders paid a mere $2,000 for land that was originally supposed to be a graveyard. Luckily for Seattle residents, plans changed, and the park now boasts p

The Grand Canyon of Texas is more accessible than its famous Arizona cousin — with trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riding.

The mysterious, ancient caves are the star attraction of this Kentucky park, but 70 miles of above-ground hiking trails and 30 miles of paddling opportunities w

Theodore Wirth Park in Minnesota goes beyond the usual amenities with a 15-acre garden and bird sanctuary, mountain biking trails and even a snow-tubing trail w

This northeast Arizona park boasts three major canyons and because it lies on Navajo tribal land, you'll need a Navajo guide or ranger to get a better look at t

When you think of beach, Indiana may not spring to mind, but this area boasts plenty of uncrowded waterfront — and even views of the Chicago skyline.

The red and orange sandstone cliffs are best viewed from a kayak — but with 111 miles of hiking trail, you'll see many snapshot-worthy sites on foot, too.

The 21 islands that make up Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will reveal a whole new side of Wisconsin — just be sure to bring your kayak for the best view.

With 70 miles of hiking trails, you've got options at Portland's Forest Park. Why not catch a glimpse of Mount St. Helens or Mount Rainier?

Cuyahoga Valley National Park — a swath of green river valley stretching from Akron north to the southern edge of Cleveland — is Ohio’s only national park

With a mix of soaring granite peaks, lush alpine meadows, high country lakes and waterfalls, Rocky Mountain National Park is a park straight out of central cast

This Georgia river is a refuge for metro Atlanta, providing opportunities for biking, hiking, canoeing — and some blissful silence.

New York City's biggest park is in the Bronx — and Pelham Bay Park boasts a beach, salt marshes and even an equestrian center.

The jaw-dropping red rock country in Arizona has no shortage of open space. Red Rock State Park south of Sedona — a tourist town with equal number fudge shops

Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska is three fingers of Mother Nature poured over ice. A place where glaciers creep to the sea and the Harding Icefield, which

The therapeutic qualities of these springs have drawn visitors for more than 200 years — and the history and architecture of this Arkansas hot spot provide ev

This a place where all the superlatives apply — from the mountain views to the colors in the landscape ... oh, and don't forget the grizzly bears.

The space might not be conventional, but there's room to do almost everything — bike, walk, fish or paddle — in this strip along the river.

You can stay on dry land or take in the wonders of this marsh and mangrove mystery-land via canoe. Either way, be prepared to see a lot of wildlife.

Chicago may not come to mind when you think of beach towns, but the city offers two dozen public beaches along 26 miles of Lake Michigan. Each beach has a vibe

There's no better place than Washington, D.C., to celebrate America's achievements and sacrifices. From presidents to war heroes to a civil rights icon, it offe

Just west of Interstate 5 (or “the five,” as they say in these parts) within the San Diego city limits is a big slab of 15th-century California. The Torrey

The nation’s sandbox is found in southern Colorado. The heart of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a dune field that spreads out for nearly 30 sq

Zion National Park in southern Utah isn’t on as many “bucket lists” as it should be.

This New Mexico treasure has been described as 'the Grand Canyon with a roof on it.' But don't take Will Rogers' word for it — see it for yourself.

The most notable structure in Nashville's green playground is the Parthenon, a replica of the ancient temple made of modern materials.

A trip to Channel Islands National Park is a trip back in time — Southern California before freeways. The park protects five islands and the surrounding water

This Maryland park houses Camp David, the famous presidential retreat, but you're more likely to see whitetail deer and black bears than a president.

This New Hampshire gem is a four-season recreational hub with hiking in the summer and snow skiing in the winter. (Bonus: It's easy to get to, thanks to access

Measuring well over 5,000 square miles, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the Lower 48. Of course, most people know it for its other su

Sitting on the rain-soak Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington, Olympic National Park is perhaps most known for its expansive temperate rain forest. However

There's a reason why more than 4 million people visit this Wyoming wonder annually. (Don't worry: there's enough nature for everyone to enjoy at this neighbor t

This famous urban greenspace is where the locals go to shrug off big city living and where the tourists go to see what all the fuss is about.

Mount Mitchell State Park, about 35 miles northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, is a place of superlatives. The namesake peak is the tallest east of the Missi

More of MNN's user guides for some of the best national, state and local parks in the United States. Explore America's parks with this series.

This is part of Explore America's Parks, a series of user's guides to national, state and local park systems across the United States. We'll be adding new parks

Visible from Puget Sound to the west, Mount Rainer looms above the Cascade Range at 14,410 feet above sea level. This peak of fire and ice — an active volcano

Gulf Islands National Seashore, the country’s largest national seashore, includes six barrier islands stretched out for 160 miles from Santa Rosa Island, Flor

Shenandoah National Park may be the world’s most beautiful highway right-of-way. This park in central Virginia stretches for 105 miles along the Blue Ridge Mo

The National Park of American Samoa isn’t the sort of place you visit on your way to some other destination. You have to really want to be here. It’s a 5 ½

There is more to Nevada than desert, hot nightclubs and garish, neon temples of gambling. Great Basin National Park, about 285 miles north of the Las Vegas Stri

This expansive park offers a peek at the wilder side of New York and New Jersey — from the plush woodlands, hundreds of animal species and even a nude beach.

You won’t find a home where the buffalo roam across this section of the Great Plains, but you will find 126 campsites at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. You

Towering granite walls, picturesque valleys carved by glaciers, jaw-dropping giant trees, waterfalls. It sounds like Yosemite National Park. Kings Canyon Nation

Rustic buildings scattered across this Iowa state park make the trails all the more worth forging.