6 Stunning State and National Parks of the Midwest

Jul 24, 2025

We’re celebrating our Midwest Pride today with a compilation list of the most beautiful parks to explore in the Midwest. While some folks may consider us to be nothing more than prairies and cornfields, we know that our home region is so much more than that. We’ve got gorgeous alpine lakes with crystal clear water, stunning old-growth forests, untouched pristine wilderness, and plenty of adventure and outdoor excitement. Immerse yourselves in these unique ecosystems and admire their biodiversity with your own two eyes. Today’s blog is all about the most incredible state and national parks to visit in the Midwest.

Voyageurs National Park is a nature enthusiasts dream destination. It’s a top destination for hiking, backpacking, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, and camping at more than 270 campsites in the park. It’s a favorite spot for anglers to snag some walleye, one of the park’s most prevalent fish species, in addition to 50+ other varieties such as Black Crappie, Perch, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, etc. The park is also a stellar option for star gazing and planetary observation thanks to its exquisite dark sky areas.

Table Rock State Park would make a great stop off to your vacation in Branson! This natural getaway offers plentiful outdoor activities and recreation for all ages. The state park marina on site rents everything from paddleboards to ski boats and fishing equipment! You’ll find wonderful trails for hiking, cycling, and even mountain biking. Looking to make a day trip out of it? You’ll certainly have a blast with a family picnic and some bird watching and wildlife watching for a lowkey day out in nature. Table Rock Lake is perfect for all of your watersports needs, and you can even hop on the scenic cruise Showboat Branson Belle for dinner and a show. We also highly recommend making a trip to Table Rocks Cavern for a memorable experience.

Cuyahoga Valley National Park is teeming with natural wonders including waterfalls, impressive forestlands, wetlands, and plenty of trails for hiking and biking. Brandywine Falls is the featured waterfall attraction and it plunges down the rockside into Brandywine Creek, perfect for nature photography and a quiet hike. The park offers kayaking and canoeing options, ranger-led walks and guided hikes as well as special activities. Visitors can explore historic sites like the Stanford House and Everett Covered Bridge, and have the opportunity to walk the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.

Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park was established in 2018 and opened to the public in 2019. This 332-acre park features 220 acres of badlands, gorgeously rugged mini-deserts with hauntingly eroded landscapes, sedimentary rocks, steep slopes, sparse vegetarian, and sometimes even fossils! The wildlife here is quite varied, but some require a keen eye to spot – bats, reptiles, toads, and unique insects are known to hide in the grasses and Great Plains Wild Buckwheat. The Niobrara Chalk Formations are a site to behold, but remember they’re very delicate and conservation efforts are focused on limited human interaction and access to preserve them. The Niobrara Chalk was formed by sediment settled at the bottom of the former “Western Interior Seaway” 70million+ years ago.

Wind Cave National Park encompasses two different protected areas under one umbrella. The first is one of the nation’s oldest national parks, filled with prairie grasslands and rolling hills of ponderosa forests, both teeming with wildlife such as charming little prairie dogs and impressive creatures like Elk and Bison; the second is Wind Cave, one of the longest and most complex underground cave systems in the world. Take a walking tour of the cave or opt for an above-ground 20-mile driving tour to observe the geological highlights and history of the Black Hills. Enjoy some backcountry camping along the thousands of acres of undeveloped forests and prairies for a scenic getaway. Tour the park from a unique perspective with a horseback riding tour or cycling trail tour.

Fort Robinson State Park includes more than 22,000 acres on the former site of an Old West fort. The park is a historic area featuring many of its original buildings, as well as memorials and historic site of the passing of Sioux Chief Crazy Horse. Fort Robinson was also home to numerous Buffalo Soldiers in the early 1900s. The Fort Robinson History Center is in the post headquarters building and chronicles the role it played from the 1800s up through WWII, and the expansion of the US to its western territory. In addition to a rich history lesson, you’ll also find more than 60 hiking trails and 20 miles of mountain biking trails plus several equestrian trail options. There are 9 ponds for fishing and anglers will find species like rainbow and tiger trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, yellow perch, and many more. Families will love the options for picnicking, camping, swimming, boating, and exploring!