Matthiessen Park
Rate this placeNearby: Hegeler Park Peru City Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Matthiessen Park is a beautiful state park located in Tennessee that offers visitors a range of outdoor activities, scenic views, and unique features.
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Summary
Some good reasons to visit the park include hiking, camping, fishing, and bird watching.
One of the most popular points of interest in the park is the impressive rock formations, which are a result of erosion over millions of years. These formations are especially stunning during the fall when the leaves change color and create a vibrant backdrop.
Visitors can also explore the park's caves, which are home to a variety of bats and other wildlife. The park has strict rules regarding cave exploration, so visitors should plan ahead and follow all guidelines to ensure their safety and the protection of the ecosystem.
Another interesting fact about Matthiessen Park is that it is home to a population of wild elk, which were reintroduced to the area in the early 2000s. Visitors can often spot these majestic animals in the park's open fields during the early morning or late evening.
The best time of year to visit Matthiessen Park is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild, and the park's foliage is at its most beautiful. However, visitors should be aware that the park can get crowded during peak season, so it's important to plan ahead and arrive early to secure a campsite or parking spot.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
Starved Rock State Park
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Horseback Campground @ Matthiessen State Park
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Lake De Pue City Park
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Hegeler Park
Peru City Park
Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve
Dickinson Field
Lehigh Memorial Park