The area is noted for its beaver whose ponds once flooded parts of the valley. There is nature trail and a number of trails lead to the Appalachian Trail and Iron Mountain Trail. The area has showers, flush toilets and drinking water, group shelters and a picnic grounds. It began as a Native American footpath, was used by the pioneers and in 1907 became the track bed of the Virginia-Carolina Railroad, hauling lumber, iron ore, supplies and passengers. A 6,400 acre area of mostly forested mountain lands, it also has a 61 acre lake nestled high in the mountains at 3,600 feet.
Red spruce grows at the higher elevations and there is some hemlock in the deeper moist hollows.
There is a network of trails which provide some access into the interior. From I-81 at Abingdon, take Route 19 and alternate 58 north to Route 690. This park is a peninsula jutting out into South Holston Reservoir. There are two portions. One is south of Abingdon via Route 75 on Route 670, the other via Route 663.