Earl Cook Recreation Area
Rate this placeNearby: Glass Bridge Park Pyne Road Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Earl Cook Recreation Area is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts in Alabama.
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Summary
The area offers a variety of activities including hiking, fishing, camping, picnicking, and wildlife watching. The recreation area is located near the town of Graysville and is easily accessible from nearby cities such as Birmingham.
One of the main attractions of Earl Cook Recreation Area is its beautiful natural scenery. The area is home to several hiking trails that wind through the forest and along the banks of the Mulberry Fork River. Visitors can also enjoy fishing in the river, which is known for its abundant populations of bass, bream, and catfish.
The campground at Earl Cook Recreation Area is a great place to stay for those who want to spend more time exploring the area. The campground has 38 sites with water and electric hookups, as well as several primitive campsites. There are also several picnic areas throughout the park, which provide a great place to enjoy a meal or relax with friends and family.
Interesting facts about the area include its history as a former coal mining site, as well as its place in the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The nearby town of Birmingham played a significant role in the struggle for civil rights, and visitors to the area can learn more about this history at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
The best time of year to visit Earl Cook Recreation Area is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and there is less humidity. Summer can be hot and humid in Alabama, and winter can be chilly and damp. However, visitors can enjoy the area year-round, as each season offers its own unique beauty and activities.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Amity
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Burnt Village
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R Shaefer Heard
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Pyne Road Park
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State Line Park
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