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Best Country parks in United States
Top Rated Country parks
Top Reviewed Country parks
Hiking
Overpeck Park Henry Hoebel Area
Dwight D. Eisenhower Park
Schroeter Park
Salinas Park
Shinnecock East County Park
Hidden Oasis RV Park (Sites Available!!)
Cedar Point County Park
Thomas Muratore Park at Farmingville Hills
Makamah Nature Preserve
Island Lake County Park
Thompson County Park
Reviews
We ❤️❤️❤️Thompson! It's big, bright, colorful, and inclusive. I appreciate the new fence. At first, I was wondering why it was there and only half mass!? (Half way around)
Then, a toddler B lines straight towards the spot it's blocking 🚫 the mom right behind him. I immediately realized how that could have been very bad. Few more tiny steps and he'd been in the pond.
Good job putting it in!
Then, a toddler B lines straight towards the spot it's blocking 🚫 the mom right behind him. I immediately realized how that could have been very bad. Few more tiny steps and he'd been in the pond.
Good job putting it in!
A walk to the old Lighthouse on a foggy December morning was quite interesting. Found a stranded Green Turtle and interesting decorations on the coastal trees and shrubs.
Beautiful view from the boardwalk but it does not look safe, very old and not so sturdy pieces of food to step on. Lots of gaps with rotten wood.
Definitely not safe for little ones to walk on their own. Very cool to see stairs at the end to water. Would be great to launch kayaks.
Definitely not safe for little ones to walk on their own. Very cool to see stairs at the end to water. Would be great to launch kayaks.
I come to this park for the awesome trails! They run through the woods, are well maintained, and are of various distances.
What a beautiful place to walk and enjoy nature. Loved seeing all the dogs on the paths enjoy some time outdoors. Bathroom facilities on site were clean. Nice all abilities playground.
This was a perfect board walk with a lot of information posted about the local wild life and vegetation. It appeared well maintained. We also loved the bike rack located at the south most entrance. And we loved the water source that was available for filling up water bottles, allowing your pet to have access to a water bowl that filled and drained on its own AND a place to rinse off if needed. We happened to see an alligator on this trip while using the long pier that was dedicated to a young man taken too early. That pier was in need of repair at the time of our visit, Sept 2023.
Pretty and serene with a great collection of interconnected hiking trails and paved walking paths. Clean restrooms on site as well as areas to sit and eat. Nice little lake right in the middle.
Camping on the beach over labor day weekend was great. No hook ups so you have to fill your fresh water tanks and have a generator running. The bayside is calm and tranquil people love fishing off the rocks. The ocean side is beautiful. Its my favorite beach on the island. It is deep into suffolk county but well woth the drive. You get some of the most gorgeous Sunsets.. .
9.4.23 - It's been a historically hot summer this year, luckily was able to capture the fall of much-needed rain. The video doesn't do it justice.
The weather was absolutely the best. This was the 2nd time we rented, this beautiful shelteted pavilion, here at this park, for our Annual Ross/Sundet Picnic.
There were plenty of outlets, tables, grills, a beautiful kitchen, with water, sinks, refrigerator's & counter space to use.
The bathroom facilities were clean, also located in the pavilion. A great play area for children & several paths to walk or ride your bikes on. Also plenty of parking & handicap parking available. Plans have already started to be back in 2024. Would highly recommend this park for any event, large or small.
There were plenty of outlets, tables, grills, a beautiful kitchen, with water, sinks, refrigerator's & counter space to use.
The bathroom facilities were clean, also located in the pavilion. A great play area for children & several paths to walk or ride your bikes on. Also plenty of parking & handicap parking available. Plans have already started to be back in 2024. Would highly recommend this park for any event, large or small.
Started with the yellow trail to reach to somewhat on the grey trail. Would request to put some benches for anyone to rest . The trail is extremely steep with rain making it more slippery. Be careful with your steps and be mindful of the nature. Good place for bird watching. Beautiful Nature preserve to spend quality time.
Was a great day for a family reunion. The kiddos enjoyed the park and area around to adventure around. The pavilion was a great shaded spot to visit with family. Can't wait to go back and experience the trails etc. The butterflies all over were a great sight as well
Awesome place. Super beautiful 😍
Wonderful park with great views. Love that there is a water fountain with a doggie water fountain as well. Nice easy walk. Covered picnic tables too. There was an older boardwalk with large gaps between boards that isn't dog friendly. But the newer ones are very nice.
It is nice place but limited restroom to use especially on the weekend. Main restroom is still close i dont know why but other then that it is nice place for a family to come. Small nice cafeteria with amazing view.
Host unfriendly. Not worth what they want. Pads uneven. Sewage dump pipe sticks 18" above ground. Driveway steep and washed out. Generally trashy looking. Told me one price and when I got there they changed it by $100 more.
Great little sites near the bay, no firepits, unfortunately, but you can bring your own. Bathrooms are very clean, and if you place your trash in a garbage bag near the entrance to your area, it gets collected every morning. They show movies on Saturday nights by the camp store. Dogs are cool to bring along; must be leashed.
It's a lovely place to take a hike and is dog-friendly. It has restrooms and an enormous playground with various recreational activities. As spoken of, it has a picnic area. There are equestrian, kayaking, a soccer field, baseball playgrounds, long tennis courts, bird watching, and kiting activities. It has an unrestricted select drone area, remote control airplane/flight field, a race track and field, and a place for badminton, volleyball, Cricket, a thoracic park, and so forth.
Nice quiet RV Park
Kleiner Spielplatz, Eine Feuerstelle, ein paar Grills, Bänke und Tische die mit Fliegenschutzgittern eingehaust sind. Und ein Pier mit einer schönen Aussicht, auch eine Dusche pickleballplätze und Toiletten sind vorhanden.
It was a wonderful day at the park l the vendors were out and the food the music items to see and buy was fantastic a beautiful day to have the real young kids at the petting zoo . My granddaughter who will be turning three had a fun time . She fell asleep all the way home . Check it out when the carnival is there it's a great time for the family .
Ready to go again
Ready to go again
I been here two to three times to enjoy the beach mostly to fish & have not caught any fish at all. I don't know where the fish are going however, I know that people are taking babies not allowing fish to grow causing lack of fish. All these places use to be the best hotspots to fish & for the past few years it has been very dry. Unless you have a boat & out onshore.
It has few pavilions and good walking trails. Lake is cool. There are some volleyball courts. I would definitely suggest creating little beach near lake. Parking is ample. It does get crowded in summer weekend days.
Always a good get away...fun little place to catch and release...
This is a fantastic bird watching spot I recently saw a green heron on my walk. As other reviews stated it is a little easy to get lost but not too hard to get back on the trail. that and there is a bit of trash everywhere.
Overall it's a good walk with a lot of unexpected bird species Ive never seen before I'm kind of disappointed I didn't have my camera with me
Overall it's a good walk with a lot of unexpected bird species Ive never seen before I'm kind of disappointed I didn't have my camera with me
Shhhhh!!! This is a hidden gem. There is a small bay side, but if you go towards the beach, it's priceless. Beautiful, clean and not crowded. No lifeguards though so I wouldn't come with the kiddos
It's a nice, quite park. It's a very big place and is more natural than the big city parks. It does need a good cleaning though.
We are new to the area and have visited this park a couple of times. It's well maintained and the flower gardens near the parking/entry area are a delight! There are paved trails and natural trails for whatever level of hike you need!
Very beautiful park. I enjoy going there to ride my e scooter around for a bit. The only issue that I have is that the last time I was there, the man in the little cart told me that e scooters aren't allowed. I don't see any signs anywhere around or in the park that say "no e scooters." So I'm not sure if he was just being an a** or if this is actually a rule. Whatever the case, I'd like to know. If it actually is a rule, I don't mind following it. But if it isn't, I will continue to ride my e scooter (safely) in the park.
Great place for fishing or just hanging out
They need more trees in the walking paths and the playground for the kids.
Good place to walk with or without a Dog. Lots of Hills. No bathrooms or playground.. Just a Nature Preserve. Beware of Poison Ivy near trails. Please clean after Yourself and Dog when visiting.
Great park!!! Love it
Always clean and pleasant to walk around here everyone respects everyones space!!
Beautiful park with a playground, boardwalks, covered shelter, volleyball, & more. The sunset was amazing as I drove by, so I stopped & took pictures. The only bad thing was bugs - I got ate up during the time I was there.
Main office attendant friendly, knowledgeable & helpful. Ranger presence is lacking. I believe they do the best with what they are given. Outside sites are best. Middle of campground is tight quarters and very dusty. Nice beach
This is the perfect park to visit during summer days. There are many benches and tables to sit, some near the playground and some close to the water. I loved the view, you can enjoy a walk here as well. The kids also enjoyed playing on the sand area.
Go there often with friends for walks and conversation. Fenced in dog park, tennis courts, soccer field, and a small gazebo and benches if you need to rest. Lots of parking spaces around the area, so that's not something to worry about. 10/10 for mild to moderate exercise.
very nice park, but a lots of ticks.
Nice wooded area with various trails and various incline/difficulty levels. I've been quite a few times in various seasons. The trails are well kept and had a low volume of other people. The front of the park has a very good sized field to let the dogs (or kiddos) run through and play.
Beautiful beach and great views. Alittle bit of a drive to get there but worth it.
Such a beautiful area!!
However, during the first week of May, we were hearing lots of insect activity in the leaves in the woods. The next morning, my husband discovered a deer tick on the back of his leg.
This place seems to be overrun with ticks, so use precautions if you want to hike here during tick season.
However, during the first week of May, we were hearing lots of insect activity in the leaves in the woods. The next morning, my husband discovered a deer tick on the back of his leg.
This place seems to be overrun with ticks, so use precautions if you want to hike here during tick season.
This park has an excellent location, close to the lake. Easy access in and out of the sites. Clean and well maintained. Would recommend for anyone looking to stay for the weekend or even longer!
Beautiful stretch of beach, not busy at all. A little hard to get to as it's about 1 hour from Panama city and almost 2 from Tallahassee. But the views are fantastic. One of very few places you can still drive on the beach. To a horse riding trip today and it was fantastic. Just make sure you bring whatever you think you may need, there are only a few little shops nearby and I wouldn't expect much.
Great place to go walking.
Lots of hills so it gives your leg muscles a workout!
Dog friendly!
Plenty of parking
Many trails!
Negatives:
Sometimes people ride their quads in there and the paths are narrow you could collide!
Sometimes during summer, you get bit by bugs or mosquitoes!
Make sure to put lavender a d tea tree oil on yourself for a natural insect repellent.
It gets slippery when the leaves fall so be careful going up or down the hills.
Lots of hills so it gives your leg muscles a workout!
Dog friendly!
Plenty of parking
Many trails!
Negatives:
Sometimes people ride their quads in there and the paths are narrow you could collide!
Sometimes during summer, you get bit by bugs or mosquitoes!
Make sure to put lavender a d tea tree oil on yourself for a natural insect repellent.
It gets slippery when the leaves fall so be careful going up or down the hills.
Beautiful area. Love the boardwalk overlooking the bay/ marsh. Loved how they had a place to air up bike tires next to the bike trail. Even had tools to work on your bike. Also the water fountain that even had a drink fountain for pets. Love love love!
Have stayed here many times. Usually off season. Quiet at these times, beautiful beach with 4x4 access (Suffolk County Outer Beach Permit required). Park is under new management and seems to be in good shape. Maybe they could not leaf-blow the forest at 8am....
Lovely park for a walk. 😎 🐕
Got sorta lost on a trail. Found both ends of the trail but had no idea how they connected. Good place to chill out and hike around the forest and the little waterways there.
This is one of the best campgrounds on the island that I never knew about. Me and my wife both agreed. We would have given it five stars if it wasn't for the bathroom. They weren't horrible. They were very dated. At least I didn't have to pull a cord to start the water in the shower. It was set up with a motion sensor. See you had to keep moving to have the shower going. But the water was definitely hot. The park has a lot of great features. Very close to the beach and you can go four wheeling here as long as you have a county pass. You can get a day pass for $30. It's $100 for the year. We started looking into the glamping but at$250 a night I'll pass. There weren't a lot of ticks but some. You have to bring your own fire ring and there was water on the sites but no sewer or electric. There's also a convenience store that is up and running so definitely check it out. They have wood there .We will definitely be coming back here again.
This is a nice park, because it's long and has a looping paved trail the whole width of the park. Roxy liked it during our cooler June weather.
Beautiful trails and glad these preserves are around to save these pieces of land.
Okay, let me start by saying this is a beautiful area with an array of paths leading through brush, fields, and wooded areas. That is when you walk the entirety of the three properties, at least! (Schroeter, Weatherbee, and Secrest) The trails wind and weave, going over hills and through the woods.
There are mud puddles, and I am sure they get bad after it has rained recently. Today is the third day of dry, mid 80 degree temps and the mud is still aggressive. Saying that though, it is not anything unmanageable, just grab some boots and you should be good.
Beyond that, you may see birds, squirrels, snakes, deer, and more throughout your walk! Plus, this area is infrequently populated, so enjoy a beautiful, peaceful day hiking this park!
There are mud puddles, and I am sure they get bad after it has rained recently. Today is the third day of dry, mid 80 degree temps and the mud is still aggressive. Saying that though, it is not anything unmanageable, just grab some boots and you should be good.
Beyond that, you may see birds, squirrels, snakes, deer, and more throughout your walk! Plus, this area is infrequently populated, so enjoy a beautiful, peaceful day hiking this park!
Short easy trails and popular with pups. Happy to have this place in the community!
We love Shinnecock East for single day use, and multi day camping. Gorgeous views, and wide open beaches. In Sumter season there is a food shack, and bathrooms. Live music in Summer season.
This is one of my favorites go to park if I want to go for a long walk.
This was my first time at Eisenhower Park at Lake Houston so I didn't know what to expect beyond the pictures online. It was lovely. I found a private spot by a small pond to park, set up my chair and read. It was very peaceful. The restroom by the playground was pleasantly clean. I'm looking forward to visiting again so to explore the trails and bike paths.
So, I am wondering who I donate $5 to, so that they can get a can of paint to clearly mark the white trail? You look at the board before entering the park andit clearly shows a large loop as if it is the only trail. You walk into the park and eventually get lost because there are at least a dozen other trails you weren't aware of and lost sightings of the poorly (absent) white trail markings. We ran into 4 other people, and they were all uncertain of how to get back.
Time to mark the trail better!
Time to mark the trail better!
We were not there to go camping but to access the beach and to the old lighthouse. This is a long review, but has some tips on walking the beach to the lighthouse.
So this is not a review for camping. However, I did use the women’s bathroom / showers. I am not a camper. But I can see why you would want shower shoes. Right in between the women’s and men’s rooms was a wash basin. A person was doing there dishes. Is this where you do your dishes when you go camping? But I am off topic.
As I entered the park there was a sign stating residence only. However, super friendly and helpful staff explained it was for certain park things we were not doing. He gave us directions and we were off.
We stopped to use the restrooms, parked right before the 4x4 sign, and began our walk. Did it once and never again!!!!!
Get a four wheeler if you can. Take the ten minute drive out. Ten minutes for pictures and then ten minutes back.
If you don’t have a four wheeler, do it and cross it off your list. Today it was the biting flies. If you stopped for a second they were on you! Otherwise it would have been a nice walk and visit to an old historical site.
Please remember to take the path right before the rocks (see my pictures) to head up to the lighthouse. It will save a good 15 minutes.
Our whole walk and time out at the lighthouse was 90 minutes. It was only about 10 minutes at the lighthouse. No one told us about the path, so it took us longer to get to the lighthouse then to get back.
So this is not a review for camping. However, I did use the women’s bathroom / showers. I am not a camper. But I can see why you would want shower shoes. Right in between the women’s and men’s rooms was a wash basin. A person was doing there dishes. Is this where you do your dishes when you go camping? But I am off topic.
As I entered the park there was a sign stating residence only. However, super friendly and helpful staff explained it was for certain park things we were not doing. He gave us directions and we were off.
We stopped to use the restrooms, parked right before the 4x4 sign, and began our walk. Did it once and never again!!!!!
Get a four wheeler if you can. Take the ten minute drive out. Ten minutes for pictures and then ten minutes back.
If you don’t have a four wheeler, do it and cross it off your list. Today it was the biting flies. If you stopped for a second they were on you! Otherwise it would have been a nice walk and visit to an old historical site.
Please remember to take the path right before the rocks (see my pictures) to head up to the lighthouse. It will save a good 15 minutes.
Our whole walk and time out at the lighthouse was 90 minutes. It was only about 10 minutes at the lighthouse. No one told us about the path, so it took us longer to get to the lighthouse then to get back.
Limited parking, 6-7 cars at max. Past reviews said it was dirty and full of trash. I didn't see any garbage. Was very clean and well maintained. It isn't anything that's going to wow you. Simple 2 mile loop hike. Some light elevation. Nice if in area but nothing to go out of your way for to be honest.
We went to see the Brood x cicadas! Nice park!
Nice beach. Few people there. Looks like the best kept secret. It is a County park, so not subjected to the crazy prices of the Hamptons. Clean beach but rough waves. Looks like amazing for surfing (that I do not do) or just chill and have fun by the nice sand. Parking $7 for residents with Green Key or $15 for visitors. Very reasonable.
Fun hiking, marked very well. A fun rock balance game to try. A little small for me but still enjoyed it.
Many trails, hiking easily extended by also crossing into adjacent parks, beautiful views , nice hills for decent workout. Well marked and maintained trail.
A wonderful little city park for a stroll around the 'lake'. Its a very easy, mostly level paved path. About a half mile around. But very pretty with native plants and wooded areas surrounding the water.
They have a dock for fishing. There's supposed to be large mouth bass, green sunfish, bullhead, sunnies, crappies and some others stocked in it.
A big playground for the kids to climb around on. Picnic tables scattered about. With grills to use.
There's a senior activity center here. Also pavilions that can be rented for special occasions.
All in all a nice place to enjoy a bit of the natural world while still being right in the middle of a city.
I enjoy stopping by here when I don't have much time but need a fix of the woods and water. Plus the dog is always up for any place that has the promise of ducks and water!!
They have a dock for fishing. There's supposed to be large mouth bass, green sunfish, bullhead, sunnies, crappies and some others stocked in it.
A big playground for the kids to climb around on. Picnic tables scattered about. With grills to use.
There's a senior activity center here. Also pavilions that can be rented for special occasions.
All in all a nice place to enjoy a bit of the natural world while still being right in the middle of a city.
I enjoy stopping by here when I don't have much time but need a fix of the woods and water. Plus the dog is always up for any place that has the promise of ducks and water!!
Beautiful park surrounded by lush greenery. Some hills and easy to get lost, however, after an outing or two it all makes sense. Lots of deer and beautiful birds.
Such a hidden gem within city limits. My go to spot when I do my walk after work from kaposia landing. I'm never disappointed with the views and how well it's maintained. So much to explore....
New review from me, as we’ve been coming here for 6-7 years now. We initially loved the place and then it kind of went down, you suddenly need to book a spot where before it was come and choose empty spot (we love to be spontaneous). Now that we have green key it all works and we love staying here again! And I noticed a note saying you can pick a spot if you don’t have reservation. Anyway - people complaining about bugs and ticks, sand and all… maybe you just shouldn’t go camping. Camping is about gettin dirty, reconnecting with nature. Love this hidden gem!
The Hills Giving Tree is in the little field that opens up to all the trails, and painted rocks are hidden in the trails. It's very cute.
Watch out for poison ivy, there's a lot, but as long as you stay on the path and hike smart it shouldn't be an issue.
Watch out for poison ivy, there's a lot, but as long as you stay on the path and hike smart it shouldn't be an issue.
One of the best parks around with lots of open space for you and your furbabies! And I love this wooden bridge
Very nice place... Spent the day at the midwest outlaws car club annual pic nic car show the park is beautiful n well maintained plenty of room for kids to play..
Awesome what they did to the park. I lived across from the park before it was a park back in the early 70's and we kept our horse's in the pasture (what is now the preserve). It was nice to walk through it again and remember a lot of good times spent there in my youth.
Nice park for hiking, biking and fishing. I believe theres only 1 playground and it's next to the pond. The restroom and water fountain are located there too. The trails that lead to fishing spots off the river are littered with trash and fishing line. There's plenty of spots to get snagged. I recently noticed at least two alligators in the water.
I've been to this park twice now and have enjoyed my hike each time. Trails are well kept, markings for trails are sometimes hard to find as there are two loops that intertwine.
Some spots in the trails aren't marked so you kind of have to guess where the trail goes until you see the next marking. All in all, it's a solid trail.
Some spots in the trails aren't marked so you kind of have to guess where the trail goes until you see the next marking. All in all, it's a solid trail.
Lovely beach and serviceable amenities. Restrooms were clean, if sparse. The boardwalk was still intact, but part of the end closest to the beach was still buried in the sand washed in from hurricane Michael. Close by is a road for vehicle access to the beach. Several stables in the area also offer horseback riding on the beach. No lifeguards available, pet friendly.
The trails are poorly marked, poorly maintained, and loads of trash. A total lack of trail maintenance makes several of the trails you find unpassable. This has caused quite a bit of trailblazing and subsequent erosion. I wish I'd brought a bag to help carry out some of the trash. Also, it's interesting to be on one of the few marked trails, only to run into a sign claiming I was about to enter private property, with a threat of prosecution. I'm not sure how that happens in county owned land. Trail marking needs improvement and consistency. Anyway, it was good to get out in the woods for a hike, and an additional workout swatting bugs.
Great place for a quick hike or run with or without your dog (I took mine). Not sure about some of the other reviews, but it was very clean, extremely well-marked if you know how to read trail blazes, and easy on the feet. Will be making this part of my normal cycle of dog walks.
I was very stressed when I got here, but I left totally relax. I really enjoyed my walking in the park, taking pictures and watching every part of the park. If you want to have a good time with your couple, I recommend you to go to the park, take good shoes and clothes because you may get dirty. There are a lot of bathrooms and parking spaces available.
Babies day out :). Perfect place to relax and chill out. Park has good facilities.
Love this park!! Great place to escape the city.. no ones ever really here. I can let my dog run free with no one else around. Live how they cleaned it up in recent years too. Bring back old times!
Lots of open space for picnics, games, or just sitting at a table or bench. Three pavilions, one large and two smaller ones. There’s a boat landing and dock to fish from on the far side of the park. The playground has plenty for kids of all ages.
Beautiful combination park and nature preserve with wide groomed grass trails, woods, and an open wildflower field; quiet and secluded.
Great out door experience. Nice trails. Horses only allowed when the ground is dry.