Ridge Ferry Park
Rate this placeNearby: Parks Hoke Park Garden Lakes Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Ridge Ferry Park is a popular park located in Rome, Georgia.
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Summary
It covers 370 acres of land and offers a range of activities for visitors to enjoy. Some of the best reasons to visit the park include its beautiful scenery, numerous recreational opportunities, and variety of events and activities held throughout the year.
One of the main points of interest at Ridge Ferry Park is the Etowah River, which runs through the park and offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and other water-based activities. The park also has several trails for hiking and biking, as well as picnic areas, playgrounds, and sports facilities such as tennis courts and ball fields.
Other highlights of Ridge Ferry Park include the Rome-Floyd ECO Center, which offers educational exhibits and programs focused on local wildlife and conservation efforts, as well as the Chieftains Museum, which explores the history and culture of the Cherokee people who once lived in the area.
Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former industrial site, which has been transformed into a thriving public space. The park also includes a memorial to the victims of the 2011 tornado that devastated the area.
The best time of year to visit Ridge Ferry Park depends on personal preferences and the activities you are interested in. Spring and fall are generally considered ideal for outdoor recreation, with mild temperatures and colorful foliage. Summer can be hot and humid, but also offers opportunities for swimming and water-based activities. Winter is typically quieter, but still offers beautiful scenery and opportunities for hiking and other outdoor 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
Parks Hoke Park
Garden Lakes Park
Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest