Everyone knows that Alaska is a breathtaking state to visit or live in. Some areas of the The Last Frontier are even more spectacular, though. These areas have been dedicated and preserved as state parks. These are some of the best state parks in Alaska, and they each offer visitors incredible vistas. There’s nothing like visiting one of these parks and getting glimpses into the life of Alaskan wildlife when you see it in its natural habitat. With so many state parks to visit in Alaska, it’s tough to narrow down the very best, but we’ve chosen four of our favorites. These are each truly one of a kind and perfect ways to see all the beauty that our state has to offer.

1. Chugach State Park - 18620 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516
Chugach State Park, 18620 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99516, USA
"Alces alces 8492" by Walter Siegmund (talk) - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
As the closest state park to Anchorage, Chugach State Park attracts a lot of visitors. It offers some of the best hiking trails in Alaska and also features many nature centers. One of the best areas of this park is the Eagle River Nature Center, which is also the endpoint for the Crows Pass Trail. The trail starts in Girdwood and launches hikers up over a very beautiful, but dangerous pass, that is part of the Historic Iditarod Trail. The trail connects Eagle River to Girdwood and is quite the amazing trek! In the winter, the park's western edge features some frozen waterfalls that are absolutely magnificent.
2. Denali National Park and Preserve - Parks Hwy, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK
Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA
"Mount McKinley Alaska" by Nic McPhee from Morris, MN, USA - Road to special places. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Denali contains Mount McKinley, the highest point in all of North America. This is not only one of the best state parks to visit in Alaska, it's also one of the best parks in the entire world. The park is absolutely massive, spanning over 6 million acres, and is larger than the state of New Jersey. It's a well known tourist attaction boasting mountain climbing, wildlife, hiking, skiing, sledding, and, of course, glaciers. There's a reason it's on many people's bucket lists: it's absolutely incredible. However, it's also one of the most dangerous places in Alaska... stay safe out there!

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3. Kachemak Bay State Park - Homer, AK 99603
Kachemak Bay State Park, Homer, AK 99603, USA
"Sunrise on Kachemak Bay" by Beeblebrox at en.wikipedia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Alaska's first state park is also one of the best. Kachemak Bay State Park is most commonly reached by plane due to its remote nature. The lack of roads make most of this park a great representation of wild and true Alaskan wilderness. It's a 400,000-acre paradise housing a variety of fascinating species, like whales, sea lions, bears, and moose. This is such a gorgeous area!
4. Wood-Tikchik State Park - Dillingham, AK 99576
Wood-Tikchik State Park, Dillingham, AK 99576, USA
Travis via Wood River Mountains | Flickr
This is another massive state park in Alaska. With over 1.6 million acres in area, it's as large as the entire state of Delaware (and it's actually the largest state park in the country). As you can imagine, you'll see a lot of bear and moose roaming around here. It has a variety of fascinating habitats and, of course, stunning scenery. It's a remote area in southwestern Alaska that's positively beautiful.

Did we miss your favorite state parks to visit in Alaska? We love finding new things to do outside in Alaska, so make sure to share your suggestions in the comments!

 

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