Tims Ford State Park park
Tims Ford State Park
Reasons to Visit:
1. Natural Beauty: Tims Ford State Park is surrounded by the picturesque Tims Ford Lake, with rolling hills and lush forests. The park offers visitors breathtaking views and a tranquil environment.
2. Outdoor Recreation: The park provides a wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, biking, camping, and picnicking. There is something for everyone to enjoy.
3. Wildlife Watching: Tims Ford State Park is teeming with wildlife, making it a great spot for bird-watching and observing various animal species in their natural habitat.
4. Golfing: The Bear Trace at Tims Ford is an 18-hole golf course located within the park, renowned for its scenic beauty and challenging layout.
Points of Interest:
1. Tims Ford Lake: The lake spans approximately 10,700 acres and offers excellent fishing opportunities, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, and catfish.
2. Machine Falls: A popular hiking trail leads visitors to the picturesque 60-foot tall Machine Falls, featuring a cascading waterfall and unique rock formations.
3. Nature Center: The park's Nature Center provides educational exhibits, interactive displays, and guided programs, allowing visitors to learn more about the local flora, fauna, and natural history.
Interesting Facts:
1. Tims Ford State Park was named after an early 19th-century grist mill owner, Tinsley Ford, whose mill was once located within the park's boundaries.
2. The park is home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, including wildflowers, migratory birds, deer, bobcats, and more.
3. Tims Ford Lake was created in the 1970s as part of a flood control project on the Elk River.
Best Time to Visit:
The best time to visit Tims Ford State Park is during spring (April to May) and fall (September to October) when the weather is mild and the park is adorned with vibrant foliage. These seasons offer excellent opportunities for outdoor activities and provide a comfortable experience for visitors.
Please note that the accuracy of this information can be verified by cross-referencing multiple independent sources.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- 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 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.
- 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.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Tims Ford State Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tims Ford State Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Tims Ford State Camp | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Arnold Afb Military | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Barton Springs - Normandy Lake | ✗ | ✓ | → |
| Cedar Point - Normandy Lake | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Tims Ford State Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Tims Ford State Park
What can I do at Tims Ford State Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Tims Ford State Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Tims Ford State Park.