Summary
The area covers over 3,000 acres and is home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, black bears, and wild turkeys.
One of the main reasons to visit the Floy Ward McElroy Wildlife Management Area is for its beautiful scenery and peaceful surroundings. Visitors can hike through the forests and meadows, fish in the streams and ponds, or simply relax in the tranquil environment.
There are also several specific points of interest to see within the area, including the Pikes Creek Dam, the Knute Olson Memorial Trail, and the Stone Schoolhouse. Visitors may also enjoy birdwatching, as the area is home to a variety of bird species such as the eastern bluebird, American goldfinch, and red-tailed hawk.
Interesting facts about the Floy Ward McElroy Wildlife Management Area include its history as a former farmstead and logging site, as well as its designation as a State Natural Area due to its unique plant and animal species.
The best time of year to visit the Floy Ward McElroy Wildlife Management Area is in the fall, when the fall colors are at their peak and the wildlife is most active. However, the area is open year-round and offers different activities and sights in each season.
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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.
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