Hi everyone, I’m Joshua Hardin and I’m excited to announce my new project exploring America’s state parks. Over the next three years, I will be visiting and photographing at least two state parks in every state in the nation.

I’m in my early 40s and realized I’ve visited only about half of the United States, mostly those in the West surrounding my home state of Colorado. I wondered: How many Americans have visited every state in the union? According to a 2016 survey by Livability.com and Ipsos Public Affairs, the average American has visited 12 states. Another survey cited in a recent Readers Digest story puts that number slightly higher, at 17 states, but reveals only two percent of Americans have seen all 50 states.

The U.S. is full of awe-inspiring landscapes, many of which don’t have the recognition of our famous national parks. I love national parks (and likely will be stopping by some of them during my travels) but I’ll be especially looking for the lesser-known hidden gems waiting to be discovered in our own backyards. What will we learn about our nation, its natural environments and our fellow Americans by visiting some of the landmarks (and more) that make each state special? Mountains and plains, deserts and forests, rivers and oceans. I’ll be photographing them all.

I’m sharing my photos and observations from the road which you can view from the comfort of your own smartphone, tablet or laptop. Follow me where I’ll be blogging at stateparkphotos.com as well as on social media.. Also visit my company site viewfindermedia.com for more information. Please comment with suggestions of parks to visit, where to eat and what else to see in each state. From regional cuisine to quirky roadside attractions, I’m game for just about anything.

Watch for more announcements. I expect the project will have a final keepsake book to be released in 2026, with more details to be released shortly.

Now let’s explore our state parks!