Summary
The park is a popular destination for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families. There are several reasons to visit F D Roosevelt State Park, including hiking, camping, fishing, swimming, and boating.
The park features several points of interest, including Dowdell's Knob, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding area, including the Appalachian Mountains. The Pine Mountain Trail, a 23-mile trail that passes through the park, is also a popular attraction for hikers and backpackers.
Interesting facts about the park include that it was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and that it was named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who visited the park in 1935. The park also features the Roosevelt Stables, which offer guided horseback rides.
The best time of year to visit F D Roosevelt State Park is in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most beautiful. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities for visitors during all seasons.
Weather Forecast
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
616
615
612
614
611
613