It has been an uncertain couple of years in too many ways, and plenty of people feel like the future will be more of the same. Less outdoorsy folk crave the comforting effects of nature's beauty, moving away from the overconsumption that often goes hand in hand with vacations.

National parks are topping travel lists everywhere. People want to feel grand in the Grand Canyon, as powerful as Old Faithful in Yellowstone, and inspired by the spot in Bryce Canyon that promises to do just that. Though it's great to see people more deeply connected to nature, the park service has been having a hard time managing crowds in recent years. Simultaneously, visitors feel they're not getting the most out of their trips.

Luckily, there's an abundance of state parks whose beauty rivals that of the greats. For a more intimate experience with nature, consider swapping a national park visit for one of these state parks with just as much to offer.

8 Palouse Falls State Park - Washington

The Pacific Northwest contains some of the country's most beautiful landscapes. Lush vegetation blankets the ground in Olympic National Park. Snow-capped Mount Rainier rises a magnificent 14,000 feet above sea level. A little over five hours to the east of Washington state's iconic mountain sits Palouse Falls State Park. The namesake falls have been named Washington's official state waterfall, and it's no wonder why.

The Palouse River winds through the terrain and thunders 200 feet over a cliff into a stunning pool. The water continues to pulse through basalt gorges before connecting to the rushing Snake River. The falls are among the few remnants of ice age floods that dramatically reshaped the landscape thousands of years ago. The park provides three unique vantage points of the waterfall, each as beautiful as the last.

7 Valley Of Fire State Park - Nevada

Most Nevada-bound travelers are looking for Lady Luck, their sights limited to the neon lights that illuminate the ever-popular Las Vegas. Outside the bustle of Sin City lies a nature lover's playground, and few places in Nevada are as naturally beautiful as Valley of Fire State Park. As soon as visitors catch sight of the red sandstone formations burning in the sun, they'll understand where the park gets its name and be glad they took the gamble to see it for themselves.

Over 100 million years of work have gone into creating the impressive landscape. Ancestral Pueblan Indians left their mark on the stone canvases, and visitors can marvel at the 2,000-year-old petroglyphs. Herds of bighorn sheep call the breathtaking park home, and hikers can expect to see them traversing the rocks while exploring the many trails winding through the rugged terrain.

6 Custer State Park - South Dakota

There's no denying that Mount Rushmore is a staggering achievement of humankind, but South Dakota's Black Hills are a work of art that can't be recreated. Adventure awaits at Custer State Park, the crowning gem of South Dakota's natural beauty. An expansive 71,000 acres contains a diversity of epic landscapes.

Gorgeous lakes surrounded by rugged mountains and clusters of trees are ideal for kayaking. Hiking trails carry travelers through fragrant ponderosa pine forests and up to peaks that overlook the stunning work of Mother Nature. Buffalo, goats, and sheep roam through rolling grasslands, and prairie dogs poke their heads through the openings of tunnels they've masterfully dug from the earth.

Related: Here Are The Top-Rated Tourist Attractions In South Dakota Besides Mount Rushmore

5 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park - Michigan

The residents of Michigan's Upper Peninsula (lovingly known as 'Yoopers') will fiercely defend the region's unique beauty, as they should. The Porcupine Mountains, commonly referred to as 'The Porkies,' cover almost 100 square miles near Lake Superior. Adventurers can make their way to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park to see the Porkies in all their glory.

Dense, old-growth hardwood forest blankets the land. Rich summer greens transform into delicious shades of red and gold during the fall. The stunning Lake of the Clouds sits in a valley hugged by mountains on both sides, and three waterfalls rush through the wilderness on the west side of the park.

4 Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park - California

Nature enthusiasts head to California to behold the grandeur of some of the planet's oldest and most beautiful trees. For travelers looking to bypass the crowds, Prairie Creek Redwood State Park contains a little slice of majesty only a stone's throw away from Redwood National Park.

Elks graze upon the prairie land surrounded by bluffs covered in Coastal redwoods. Under the canopy, nearly every inch of ground is blanketed in vegetation. The sun shines through the towering trees and washes the land in muted shades of green, gray, and brown.

3 Chugach State Park - Alaska

More and more people are wising up to the fact that Alaska is more than a barren tundra constantly shrouded in darkness. The Last Frontier contains natural landscapes unlike anywhere else in the United States, and summer temperatures are ideal for exploring the state's wild beauty. One of the biggest hurdles to visiting Alaska's national parks is access, especially in the case of Gates of the Arctic.

Fortunately, Chugach State Park is only a short drive away from Alaska's most densely populated city, Anchorage. Visitors will be blessed with views of ocean shorelines, massive glaciers, lakes, mountains, and so much wildlife. The park is an excellent introduction to Alaska, with nearly 300 miles of trails tailored to every type of adventurer.

2 Makoshika State Park - Montana

If Glacier National Park is northern Montana's shining jewel, the winner of the title in the south is Makoshika State Park. The landscape is a world apart from the Rocky Mountain oasis. Rolling badlands tell the story of a time when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

A sea of rock formations lightly studded by trees demarcate different epochs throughout time. Fossils from the Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops are on display in the visitor center, reminding guests of the unbelievable changes that have taken place over hundreds of millions of years throughout Earth's history.

Related: Montana Vs. Wyoming: Which State Deserves Your Attention, According To Reddit

1 Baxter State Park - Maine

The stunning Acadia National Park often steals the show in Maine, its coastal landscape boasting an abundance of physically challenging trails worth every step. During the summer, crowds of tourists head to the park, making it difficult to enjoy the calmness that being surrounded by nature brings.

Luckily, there is plenty of environmental therapy to go around in Maine, especially at Baxter State Park. The wilderness area in Maine's North Woods possesses the state's tallest peak, Mount Katahdin. Hikers can conquer the summit on a grueling day hike, which happens to be the northern terminus to the great Appalachian Trail.

Next: Florida Keys: Parks That Prove How Beautiful This State Is