Which of the contiguous 48 states is the prettiest?

Well…California. It’s vast, with a huge diversity of ecosystems. Having the Pacific ocean already gives it a hundred points. The Sierra stretch forever, north to south. The weather factors in: it’s hard to appreciate beauty in a never ending rain storm (I grew up in Wa. state…). Hiking season is long; and given altitude, so is the ski season, or it used to be! Add in the desert, the coast and mountain redwoods…I might be missing something. Sheer size gives California an unfair advantage, perhaps.

Yeah. California. Coastal Humboldt / Del Norte Counties and the Sierras are my happy places.

I like my home state of Arizona and the Sonoran Desert but Utah has stupidly nice desert and wonderful mountains so my second nomination for prettiest state is Utah.

California.

If we’re just talking geography, the diversity of opportunity is staggering. Zero access to the ocean is a non-starter for me.

Utah is pretty mindblowing but the surfing and spearfishing stink.

Another vote for California. There’s a reason it’s crowded. Beaches for swimming and beaches for tidepooling, all kinds of forests – oak, redwood, pine, you name it. Grasslands, deserts, volcanoes, the list goes on. For sheer variety, it’s gotta be California. Wish I could afford to live there.

Utah for me.

Utah and California would definitely be in my top 5. Many might say Colorado, Montana or Oregon. North Carolina, West Virginia and the Ozarks of Arkansas are honorable mentions as well.

Geography King gives his top 25 most scenic states, but he also includes Alaska (his #1) and Hawaii. I generally concur, however I’d have Vermont ranked much higher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gErehD6LwNI

If it were not for Forrest fires and chronic drought ruining more and more of the western U.S. I would have said hands down the American west, including California.  Now I am more inclined to agree with the O. P.  Not one person here has mentioned New Jersey, hmmm.

One could put it down to ‘which state has the gloppiest pop song written about it…

Rocky Mountain High

Hey Colorado (late Flying Burrito Bros. and truly gloppy)

California Dreaming–actually really good

and this (with apologies, credit to anyone who can recall this television series’ name, ’cause I can’t

The bluest skies you ever seen, in Seattle!

The greenest hills you ever seen, in Seattle!

Like a beautiful child, growing up free and wild,

Full of hopes and full of fears,

Full of laughter, full of tears,

Full of dreams to last the years… in Seattle!

here come the brides

Another vote for California as I spent most of my time along the Pacific ocean and the Sierra. It could be me got spoiled by the perfect weather in California, but if I have to choose outside of state, I would think Washington would be a great runner-up.

None of the above.  Vancouver Island!

I’ve been to each state 6+ times each and to all 3,142 counties in the USA except Duke and Nantucket.

Whatever you think is beautiful be it deserts, redwoods, beaches, plains, craggy mountains, palm trees, glaciers, volcanism, canyons, moonscapes, farmland, ranchland, rice paddies, avocado orchards, whitewater, alpine lakes, petro-chemical industries, academia, inner cities, gated communities, ghost towns, big-city life or the smallest of towns are all somewhere in California.

I grew up assembling that puzzle and touring the ENTIRE state on our twice-yearly family vacations – we got to all 58 counties, every NP, NF, SP, SF, Pioneer Museum, fish hatchery and stretch of state highway because my geographer father always took us to a different place each time.

The only other two possible contenders were eliminated with the contiguous criteria.

I’ve been to all but one state (never have been to Hawaii) and I think every single one has amazing beauty, there is no overall winner in my book.

The prettiest state is either California, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah or Tennessee. All are amazing and my favorite is probably the one I was in last.

Northern Minnesota is sure beautiful! But limited to one type of habitat. And no mountains. I think the midwestern prairie is beautiful too, but given that our country has decimated 99% of it, I guess people don’t agree with me.

Nebraska and South Dakota for the National Forests and Grasslands.  Yes, the land was abused but the whole of it is still amazingly empty, yet populated with the most hospitable folks who really do love and care for the land.

Interesting……I’ve never been to Nebraska, but it’s not a state I would have thought I would have heard anyone say was the prettiest in the lower 48.

Brad,

Check into https://www.greatplainstrail.org/ and look at the Pilot Trail. This will take you through the Western Nebraska. The Nebraska Game and Parks site http://outdoornebraska.gov/ has a great run-down of the parks and trails. Wildcat Hills and Soldier Creek Wilderness are about the best of the bunch.

Steofan M.

I hear watching the migration of Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River of western Nebraska is a life changing experience.

When it comes to vast swathes of forests with good annual rainfall, I’d say West Virginia is probably the most underrated and overlooked state of them all. And when you consider the projected effects global warming, and the never-ending western drought (not to mention how insanely hot the entire Sunbelt is getting) the Mountain State might be attractive to anyone who doesn’t have to look for employment. West Virginia gets bad press mainly because of the economy, which of course fell with the decline of coal. But crime rates are below the national average, real estate is very affordable and the people are nice. Low cost of living. When you look at a tree map of the US you can see the area around the Smokies (TN/NC border) in the Southeast, but then north across the Tennessee valley the other larger swath of green is mostly the eastern part of West Virginia. It’s the wildest and most remote part of the eastern US I’ve found and it contains very few people. Way cheaper land and far less crowded than western NC and east Tennessee.

And you can see how the heavy snow zone juts down furthest south in West Virginia (eastern US).

In spite of being one of the poorest states, West Virginia is also one of the safest. It got caught up in the opioid crises in the worst way and that hurt its image. Look at how low the violent crime rate is in New England. That may not mean a lot to some people, yet to others it possibly could.

jscott, you mentioned state songs earlier. Don’t forget that John Denver didn’t just sing about Colorado. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNoZtIPWpyE

When I think of beauty, crime rates and cost of living don’t enter into the equation.  That’s a different question.  I grew up in California and have lived here for most of my life–mainly by choice.  As many have noted, if you want beauty, be that beaches, desert, towering redwoods, lone volcanic peaks or high mountain scenery, California has exactly what you are seeking.

But then, I think my wife is more beautiful than yours, too.

Yes Paul, but California is drying up. When there’s no longer any water left you might just consider West Virginia. It will be cheap to relocate there and you’re less likely to become a crime victim.

Almost heaven. Monongahela National Forest.

It’s certainly true that the “prettiest” state and where would you like to live may not be the same place.  I love Alaska, California is beautiful (it may get my vote too), and I love backpacking in Wyoming, but I’m not sure I’d want to live in any of the three.

Monte–somehow, I am missing the alpine scenery.  And the beaches.  and…