Awesome Views in All 50 States

Palouse Falls in LaCrosse, WA

kan_khampanya/shutterstock

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Palouse Falls in LaCrosse, WA
kan_khampanya/shutterstock

A State With a View

From Florida to Washington state, the United States is full of beautiful views. Whether perched on a mountaintop looking out over the natural wonders of the land, standing ankle deep in a river surrounded by cliffs, or meandering among historic buildings in a local or national park, every state — and Washington, D.C. — has a stunning vantage point to offer. 


Related: The Most Beautiful River in Every State

Little River Canyon National Preserve
National Park Service / Matt Switzer

Alabama | Little River Canyon National Preserve

Fort Payne
Hiking through this area of Little River Canyon in the Southern Appalachians, called Hawks Glide, affords views that include flowering trees and seasonal waterfalls, depending on the time of year. 


Related: Best Picnic Spot in Every State

Flattop Mountain in Anchorage, AK
Valentin Martynov/shutterstock

Alaska | Flattop Mountain

Anchorage 
At Flattop Mountain, trails from 1.5 to 5.5 miles lead to the summit and overlooks with panoramic views. A viewpoint directly off a parking area offers up the panorama sans hiking. Access is free year-round. 


Related: Every State’s Strangest Claim to Fame

Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, AZ
jessicakirsh/shutterstock

Arizona | Camelback Mountain

Phoenix
Arizona is home to many must-see views, including the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, but the incredible beauty from on high doesn't stop there. The Camelback Mountain trails reach a summit of more than 2,704 feet for offer views of the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area near Phoenix.  


Related: Incredible Ancient Ruins Across North America

Buffalo National River, AR
Buffalo National River, AR by NPCA Photos (CC BY-ND)

Arkansas | Buffalo National River

St. Joe
America's first national river and its surrounding steep bluffs make for pretty outstanding views. The Buffalo flows for 135 miles, can be floated and fished, and there are hiking trails around it, too.



Zabriskie Point in Death Valley National Park, CA
Gary C. Tognoni/shutterstock
Blue Lakes Colorado
©TripAdvisor

Colorado | Blue Lakes

Montrose
This picturesque trail looks like something out of a fairy tale, with clear blue lakes amid green, lush mountains. Located in Uncompahgre National Forest, the 8.6-mile hike leads to a 11,720-foot peak and views of three major lakes. The view from the road to the trail is equally spectacular. 


Related: Stunning Photos of Iconic Landscapes in the American West

Mohawk Mountain
Alexander Farnsworth/istockphoto

Connecticut | Mohawk Mountain

Cornwall
Located in the Mohawk State Forest, the 1,683-foot summit of Mohawk Mountain provides bird's-eye views of the Berkshire, Taconic, and Catskill mountain regions. 


Related: Fun Facts About New England

Observation Tower At Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes, DE
Jon Bilous/shutterstock
LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
National Park Service / Victoria Stauffenberg

District of Columbia | LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac

Washington, D.C. 
This view of the Columbia Island Marina is just one possible perspective at this less-crowded D.C. destination. At the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac, visitors can also find views of lush meadows, the National Mall, and a striking granite megalith carved by sculptor Harold Vogel.  


Related: Free or Cheap Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
Wikimedia Commons

Florida | Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Jacksonville
This northern Florida preserve offers stunning views of salt marshes — this particular view is of Round Marsh — coastal dunes, and more.


Cumberland Island National Seashore
National Park Service
Nuuanu Pali Lookout in Oahu, HI
sangaku/shutterstock

Hawaii | Nuuanu Pali Lookout

Oahu
There is no shortage of places to catch a magical view in Hawaii. This local favorite is a windy stone terrace just a short car ride from downtown Honolulu. The view from more than 1,000 feet up looks out over mountains, the coast, and botanical gardens.


Related: The Best of Hawaii on a Budget

Table Rock Trail in Boise, ID
IDAK/shutterstock
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area
Illinois Office of Tourism

Illinois | Garden of the Gods Recreation Area

Herod
The rocky bluffs affording panoramic views at this recreation area in Illinois' Shawnee National Forest are easily accessed via a quarter-mile trail.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument IMG_4888
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument IMG_4888 by OZinOH (CC BY-NC)
Mount Hosmer City Park in Lansing, IA
Zack Frank/shutterstock

Iowa | Mount Hosmer City Park

Lansing
Reaching 450 feet over Lansing, the top of the bluff in this 104-acre park offers panoramic views of the mighty Mississippi River Valley. 

4-state lookout, White Cloud, Kansas
4-state lookout, White Cloud, Kansas by RubyT (I come here for cameraderie!) (CC BY-NC-ND)

Kansas | Four-State Lookout

White Cloud 
This simple elevated platform in White Cloud promises views of four states — Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and distant Iowa — on clear days, and there's no missing the Missouri River below. The lookout, which dates to the 1930s, got a significant revamp and expansion in preparation for the 2004 bicentennial celebration of when Lewis and Clark floated by.

Pinnacle Overlook in Middlesboro, KY
Steven C Dishion/shutterstock

Kentucky | Pinnacle Overlook

Middlesboro
This renowned overlook is in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Considered one of the highlights of the park, it features sprawling mountain views from a 2,440-foot vantage point. 

Oakland Plantation
©TripAdvisor
Great Head Summit
National Park Service

Maine | Great Head Summit

Bar Harbor
Head into Acadia National Park for this view, which rewards hikers as they reach the summit of the 1.7-mile round trip Great Head Trail. Do note that much of Maple Spring Trail is still closed due to damage from a storm last summer.

Precipice
Precipice by fishfoot (CC BY-NC)

Maryland | Lovers' Leap

Cumberland
On Wills Mountain, off Route 40, is a spot — in popular lore, thought to be where denied lovers leaped to their deaths — from which to view the Cumberland Narrows rock formations at 1,652 feet. The view extends to Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Monument Mountain in Great Barrington, MA
jdwfoto/shutterstock

Massachusetts | Monument Mountain

Great Barrington
Climb Monument Mountain to the 1,642-foot summit of Squaw Peak and look out over the Housatonic River Valley, including a sprawling river and rolling mountains virtually unchanged over hundreds of years. The view extends as far as Mount Greylock near Vermont and the Catskills of New York.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
National Parks Service
Palisade Head in Beaver Bay Township, MN
AMB-MD Photography/shutterstock

Minnesota | Palisade Head

Beaver Bay Township
The Palisade Head, at mile 56 on the North Shore Scenic Drive, is an offshoot that leads to high ground with spectacular views. The view of a sheer cliff plunging into blue water is dramatic and accessible by car.

Woodall Mountain
Woodall Mountain by Jimmy Emerson, DVM (CC BY-NC-ND)

Mississippi | Woodall Mountain

Iuka
The highest point in Mississippi, at 807 feet tall, Woodall Mountain provides sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. Some locals scoff at calling the mound a mountain, though. It's also known as Yow Hill.

Castle Trail in Camdenton, MO
Sharon Day/shutterstock

Missouri | Castle Trail

Camdenton
The Castle Trail in Ha Ha Tonka State Park is beloved for its view of Lake of the Ozarks (and its access to the ruins of a castle). The three scenic lookouts are reachable by a paved and handicapped-accessible trail from the parking lot. 


Related: The Best Hidden Gem in Every State

Big Mountain in Whitefish, MT
Christopher Jackson/shutterstock

Montana | Big Mountain

Whitefish
The main hike on 6,817-foot Big Mountain is the Danny On Trail, which leads to a renowned view of lush land all the way to Glacier National Park. The 7-mile trail goes through bear territory, so bear spray and plenty of noise are highly recommended.

Scotts Bluff Summit in Gering, NE
Zack Frank/shutterstock

Nebraska | Scotts Bluff Summit

Gering
Take a free 10-minute summit shuttle ride and hear stories and history of the area on the way to the view at the top of Scotts Bluff. Or do the drive in your own car, or hike 1.6 miles to enjoy the trip in solitude — either way, you'll wind up 800 feet above the North Platte River. 


Related: 30 Beautiful Road Trips That Celebrate American History

Great Basin National Park
National Park Service
Aerial Tram in Franconia, NH
Nancy Kennedy/shutterstock

New Hampshire | Aerial Tram

Franconia
An impressive aerial tram offers passengers 360-degree views over land spanning New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Maine, and part of Canada. It includes a ride to and from the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain and its observation deck and walking paths.

Castle Point in Hoboken, NJ
John Arehart/shutterstock

New Jersey | Castle Point

Hoboken
Located just across the river from New York City, this is one of the best places to see Manhattan from a distance. It is actually the highest point in Hoboken, and part of the Stevens Institute of Technology campus, which is free to enter.

El Morro National Monument
National Park Service
French Point Mountain in Lake George, NY
tomtsya/shutterstock

New York | French Point Mountain

Lake George
Move over Empire State Building: The lake- and mountain-studded panoramic view from the 1,756-foot summit of French Point Mountain is breathtaking. The 8.8-mile round-trip hike is difficult but well worth the stunning views of the surrounding natural landscape. 

 

Cape Lookout National Seashore
National Park Service / Victoria Stauffenberg
The old Four Bears Bridge spanning Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River
The old Four Bears Bridge spanning Lake Sakakawea/Missouri River by Naawada2016 (CC BY-SA)

North Dakota | Crow Flies High State Park

New Town
This historic lookout point in a state recreation area outside New Town provides a sweeping vista of Lake Sakakawea from 2,086 feet above sea level that has barely changed since the time of explorers Lewis and Clark. 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park Service / Victoria Stauffenberg

Ohio | Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Peninsula 
Paved trails along this park's river of the same name offer lush views of verdant landscapes. 

Chickasaw National Recreation Area
National Park Service / Victoria Stauffenberg

Oklahoma | Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Murray County 
This south-central Oklahoma park offer gorgeous views of the Lake of the Arbuckles, day and night.  

Oregon Caves National Preserve
National Park Service
Hyner View State Park (2)
Hyner View State Park (2) by Nicholas A. Tonelli (CC BY)

Pennsylvania | Hyner View

North Bend
Hyner View State Park has easy access to overlooks of the Susquehanna River and is a popular hang-gliding spot, which makes for extra entertainment while enjoying the view. 

Prospect Terrace Park in Providence, RI
Richard Cavalleri/shutterstock

Rhode Island | Prospect Terrace Park

Providence
This small park in the College Hill area is a local favorite for impressive views of the capital. The free park at the top of a moderately steep hill is open day and night, though it's most popular for one-of-a-kind sunsets.

Sassafras Mtn View, Lakes Hartwell and Jocasse
Sassafras Mtn View, Lakes Hartwell and Jocasse by Stephen Taylor (CC BY-NC)

South Carolina | Sassafras Mountain

Pickens County
The high point in South Carolina is the top of Sassafras Mountain, reaching 3,533 feet. The free hiking area offers a moderate climb for those who love a challenge. There's a lookout deck off the parking area for those who just want the view.

Badlands National Park
National Park Service / Brad Barker

South Dakota | Badlands National Park

Interior 
Castle Trail in the Mount Rushmore State offers less sculpted views, but they're full of adventure among the prairie grasses and buttes

Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Henryk Sadura/shutterstock

Tennessee | Clingmans Dome

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The view from 6,643 feet is worth a visit to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is free year-round. The highest point, known as Clingmans Dome, is reached by car and a half-mile summit trail traversable only by foot to an observation tower at the peak. On a rare clear day, there's a 100-mile view.

Emory Peak
Emory Peak by Becky Lai (CC BY-NC-ND)
Bryce Canyon National Park in Bryce Canyon, UT
silky/shutterstock

Utah | Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon
The mesmerizing views in Bryce Canyon are many, one seemingly greater than the next. Scenic Route 12 offers more than a dozen lookout points from which to see the shimmering, colorful rock formations known as the "Grand Staircase." 

Harrington's View in Jonesville, VT
Joyce Vincent/shutterstock

Vermont | Harrington's View

Jonesville
Harrington's View is recognized by locals and visitors as the ideal place to view the state's best-known mountain, Mount Mansfield. The 6.6-mile trail that leads to the sweeping vista is easily accessible by car. 

Shenandoah National Park
National Park Service
Palouse Falls in LaCrosse, WA
kan_khampanya/shutterstock

Washington | Palouse Falls

LaCrosse
The waterfall cascading from nearly 200 feet at Palouse Falls State Park, near Starbuck, is best appreciated from above — a vantage point easily reached with a mere quarter-mile, handicapped-accessible trail. 

Grandview Rim Trail in Grandview, WV
Steve Heap/shutterstock

West Virginia | Grandview Rim Trail

Grandview
The start of this trail offers a stunning vista of the New River and its dramatic valley. For those who wish to hike the trail, there is another view at the end, some 1,400 feet up. 

Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo, WI
Kris Wiktor/shutterstock
Fossil Butte
snikeltrut/istockphoto