Summary
The park is named after the 788-acre Lake Malone, which is known for its clear waters and abundant fish population. The park offers a variety of recreational activities, including fishing, boating, hiking, and camping.
One of the park's most popular attractions is the 2.5-mile Lake Trail, which winds around the shores of the lake and offers scenic views of the surrounding hills and forests. The park also features a playground, picnic areas, and a swimming beach.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the lake was created in the 1960s when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dammed up a small creek. The lake is now home to a variety of fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill, and catfish.
The best time of year to visit Lake Malone State Park is during the spring and fall, when temperatures are mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. Summer is also a popular time to visit, but it can be crowded and hot.
Overall, Lake Malone State Park offers a beautiful natural setting for outdoor enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.
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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.
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