The Most Breathtaking Parklands of 2025
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore | Gary Fultz
For Wildsam's inaugural Road Trip Awards we asked a panel of seven expert judges for the places that will make your next voyage through America unforgettable. Here, we're taking a look at Breathtaking Parklands, those public lands treasured by people near and far. Bonus points for secretive granite-walled corridors. And bison!
Eldorado Canyon State Park
“The iconic Eldo. It’s a mecca for climbers in the Boulder area and features an amazing pool that has recently reopened after a few years of renovation. The ‘Bastille Crack’ is a classic climbing route found in the canyon with roadside access, and it brings people in from all over the world. Climb a couple of routes, then take a dip in the chilly Eldo pool. That’s a perfect summer day in Boulder.”
—Ali V., photographer, Colorado
Chugach State Park
A half million acres of mountains, glaciers, alpine lakes and shoreline, just minutes from Anchorage. Decent daytrip.
Franconia Notch State Park
Enter the portal known as The Flume, a mysterious narrow passage carved through high granite walls. Hike out to sweeping highland vistas.
Call of the Wild
Our acclaimed field guides are are a treasure trove of basecamps, epic scenery and secret intel.
Currituck Beaches
Raw barrier-island beauty skirts the Atlantic. Of note—Corolla Beach can be explored via 4x4, with wild-horse sightings.
Fall Creek Falls State Park
One of Tennessee’s largest parks holds tranquil trails and waters. The namesake falls tumble from 256 feet, among the East’s highest.
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
North American heartland prairie’s diverse plant life and ambling bison live on here.
Cathedral Gorge State Park
Massive desert landforms blow the mind. Explore on a four-mile loop.
Dead Horse Point State Park
Canyonlands views make this outpost near Moab a photography icon.
Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Amid more than 2 million acres, let’s focus on one thing: river-running. The Salmon River is a coveted route, plyed by some of the nation’s most experienced raft and dory guides.
APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE
Go ahead, show folks your pictures from this place—ornate shoreline cliffs and obelisks of rust-orange rock, vintage lighthouses, remote beaches. Ask them to guess what state, and what body of water, they’re seeing. Then surprise them. With 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland shore at the far northern reaches of Wisconsin, the Apostles are an undersung gem among our federal public lands. A kayak adventure through its boggling brownstone and sandstone formations and sea caves reveals deep time and Lake Superior’s sculptural power.
The Road Trips Awards
We scoured the map. We asked our smartest, most well-traveled friends. The results are in.
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