Summary
Roland Cooper State Park is a 236-acre park located on the shores of Alabama's 22,000-acre Dannelly Reservoir. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, hiking, and camping. The park features a modern campground with 47 campsites, as well as several picnic areas and pavilions.
The main attraction at Roland Cooper State Park is the Dannelly Reservoir, which offers excellent fishing opportunities for bass, catfish, crappie, and bream. The park also has a boat ramp and fishing pier for visitors to use.
Hiking enthusiasts will enjoy the 2-mile-long Lakeside Trail, which winds through the park's wooded areas and along the shoreline of the Dannelly Reservoir. The trail offers scenic views of the lake and is a great spot for birdwatching.
One interesting fact about Roland Cooper State Park is that it was named after Roland Cooper, a former Alabama Power Company executive who played a key role in the construction of the Dannelly Reservoir and the surrounding park.
The best time of year to visit Roland Cooper State Park is during the spring and fall months, when temperatures are mild and the foliage is at its peak. Summer can be hot and muggy, while winter can be chilly and rainy.
Overall, Roland Cooper State Park is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting.
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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
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Roland Cooper State Park
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Chilatchee Creek
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East Bank/Millers Ferry
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Elm Bluff - William Dannelly Reservoir
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