Summary
The park is renowned for its challenging hiking trails, stunning waterfalls, and diverse wildlife.
One of the most popular things to do in the park is to hike to the summit of Frozen Head Mountain, which offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The park also features trails that lead to picturesque waterfalls, such as Debord Falls and Emory Gap Falls. Wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy the opportunity to observe black bears, deer, and a wide variety of bird species.
Visitors can enjoy a range of outdoor activities, including camping, fishing, and picnicking. The park also has a designated area for off-road vehicles, and during the winter months, visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Interesting facts about Frozen Head State Park include the fact that it was once used as a prison camp during World War II, and the park is home to the highest peak in the Cumberland Mountains. The park is also used as a training ground for endurance athletes, including the infamous Barkley Marathons.
The best time to visit Frozen Head State Park is during the spring and fall months when the weather is milder, and the park is less crowded. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy a range of seasonal activities throughout the year.
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
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Mart Fields Campsite
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Tub Spring Campsite
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Panther Gap Rockhouse
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Old Mac Campsite
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Frozen Head State Park
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Coffin Springs Campsite
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