Oconaluftee Islands Park Reviews

My husband and I visit Cherokee yearly with our kids and grandkids and stay in Cabins at Jellystone so we rarely get to see the other different areas. We traveled to Cherokee for a Valentine's Weekend together, just us. Road and stopped at a lot of locations but his was beautiful Nice, quiet place to be.

We spent Sunday afternoon here. It was so peaceful. There was an area where our grandson could use his inner tube and come down the river and it be safe. ( he’s only 8) he did this for hours by himself. We were at the lower end to catch him. But we were comfortable with him being able to Haiti’s small rapid area by himself.

Has many walkways from where you park to the islands. Was winter so be no getting into water, but can see be a great place to take kids in the summer, walk your dog or just take a walk yourself.

Love this island. Have spent a lot of time playing in the water on this park. My husband and I went to the 7 pm-9 pm Bonfire on Friday night. The entertainment was good.

On the day of the eclipse we drove past this park several times. We watched all ages spending time in the water and in the park. Everyone looked like they were really enjoying themselves. So a few days later we drove back to Cherokee and went to the park. You can just sit on the many benches and listen to the babbling creek, get in the shallow water and enjoy yourself, or just enjoy the various things the park has to offer. Highly recommend for anyone of all ages and even pet friendly!

The kids absolutely loved playing in the river. Had to drag them out when it was time to leave. Park was clean and we enjoyed a great picnic lunch there.

Stopped after a very long drive on our road trip and needed something natural to give us a boost and this place did that with a dose of calming nature. Saw a swallow tail butterfly which gave us a real thrill. Sat and listened to the water and felt that life was worth living. Although there were other people around you didn’t notice them. Lots of free parking and easy walking. Across a bridge and a road is a veterans memorial go and see!

best place to spend time we loved the river and the kids (and adults too) seem to love rafting down the river

A great island picnic area in Cherokee. Beautiful park. Picnic area. Creek where you can swim, wade & tube. Lots of parking.

At first glance, this looks like a great place but there are areas along the water where it is not very clean. A shame. Ok for a quick stop but wouldn't recommend a long stay. There are public restrooms on the bridge.

This is a great free activity to kill time. Our kids had fun floating down the river and skipping rocks. The water is so clean and refreshing. Our kids enjoyed the fact that ducks were swimming with them. Great place!!!!

This was a nice place to relax & enjoy the outside. Love walking in the bamboo & wading in the water. Saw fish swimming beside us in the water.

My family and I enjoy wading in the water in the summer time, its free. We pack a lunch and take our chairs and have a great day there, after we are done swimming for the day we go to The little Princess restaraunt for a good home cooked meal

I look forward to wandering on the island every time I am in Cherokee. The connection with the water and the quiet and spiritual aspect of the bamboo grove is magical.

We were camping with our grand-daughter and took her to the park to see the bamboo forestand picnic. It started raining but we still had fun because we were picnicing and feeding the ducks in the park it was a true adventure for our grand-daughter who loves nature and animals.

After having to change our wedding plans at the last minute due to a family emergency, we were out a venue and switched plans to a private elopement ceremony. We were looking for a private spot and wanted to take advantage of the beautiful outdoor scenery in this area. Our wedding officiant recommended the bamboo forest. We strung some flowers in the bamboo and lined the "aisle" with mason jar candles. There was a light rain but we had the park to ourselves. We had a beautiful, special ceremony in the bamboo forest with the sounds of the river flowing beside us. It was magical. :)

I ate brunch here (takeout from the Food Lion grocery store), and it was very relaxing for me. Plenty of benches, both artificial and natural. (I sat on a rock.) Water on both sides added some variety to the sounds and sights.

Took our lunch and ate at one of the picnic tables. Nice place to just sit and relax. Kids playing in the river and lots of families around playing in the water.

We passed this park on the way to horseback riding and decided to return for our picnic lunch. It's one of the nicest parks I've ever been to. You cross a foot bridge to get to the island where there are multiple picnic tables and a covered pavilion or two. There is free WiFi and restrooms nearby. The river is shallow enough to wade in. There were a couple of places where people had made an enclosed pond with rocks, so it would be safe for a supervised toddler. There are also walking paths. It was a great way to relax in the middle of the day. We saw some booths where vendors set up next to the parking lot. I assume there were none while we were there due to the pandemic.

This is in the heart of Cherokee, NC. It is an island of tranquility surrounded by all the diverse and interesting museums, shops and restaurant most of which focus on the Cherokee culture and its traditions. The village nearby is a great learning experience for the kids … and adults. Altogether, this area is one of the greater jewels of Western North Carolina.

there is a bamboo tunnel on one side that is really cool. Many tables and BBQ stands to cook on. No open fires but good place for making a picnic.

This is a beautiful place to visit we enjoyed wading in the water which was beautiful and clear and cool

Great place to walk by the river or have a picnic. You don’t even need to pack a lunch. KFC and other restaurants are across the street or nearby. Cherokee has the best use of a river in their downtown than any other nearby mountain town. The island has picnic tables, benches, a covered area, bathrooms nearby, a well maintained sidewalk and you can wade or tube in the robust river! There are pedestrian bridges to cross to the island and lots of good parking. I look forward to visiting this island every time we are in Cherokee. On a hot day, it is much cooler by the river.

My kids got a kick out of playing in the river. We're beach/lake people, so this was their first time in a river with any force. They enjoyed it during the hotter time of day in July.

I let my little one play in the river every time we come home. It's absolutely gorgeous and you might even see an Elk wander through. Perfect in every way. No place like home.

This was the nicest thing to do in cherokee. After a long drive through the mountains. The rest in cherokee was very disapointed. But good enough to find your hotel here.

Set along the river, this park was clean and beautifully maintained. The best part was you could actually get in the river. Picnic tables, both open and covered, charcoal grills, and lots of room to relax and play. Great family spot!

Park was closed for renovations. Looks like they're making some great improvements! Looking forward to our next trip.

What a great way to cool off and have some summer fun with your family. The water will be full in the summer. I think you can fish, but need a special Cherokee licence to do so. I hear this is also a youth fishing tournament, but it is packed.

We stopped here after our trip to the Casino. This was a spur of the moment stop. The water was fun to wade in. We didn't tube, but we saw people with their own tubes going down the river, then they would walk back up and go again. There is a bamboo area that is very cool. We took a family picture there. If we go back, I'm bringing my own tube. There were picnic tables, pavilions, running trails, etc. Great park. Wish our town had one like it.

We saw this beautiful and large park on our way to Mingo Falls so it was an easy decision to stop there for our picnic on our way back to Maggie Valley. The park was teaming with families of all sizes: some just sitting on the benches enjoying the water and ducks, some wading in the stream, some tubing, some fishing from the shore, and others feeding the ducks. There is a bridge that leads to the other side and is easily negotiated by those with handicaps. Hint: Parking is difficult to find for such a large park, but patience prevailed. Bathrooms near the bridge.

we stopped here and this is a beautiful park along the creek. It is handicap accessible too. If you feel like cooling off you can wade in the cool water. Lots of people go here to enjoy the water.

A really fun place to stop on your way to the smoky mountains. Kids loved playing in the river and skipping stones

This is the best natural place to hang out if you are staying in Cherokee for a day. There is tubing up at one end of this river. In the park area, it's very shallow so we often look for rocks to skip while we have a picnic. We have stayed at a local hotel and at a chain hotel once; they were both fine for a night. Cherokee is a fun place to spend an afternoon and one night prior to train trips out of Bryson early the next day before heading over to Gatlinburg. Shops close up early so we have never stayed more than a night here. The park is a must-do in Cherokee.

This island park is beautiful! Its pretty big so their is lots of room to have a party or just to hang out. The river runs through it so you can get wet while you are relaxing. You can fish if you have your fishing lic. also. Most places isn't very deep! Ducks like it to.

My daughter and I stopped at the park for a little bit to Stretch our legs and check out the river. It's a beautiful little island park. The water was fairly calm, so you could get right up close to it, which we did.

There is a KFC across from the Center so we got a picnic and walked across the street and ate next to the Oconaluftee. We could let the kids play in water and listen to the stories they were telling at the Center. Plenty of picnic tables and bathroom (not very clean).

Sometime the kids and I walk around this island and look for rocks for them to paint. It's nice and cool and keeps them busy when sometimes I just want to sit and take their picture. In the past few months they have done a lot of up keep to the island. They have paved the parking area on the Acquoni Rd side and poured a concrete walkway throughout the island for easier access for handicapped and strollers. They also added a volleyball court and more picnic tables and benches. It has always been a great spot to take the kids.

We sat here for hours, watching the trout fishing and just the peace and quiet of the rushing waters. Ducks, fish and quiet right in the middle and center of Cherokee. While you are in town look for the painted bears throughout. There are I believe 22, look for all of them.

A bit hard to find parking without walking too far, so we parked along the side of the road. It was so peaceful listening to the movement of the water and watching the geese.

Beautiful location! Nice outside market! Storytelling is perfect ending to an amazing vacation loved the stories, music, dancing with new friends, and the marshmallow roast was the best! The best part of all is that it was free! 😊

Great park! We stopped and let the kids wade in the water on a warm July afternoon. It was wonderful, clean and very relaxing. A really wonderful place to take the kids for a picnic and/or walk.

My family always stops here when visiting the GSMNP. This is a clean, beautiful island park with a crystal clear mountain stream. Kids love to wade or tube in the stream. Fishing here (tribal permit required) is also popular. There are also Gazebos and picnic tables with grills. My wife and I enjoyed just walking through the park (path is level and paved). We enjoyed sitting and relaxing on the benches by the stream. The Cherokee Bonfire Series (Cherokee storytelling) happens here on Friday and Saturday nights (May-October). My four year old Granddaughter loved walking through the mini Bamboo forest but the highlight for her was of course the Ducks! So.... At this park you can walk, play, swim, fish or just sit, relax and hang out with the ducks. Park is free, clean and beautiful. Great place to picnic with family and friends. Dog friendly, duck friendly, bike friendly, and family friendly. What else can you ask for? There is parking available on both sides of the river. Located right off the main drag in downtown Cherokee. It was a nice break for us before entering the GSMNP. Will definitely return.

This is a definite go to! The story teller was exceptional!!! He told of Cherokee history and age old tales of the Cherokee people! Great evening well spent!

We were attending a five-day conference at Harrah's in Cherokee and took a morning break in the park. We had a great time with the very friendly resident ducks. It was great to just sit and watch the creek flow by. So refreshing...

We walked here from our hotel several times.It is a large,beautiful park on the Ocanaluftee River.There are plenty of things to do..you can wade and tube the river,or watch the ducks swimming.Some folks were fishing as well.The bamboo "forrest" is fun to walk thru.We enjoyed a picnic on one of the several picnic tables.There is lots of shade and you can walk for as long as you like,or rest a spell on on bench.There is no playground equipment,but the kids didn't seem to notice.This is a very family friendly park,and it's free.A great place to relax and cool off.

This is a very pretty and relaxing place that every age can enjoy. From babies sitting in shallow calm waters, to dads fishing for trout.

beautiful country awesome day trip...streams ....quiet ...reasonable...can eat at the park as well as shop ...play games..etc...

The view of the island is fantastic. I enjoyed the sound of flowing water. I gone through the bamboo forest. I Touch beautiful stone which lies under water. I spent there 3 hours like a dream.

Its right near traffic but if its quite and peaceful you can wade into the water carefully and skip rocks they have a bamboo forest which is kind of cool and cuts you off more from the traffic their are a couple of bridges that go from the main road to the paths in the park. Its a neat little stop to burn a little bit of time.

A good place to have a picnic and allow the kids to explore and get their feet wet, walk through the Bamboo forest and use the restroom.

have always driven by this but never stopped - we stopped 10/12/16. very nice! loved the little bamboo forest - nice picnic areas - want to go back when drought is over - would love to spend more time there.

This is a beautiful little park along the river with benches, tables, and places for children to wade. It was a highlight of the town of Cherokee. On Friday night, they had a free bonfire with Cherokee storytellers. The first storyteller, a Cherokee woman (Mrs. Littlejohn) was absolutely excellent. her stories were clear and interesting and she got the children in the audience involved. But be warned, the second storyteller, a Cherokee man named John, gave a much too graphic and violent "history lesson" on how to kill someone with with a war club. It went on and on and consisted of ways to bash in someone's head or cause internal bleeding. It was totally inappropriate for a storytelling circle where half the audience consisted of children under ten. Do go to this lovely park (right behind the Cherokee Visitor's Center) and do go to the storytelling bonfire to hear Mrs. Littlejohn but, if you take children, beware of the violent presentation offered by John. It was totally inappropriate and offensive and did nothing to dispel the old stereotype of the "savage" Indian. I'm surprised the Cherokee Council permits this. We waled out.

Very nice public park with water, walking trails, bamboo forest, picnic tables, grills, restrooms and fitness station available. Generally well maintained, however there have been a couple of occasions when I found the trash cans overflowing. This is a great place to cool off and splash around in the river or to clear your head and enjoy nature. The Cherokee also host a bonfire with storytelling on Friday and Saturday evenings at this location.

We decided to stop at Oconaluftee Islands Park to explore the river. It is a nice, calm place to picnic and relax. The water is moving through the area, but the current is not strong. And like all of the creek and river water in the area, it is crystal clear.

Just wade around in the meandering river on a warm sunny day. Picknick on the shores. Hear the Cherokee storytelling on weekend evenings. Fun for the whole family.

I enjoyed the variety of ducks in this little park. It is very little. Dog walking is allowed in a very small area, as a FYI

Beautiful stop along the road to take a break Nice walking trails bridge across river and picnic areas. Perfect place to take a pit stop

We bought lunch at Paul's and came down to the river to eat. We got to see a couple of groups of canadian geese raft down the river in front of us. We also got to see a few fly fishermen in the river.

We had a great time here. The park is beautiful. They have picnic tables thru out the park. Bathrooms were clean. The river was a lot of fun and clean we will go back next year.

Long river, very shallow, slow tubing, lots of shade with plenty of space. Great place to picnic and play for the day.

Town is at the eastern entrance to Great Smokey Mt NP. We had brought a picnic with us but there was nowhere in the park to enjoy it (due to snow in March). A ranger in the park clued us in to this one.

Easy parking and a short walk took us to a nice peaceful bench near the river. No one else was there. We enjoyed the scene and the river and lingered for a while.

Include a picnic here in your GSMNP plans.

This is a beautiful park with fantastic access to the river. Parking is easy, the park is clean, the walking paths are very accessible, and the restroom facilities are well maintained. We love bringing our kids here to play in the river.

Very nice park in town. Lovely setting. This is a nice stroll or picnic. Beautifully landscaped. Right on the river..

A shallow flow of water that is fun for playing in or tubing. We saw lots of both going on, but mainly kids playing and having a good time. We've also seen elk walk through the water heading towards the Oconaluftee Visitor Center for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. There's also lots of area for picnicking and enjoying the surroundings.

I attended 3 Bon Fires this Summer. Each was different than the other as not one person comes to tell the stories of the Cherokee people and the animals of the forests and mountains. Was fascinated enough by them to come home and look up further information online on many Cherokee pages. Fully wheelchair accessible as is the Oconaluftee Island Park just a few steps away across the beautiful bridges. Well worth attending on Fi/Sat evenings at 7-9pm. Also, there are extended weeklong Bonfire talks, please see http://visitcherokeenc.com/#home Look under "Events Calendar"

We visited here on 6/18/16. This is right in downtown Cherokee. There are two fairly busy roads on either side of the park but that didn't really distract from our fun. This would be a great place for a picnic and playing in the river. My kids, ages 8 and 13, liked this place as did we. It was a nice place for a down day during our trip. Don't forget to walk through the bamboo!

What a great park! Ducks, geese, trout. This has great walking trails right in the center of Cherokee. When we were there they were pressure washing the walking bridges and making minor repairs, but does not interfere in any way. They had finished the next day. BEAUTIFUL!

Great park for relaxing and plenty of things for adults and kids to just chill out and enjoy the day.

Looking to relax and reflect. This is your place.

Nice park on the river with good walking paths, benches and tables. Easy to navigate from one side of the river to the other.

Located near the T junction from Cherokee main Street. Beautiful park with an island comprising relaxing walks, clear river running, people trying their luck at fishing, families enjoying the river and rock pools and some wildlife. Understated nature at its best.

Just returned from a visit to Mingo Falls, and we were warm to say the least. No problem. A stop at Oconaluftee Islands Park would take car of the that. Parked on Tsali Blvd across the street from the bridge to the southern end of the park (US 441 just north of US 19). A few minutes later, we were walking barefoot in the river. About 30 other folks of various ages were doing the same. Very refreshing...and very clean. The river is very shallow and the bottom is mainly small stones, but nothing sharp, a few of which were collected as souvenirs of our visit.
Felt fully revitalized after about 30 minutes. Dried our feet, shoes back on and then off to the next phase of our Smoky Mountains adventure.

We walked from one end to the other. Very nice paved paths or wooden walkways & bridges. Beautiful scenery!

I spent the afternoon strolling with my daughter (10 months) while my husband fished. I got some great photos and my husband caught several trout. This is not a park with playground equipment, but the kids dont need it with the river so easily accessible and a bamboo forest with a trail and plenty of bridges crossing the water. We had a blast! If you have a small child bring a wagon or jogging stroller. Without it exploring can be difficult.

Pack a picnic, sunscreen, towels, tubes and family for some good fun. It is relaxing and fun for all ages. A great place to spend the day.

We stayed at "rolling hills lodge", Cherokee. It was just an 8 minute walk to this beautiful Island Park! And we also river tubed to this park in 40 minutes from "rolling hills lodge".
This park is refreshing, safe and a beautiful place to roam day or night! Beautiful 24/7!. I will definitely stay at the same place so clean and nice and go to this park next visit!!! ... And its FREE!!!

If you are looking for a park for a family with children of all ages, this is it especially if you enjoy spending time in the water! The park has clean bathrooms, plenty of picknic tables and grills, a bamboo forest and a ton of water front for fishing, tubing or just relaxing in! There's also a ton of parking and if you are a trout fisherman this place is amazing! This park is great for a quick stroll or an entire day..

We stopped here with grandchildren while visiting the area in early July. It was seasonally HOT and humid, which is normal for North Carolina! Finding this park in the center of Cherokee with a wonderful creek to wade in was a true treasure. Toddlers were much less cranky after cooling their toes in the water and Grandma was too! The park is lovely, with lots of lawn and shady areas to picnic or just while away the hours. The creek was definitely the highlight for us, as its smooth stoned bottom was covered by shallow water and we could turn older kids loose!

Nice park with shallow water for children to play. Picnic tables, walking path and special events during peak season.

Tourists love to swim and sun bath here. I am a local so we use the Island for summer birthday parties and family picnics. My kids have always loved the ducks. The atmosphere is so relaxing that you forget your practically in downtown.

Came across this pleasant downtown riverside park as we approached the Cherokee Indian Museum earlier in March, 2017 and were delighted. Must be beautiful in Spring and Summer!
Enjoyed a picnic as we watched several ducks swimming under the afternoon sun. Recommend a stroll along the winding paths. Dogs are permitted in limited areas.

The park has several benches, and picnic areas with tables to sit on or have a family gathering. There are public restrooms and a foot bridge to cross from side to side. There is plenty of shaded areas to bring your chairs and sit and enjoy the river. The river has several shallow areas to walk out into or sit your chair down in the water. There are other areas that are deeper going as deep as your chest. There are ducks to see and you can fish in the river if you have the proper permits/licenses. There are some areas that have some swift rapid movement to float through on a tube if you desire to. The water is very cold initially when you contact it but if feels quite good on a sunny hot day.

We enjoyed walking in the swallow water. However, our favorite part was a little farther down behind Drama Inn where the ducks would gather. They would come right up to you and eat right out of your hand.

Didn't know about the river until we passed it. On the way back from Smokey Mountains we stopped for a swim and saw moose. Now that was a great afternoon!

A lovely park with lots of room to spread out and nice opportunities to cool off in the creek. Plenty of walking areas and close to hotels for easy access.

As we visit each year at Christmas, we so enjoy the lights on and around the islands. We typically go at night and feel totally safe. There are usually a few families besides us that are walking around in the evening. The river is beautiful and it's a wonderful place to sit and unwind. Convenient parking as well.

Beautiful little place to hang out on a great summer day. We walked down and got in the cool, flowing river and had a great time!

Nice park, you can tube, splash, walk, people watch. Bridges are nice and it's very picturesque. Parking is somewhat limited.

Great park. Lots of room to spread out. Kids loved splashing in the water (it was cold but kids never care). Water was fairly shallow where we were playing about knee deep on me. Which was great because I could be in the water without having to change into swim gear. River does have a current but not horribly fast. I would highly suggest water shoes or crocs as the river bed is all rocks (they are nice and smooth from the current but still rocks). Would love to go again when the kids are old so we could rent tubes.

My kids love going here to play in the water and stack the rocks. We spend about 2 hours there playing in the water. It is a great place to go to just relax, put your feet in the water and watch your kids have a great time. I would recommend wearing water shoes because some of the rocks can be sharp or slippery. We bring snacks and camp chairs to sit in and a blanket too. There are so many spots in the park where the kids can play in the water that you might want to walk around and try different places at the park. They do have picnic benches there which is great. A definite place to see

Great place to relax and listen to the water. Beautiful scenery and a great place to cool off in the sparkling clean water of the river.

Kids love to play in water on a hot day. Husband loves to fish for trout. Some months of the year has a fishing tournament, you catch a fish with tag you win a prize.

Just had a large (120 people) family reunion and was able to take advantage of this park for evening picnic meals. It is a beautiful location and has 4 or 5 large pavilions with picnic tables and power. You make reservations for the pavilions through the Cherokee Welcome center for FREE. Veronica helped me and was WONDERFUL - so helpful, knowledgeable and kind. She even took time to help answer questions regarding the area that didn't even have anything to do with the park since I was doing the planning. HIGHLY recommend this for family or large groups. There are large grassy areas where you can set up camp chairs, corn hole and other games. This worked out perfect for our needs!

Fun small park near the water. Perfect place to take small children. We visitied once before in the fall and there were geese nearby.

I wanted to stop and feed the ducks. They have food for sale for .25 from a machine. The park is very nice and if the water is low it is a great place for young children to splash and play in the water. lots of hungry Ducks and Geese around to feed. Great place for a picnic.
The best part about the park is that it is free. Go on a warm day because the water is super cold.

I live two and a half hours away from this place, but I have to visit this place twice a year.
This park is very beautiful with clean creek. The creek is safe for kids( my son is 9 years old and I can let him play by himself.) Little kids can play at shallow part of the creek with adult supervision.
There is a restroom near parking area. There are some shaded picnic area, but there are lots of trees by the creek, so if you have picnic blanket, you can eat by the creek. There are lots of flies and other bugs(you cannot avoid those if you are in a nature). So you need mosquito spray for sure.

We left camping and stopped in so we could eat lunch and let the kids play in the river. The park is very nice and clean. It is a very busy place but everyone is friendly. They have picnic tables and grills to use if you bring your own charcoal. I would recommend anyone passing through stop in and walk the river at least.

It was a beautiful summer day and we took our 10 year old grandson there to "tube the river". There were lots of other children and he had a great time.

Bring your swimming suit, a chair and a cooler and spend some time here. The water is shallow and perfect to set a chair in so you can let it wash your troubles away. Walkways and pavilions are paved and well maintained. Great for picnicking but there aren't any convenient restrooms on the grounds. Great for young and old. Is Handicapped accessible.

Very pretty and lots to do. It was said that pets were allowed so we drove all the way there and the sign on the bridge said no dogs. We started to leave but luckily saw other people with dogs on the opposit side of the bridge. Glad we didn't leave. Loved the bamboo forest and the creek

A few years ago we took our grandkids down to the park for a picnic and some fun in the creek. The water was chilly but perfect on a warm day! We love it down there, so peaceful and relaxing! There are lot's of shade trees and picnic tables, and the water is shallow but in some parts it is a little too deep for smaller children so you might need waders. Enjoy!!!

We were driving thru the North Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina mountains. This park was a nice place to a lunch break at a picnic table long the river.

The trails gave us a chance to stretch our legs after a few hours of driving.

The Oconaluftee Islands Park is in the center of Cherokee NC. It is a very shallow river that is perhaps 20 yards wide and at the park may be 100 yards long or so. On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, when we were there, there were parents and children wading in the river. One of the really great things is that the river is shallow enough that children can hold parents' hands and walk all the way across. Green grass is on both sides of the river in the park, and there are plenty of spots to spread a blanket and eat. There is also a walking bridge across the river for those who don't want to get their feet wet. Visited June 26, 2018

Just a quiet, peaceful beautiful park in Cherokee. Benches to sit and watch the ducks and geese, The little ones, and big ones can wade in the river. We fed the ducks and took great pictures of the geese and ducks, and fed the mallard that came up the bank. Great park in Cherokee to picnic and just relax.

This is a great place to stop and let the kids get out and wade in the river. Shallow, cool, gentle flowing water. Perfect on a hot summer day, or if you are just arriving in Cherokee after a long drive. The kids will enjoy stacking rocks and building dams. At night on Saturdays they have a bonfire and story telling. (Check schedule prior to see if they are still doing this.)

As it was August, the bonfire was a small campfire - but the storyteller was excellent! We scheduled our visit to Cherokee to take advantage of the bonfires held on Friday and Saturday nights during the tourist season - when a real Cherokee storyteller shared his craft with the crowd. This was done for the love of his people, as there was no fee and no tips either asked for or taken. A Definite must see if you are in Cherokee. 7-9 pm.

This is a nice place to have a pic nic, play in the river and just relax. Best to go during the week, weekends can get crazy and crowded. And always try to keep up with local activities that could impede on your plans ( trout tournament) and such. Best part if your real lucky, usually early morning, you will get to see a small herd of Elk wading up the river.....NOW THAT IS a sight to see.

This is a beautiful and relaxing stop. The running stream is ideal for sitting on the bank and sticking your feet in or just sitting and being soothed by the sound if the running water. Bring you lawn chair.

This park is great. It’s a group of islands in the middle of the river w/ a very large stand if natural bamboo.

Very cool & nice and neat the Museum if the Cherokee.

Very nice park with plenty of picnic tables and grassy areas to spread out a blanket in the shade. You can walk right out into the river to cool off or float on a tube. I highly recommend this place.

Went here twice during our three-day stay, it was about all my 11 and 9 years old children cared about doing. Will say that this is a mountain river so water is cold and there are plenty of rocks, but my kids loved it and we as parents enjoyed it as well.

We enjoyed our break time at this park. Wonderful mountain streams, flat rocks to skip across the water, and a large bamboo forest with trail made this one of my son's favorites.

We suppose the park might be busier on weekends, but today it was a quiet walk along the babbling creek. One family was tubing in the shallow water. Must have been lots of fun from all the giggling and laughing. The trail is mostly paved with concrete. Wooden bridges criss cross the river for walkers. Fishermen can "catch and keep" from the river banks with a Tribal fishing permit.
No charge for this attraction.

Great for families, friends, and anyone who is looking for a nice walk along the Oconaluftee River. The water is constantly flowing, and very clear to ensure a safe area for people to put their feet in or to even swim, tube, or fish within. They have plenty of picnic tables, and bridges to add some scenic value, and they also even have a river cane forest located within the park. This park is located in the middle of the town and is the only place I’ve ever been where I have witnessed families congregate daily at the river to enjoy the fresh mountain air.

this is a beautiful place love to walk around or get in the cool water it is great for a family day check out this park love it

Instead of rushing by to get to your next destination as I did for many years, be certain to stop at this lovely park on the Oconaluftee River. Bring a picnic as their are tables and grills available. The water is perfect for the little ones to wade and have fun safely, while the adults can sit on a rock nearby and stay mostly dry. On Friday evenings in the summer, there is Cherokee storytelling a bonfire that takes place at one end of the park. They offer marshmallows to the children to roast over a fire. It really is worth a visit to learn more about Cherokee lore. Also in the park is the most beautiful stand of giant bamboo trees. Walk through the "tunnel" of trees for a quick escape and a zen like feeling of peace. Not to be missed!

Bring a bite to eat and let the kids play next to the shallow running river. If you've been traveling this refreshes your spirit. I can't tell you what it is but there is something that touches you here, felt such a connection to everything around me. I could have just sat and listened to the water and the breeze slip thru the trees all day, as it was we stayed for several hours enjoying the tranquility. In the evening there was a wonderful Cherokee storyteller who wove such interesting stories EVERYONE was mesmerized.

My wife & I were passing through Cherokee & decided to stop & spend some down time relaxing in the park. Amenities include picnic tables (some with grills), shaded areas, paved walking trail that winds through the park, fishing, swimming or wading (seasonal), swings to relax by the river & a pavilion with picnic tables & of course you can feed the ducks. Located in the heart of Cherokee. Small parking areas located on either side of the river. Loved the Halloween decorations.

Really cool bridge that goes across into a big park, lots of space. Ducks all along the water. Beautiful scenery.

The island splits the Oconaluftee River in half for a about 1/4 to 1/3 of a mile. Three walking bridge-two off Tsali Blvd., with the third-southern end- off Acquoni Road, where there is a small parking lot. To the north-off Tsali Blvd. a sign says parking with an arrow pointing to a dirt/grass field. Another sign says federal property, parked here with vehicle still there 45 minutes later.

The two Tsali bridges are 1/4-1/3 from the north end. Once on the island a visitor will encounter three pavilions with six metal picnic tables. I would say about 30 tables total & a large number of metal benches.

At the north end are the park's restrooms. The islands walkway is all concrete. At the southern end-by the parking lot- two women were feeding about ducks'geese, from baby chicks to full grown adults, however there are signs saying "DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS".

To the north is the "Unto These Hills" outdoor drama stage & box office along with parking. In a semi-circle are 11-12 wooden benches. Also is a handicapped accessible pier. Fishing permits can be bought at the Cherokee Visitor Center.

Would say the park is available for a walk, jog, walking the dog or having a family picnic A map show a bamboo forest, however darkness prevented a visit.

A visit is recommended.

My family had a good time there. We shopped and road the sky wheel. We ate at Margaritaville restaurant. Food and waiter was very good. It was a good time.

This is a really pretty place along the drive on Highway 441 in Cherokee, North Carolina. Stop and breath in all the fresh mountain air...so relaxing!

Beautiful area...a must! The water was so cold, but felt great. We loved the bridge! Parking wasn't that difficult, we just parked along the side of road

Hidden gem. So pretty. Fun for a couple hours or all day. Great for people of all ages, incl young kids and elderly. Wheelchair accessible. Lots of picnic tables in sun or shade. It’s a large enough area that even if a lot of people are there, plenty of room to spread out to have your own section of river.

It is a nice area to walk, but dog owners who travel usually will be careful about "dog litter" . If they put up some system like they do at rest stops, I am sure it will remain clean. I was really put off by all the "no dogs allowed" postings. With such a large area to walk around by the river and the tree areas, I am sure no one would be bothered if pets are leashed and a few baggies/receptacles are provided for pets who go. Parking is limited. Strolling into the shallow waters of the river is fun for kids, and safe near shore, but it is cold water for sure!! Wear river shoes because of all the small rocks.

Awesome place to walk and just enjoy the scenery and be blessed with a view of tranquility and peace

Go see this place everyone. the natural beauty and peacefulness is worth the drive. The townspeople were friendly, service everywhere was exceptional. Worth the visit, ill be back

This is a relaxing and nice place. There are picnic tables and a bridge walkway that goes through bamboo. Love it here.

Stopped to wade in water, lots of people enjoying the water or sitting on rocks or banks. Pretty clean area plenty of spots to picnic. Gold dust in water. Or fools gold dust 😊

this is a very nice place to people watch wade in the river feed the ducks take a lunch as you look at the beautiful senery all around you

Enjoy just sitting in the water... If you like fishing you can catch trout. Not the best place for tubing.... It is not deep enough. Use one of the tubing companies.

We packed a picnic lunch and headed out with no particular destination in mind. Ended up walking the line of souvenir shops until lunch time. Saw the park on the way into town with lots of tables and benches. Headed that way. Very pleasantly surprised to find a a beautiful, shallow river flowing thru the park. The kids had a ton of fun playing in the water (so did the adults). Completely wore the kids out. Didn't cost us a dime. Best entertainment value on Cherokee. Too bad we weren't there on Saturday to visit the local craft booths that are set up and the entrance to the park.

Probably the best part about our day trip to Cherokee. Our 5 year old had a grand ol' time playing with the rocks on the river. There was even a little workout area where my husband got in a few exercises. Very relaxing! There were tons of families all down the river, many of them seemed to be locals. We were still able to find a nice secluded, peaceful spot. Visited on a Tuesday afternoon. Might be crowded on the weekends? There were several picnic spots to choose from also.

This is a dont miss when you are in the area, so relaxing, the water is clear and cool, we love it went tubing and had the time of our lives. It is a great place for a picnic and a little wadding, it is a great walking trail that we enjoyed very much. when you are here you just can not miss it, it is just a oure joy. This place is so near to everything, fish, swim, walk, eat, it is the best place to relax in the erea.

Plenty of wildlife. Bamboo fores was an eyeopener. Lots of small eating areas with grills. River flowing on both sides made for a wonderfully relaxing early morning walk.

There is nothing else to say except this is one of my favorite places. Instant peacefulness and a wonderful place to be with the beautiful creek running through. When you see it you are instantly happy.

stop by the park on a recant trip through the smoky mtns. and a stay at the Cherokee casino. very peace little park with great walking and picnic areas.

Picnic tables,benches by the river, perfect spot for a break or a picnic. The bees were somewhat annoying but you will want to go walking along the river anyway. Bring some bread for the ducks that congegate along the river.

Shollow, clean cool mountain water
Park is clean , stays really busy durung the summer .
Many picnic tables ,

Beautiful park! Paved pathway for ease of walking, strollers, wheelchairs, etc. Plenty of shade for hot days, river is easily accessible almost all the way around the path.

nice place to relax and cool off! There were many families swimming and/or picnicking along the banks.

Wonderful park to drive to through the Smoky Mtn NP. Brought a picnic lunch along and couldn’t have picked a nicer spot to eat. Many tables and many families enjoying the water. After lunch we put our feet in the water for a while.

A lovely, well-maintained place for a stroll along the river. We watched several fisherman standing in the river, enjoyed seeing LOTS of ducks. Only disappointment: Dogs Not Allowed. Such a shame.

I can't say enough about this park! I haven't been there for several years and was surprised at the improvements they have made....especially since I didn't think there was any room for improvement. I loved it then and love it even more now. The little river runs right through the middle of it and is shallow enough to wade in it. Great for the kiddos and 'young at heart' alike. Nice picnic area, nice play area, beautifully cared for....I could go on and on. LOVE this place!!!!

Wonderful, relaxing park with a cool sparkling stream. Enjoyed watching the ducks at play and cooling off under the shade trees.

The kids had a lot of fun. We bought tubes and they spent all day floating down the river. Nice area to have a picnic. It has barbecue grills and covered seating areas.

We enjoyed playing in the creek and grilling. It’s a beautiful park and so relaxing. Public restrooms also on site.

Grest place to sit and read a book or take the kids or you take a swim or fish water is cold in the summer can float down the river

This is one of the most beautiful spots to picnic, inner tube, or photograph. Go on nights where they hold a bonfire and tell Indian legends. It’s fun and educational.

Visiting in the heat of the summer, under the cool canopy of tall trees along the river is a great way to escape for a bit. Kids and adults can be found wading, swimming and floating along the river.

On certain evenings during the summer (I believe Fridays and Saturdays) they have a campfire and storytelling by local members of the Cherokee tribe. We attended one on the Friday that we were there and it was fantastic. The storyteller did a great job telling ancient stories like "how the opossum got it's pink tail" and "Spearfinger". He also was a fantastic flute player and told us a bit about their history and culture. They led two dances, with some of the audience members participating, and also provided water and marshmallows for the kids to roast over the fire. It was such a fun, interesting, entertaining evening! Highly recommend it!

We visited on a rainy afternoon in December after a morning of hiking in the Park. The Museum is staffed by tribal members, including a friendly gentleman who answered questions while working traditional arts/crafts at a table in the lobby. The visit starts with a very well-executed video theatrical presentation of the Cherokee creation stories, followed by entry into the museum. The displays are very informative, describing the history of the Cherokee from pre-Contact, during the Colonial period, the Removal, and into modern times. A nice balance of display cases, dioramas, and murals. There were times when I wished for more information; for example, there are displays of arrowheads and other projectile points from different historical periods with far less information about the individual points than I would have liked, but I am an archeology buff and perhaps most people find the current display sufficient. Overall, a great way to learn about the Cherokee Nation in just a few hours.

This park runs right next to the ocanaluffee river. the river is agreat place to wade in and cool off.

A little gem of a park for everyone! Surprised to find it. Great for kids and adults. Creek offers fun cooling off and picnic tables offer spot to relax.

We took a short getaway to Cherokee . We stayed at the Great Smokies Inn and attended “ Unto these Hills “ we fished in the reservation creeks and spent a day in the park . We enjoyed eating at the Wyes Grill , Native Brewery , and Peters Pancakes . Our hotel was older , but very clean and well kept , staff was awesome. Every encounter we had in Cherokee was a positive experience , except we found it difficult to get a fishing permit , first online before we left , went to one gas station that said they weren’t doing them , recommended us to the Ace Hardware behind them , we went the next morning and they had some difficulty with the system but patiently worked it out so we could get one . I would suggest having the system upgraded to ensure visitors have no problems getting a permit . We loved our visit and plan to return for another .

When your hot and tired, this area is perfect for you. Watch your children, but enjoy their smiles as the gurgling water washes over their feet.....Enjoy...

What a nice little park. We brought some sandwiches, fed the ducks, and played in the creek. What a pleasant afternoon!

Attended the Cherokee Storytelling Campfire on Saturday night. Spent some time wading in the river the next day. Park is well shaded and has walking paths and bridges. My only concern was the people fishing while kids were swimming and tubing nearby.

Tips I didn't think of:
Bring water shoes. The rocks are not all smooth.
Bring bug spray. The mosquitoes were bad.
It's a fun park with paved walking trail, water/wading easily accessible, and even a bamboo forest. We enjoyed it until I couldn't stand the itching anymore.

This was and is the best find in Cherokee. It can be very commercial but right center in town is this gem. A great place to stroll, sit and watch the fly fishermen. We spent several hours enjoying the sunny fall day. But right near by were museums and shopping. Can’t miss it right on Main Street.

I love stopping at this park. It's in the middle of town. You can feed the ducks, fish or have a picnic. It is a great place to go on a warm sunny day. The river is very cold so be prepared. Lots of picnic tables and places to sit and take in the views. I highly recommend this park.

This place was a blast... shallow water for the kids to wade around in... great place for small children... water was cold but in 90 degree weather... heaven! Nice picnic areas too... great way to spend time on a hot summer day!

My husband and I visited here strictly to see the "bamboo forest." First, prepare to fend off some bugs. They were everywhere. Flying bugs, spiders, etc.
Second, we were saddened by the amount of bamboo that had been vandalized. It was pretty, but not a necessary stop in my opinion.

A park on an island in Oconlauftee River with trails one of which goes through small bamboo forest, picnic areas, and bathrooms on the edge of park.
Parking is free. It is worth a stop and a visit if in area on your way to Great Smokey Mountains National Park

We spent 2 hours here as a break from hiking. The kids never once had their phones out as they spent a lot of time just skipping rocks and walking along the river. The bamboo forest was cool too. Spot to feed the ducks provides food you can purchase for them. Water doesn't move fast so you can wade out in it. Crystal clear mountain water so refreshing. Park clean and no riff raff hanging around.

Great place to play in the stream! We enjoyed a couple of hours playing and exploring. There were some really nice picnic tables in the area as well.

Nice walking area with paved walking trails, gazebos and picnic areas. The bamboo forest is a highlight of the park.

Walking down to the river, listening to the waters rushing over the rocks was "the only sound" in the air!! There is a nice walk down to waters edge...easy short walk... maybe 7 steps. Look over to original Tee Pees with Indian Painting Patterns! Do Not Miss this!

What a great park to visit. There's a nice loop walking trail with several bridges. Several picnic areas. The river is shallow, and was being enjoyed by waders, tubers, and a bit further up, fishers. Nice bamboo grove too. Very peaceful even though it's next to the road. Right next to the main Visitor Center too.

Bonfire was really fun! Very nice area river is fun for kids wading and fishing! Parking was easy and just a short walk to shops and eatery's.

We loved the wooden boardwalk over the stream...such a peaceful and serene place...the bamboo cove was a pleasant surprise, too. No ducks yet but we have seen them there before in the summer.

I'd be there daily if we lived near Cherokee; what a lovely place to walk, sit in the water, or relax by the water with a book. Beautifully designed and kept up.

Good family place.its free and ample space for fishing.kids will have a wonderful time.river flowing through middle of park

The park is beautiful to walk around, and it's decorated with some holiday lights right now which add to it. The river runs right through the park, and there is an island, before the streams merge. Really neat stand of bamboo too, which makes for a sheltered, almost cave like, little stroll. Lot's of ducks, geese, and trout fishing. It's worth exploring.

This park is beautifully placed smack dab in the middle of town! The river runs right though the middle of it and is perfect for wading, swimming or simply sunning or sitting under shade trees. The park was busy with a steady stream of locals along side vacationers. There is a gorgeous "cane" forest in one secluded corner of the park. Several picnic areas and benches. Very nice walking trails for a casual stroll or powerwalk. The Friday and Saturday evening we were there they offered FREE Indian stories around a Bonfire as well as local art vendors.

We love this area for picnic's, fishing and relaxing. Very beautiful area...Have a fishing tournament for the kids near the fall season. They give the kids fishing poles and different things. Come really early in the morning....

Whether the kids want to splash in the shallow water or get out and swim around, this is a fun place. Nice picnic tables and plenty of room for a larger family gathering. Close to shops in Cherokee, walking distance to Museum and other attractions.

Very impressed with the park. Was easy to access, even for the disabled. NIce views, nice walking area. The locals provides farmers markets, fire rings, dances, and other tribal activities.

Simply put it is beautiful! Love it. Standing on the bridge and watching the water run and seeing the different paths it takes is amazing!

This is a great place for the family, people were in the water, some were fishing, some were reading a book, others were like me and just taking in the beautiful day and people watching. We have passed this park many times and this was the first time that we actually walked in the park, we walked from the hotel to town, it was a little longer walk than we expected, but the scenery was well worth it, take a picnic lunch and enjoy, there are several covered picnic areas and grills to use and it's nice and cool by the water.

Adorable, peaceful place to enjoy nature... Loved it !!! Great water flow, ducks you can feed, and great picture opportunities.

This is a beautiful place to visit in the area. They also have story time right by the water at sunset.

Absolutely loved the walking trails that were clearly marked with distance markers. There were plenty of shallow areas in the creek that were nice to play in.

Beautiful. Spent the afternoon and just loved it. it was a nice break from the normal day in the casino. Lots of fresh air and beautiful scenery.

This was just a short stop for us after a day of hiking. It was a nice place for the teenagers to cool off in the water. I think we would have gotten in too if the water level had not been so low due to the dry spell. The teenagers enjoyed wading and playing in the water. The park itself was pretty clean but the parking area across the street was strewn with trash. Come on people! How do you go somewhere to experience nature an then throw your dirty baby diapers, trash, and left over food all over it? Sigh.

Adults should take a book or Kindle for something to do while monitoring the kids. Little children need close supervision because there is a current even when water is low and rocks are slippery. I wore water shoes but the teenagers ditched theirs saying it was easier to feel when they started to slip on the rocks without them on.

Nice picnic area off to the side and two bridge walkways to make crossing easy with all your accouterments. Also, it is easier to access the water from the picnic side of the park. Otherwise, you have to go down some steep banks to get to the water.

A great place to relax and enjoy the cool waters of the Oconaluftee river. Bring your hot dogs or steaks and grill out and chill out. No alcohol allowed but you don't need it here.

Nice little park, kind of crowded and park is not great but great place for lunch or grill out. Outstanding setting.

I came here for the bamboo forest but fell in love with the park. I plan to come back when it is warmer and bring my kids.

No one out but the ducks peacefully gliding along. Clear sparkling water made you want to wade out in it but the cool February air made you reconsider.

The Island park is great for resting, relaxing, a picnic or meeting with friends.
I always stop by a couple times each visit to Cherokee.

Easy access, lots of ducksand a machine to buy duck food, could go in for a dip if you wanted, not enough seating.

This is a must-see when visiting Cherokee, NC. The woodland mountain stream is gorgeous! We always take and hour or two and unwind at the Park.

This park stretches along the banks of the Oconaluftee River that winds through the town. There are restrooms, changing facilities, picnic tables and places to wade in the (Cold) water. The river is rocky so take note of where the locals are enjoying it. Lots of people walking beside and crossing the streets and the speed limit is strictly enforced by the Tribal Police.

Such a treasure in town of Cherokee. Easy walk beside a clear, mountain stream. Plenty of places to picnic and enjoy watching the ducks. Walk among the bamboo and native plants. Always felt safe in the park and on the trails.

I have been going to Cherokee since 1972. I can not believe how much has changed, yet how much has stayed the same. This is one of the reasons that this is my favorite vacation spot.
I have seen this park go from just a rock island in the middle of the river to a beautifully sculpted park. A great place to just sit and relax while the kids swim!

this is awesome place to hang out with family and friends! you can play in water or use your own float. there is plenty of shade with picnic tables, shelters, benches by the river, trashcans, and ducks! there is a wonderful hiking path through tall canes providing shade and making you feel like you are isolated but you are still in park. this was my favorite! there are boardwalks and info trail about local flora with exercise stations along way. the city workers do a good job collecting trash and keeping the place presentable. it is beautiful place to relax and best of all it is free! friday evenings there is story time narrated by some of the local cherokee at pavilion, also free. i think they have smores at this story telling.

Great place to listen to the water, walk around, and maybe see an elk nearby. You will enjoy the many bridges and streams around this beautiful place. Take a look and enjoy the outdoors. Great place!

Wonderful place with ice cold mountain water stream to swim in or float in, and just walk the paths, look at the ducks, cross foot bridges... clean family fun.

Been coming and playing in this park for more than a half-century. I always and enjoyed the simple pleasure of skipping stones and playing in the cool, rippling waters. Now I took my daughter and she loved it just as much. A free extra recommended for any Cherokee visit.

Very nice area for pictures and strolling, while there we saw several Elk and other wildlife.This would be great for children, especially in summer or fall. Nice views for taking pictures and relaxing walks. plenty of parking and can be accessed by two different streets.

The sun was warm, the water was cold, but the kids loved it! The perfect April day to stick your feet in and walk around, remembering summer is just around the corner. It's a nice place for a picnic, or a nice stroll or even wade around in the creek. Best of all, it's free!

This is a beautiful little park right in the middle of town. There are picnic areas and benches. You can get the kids out in the river. It is shallow in most parts and perfect for younger kids. Make sure to bring water shoes as the river is very rocky. There are variety of ducks and fish. We saw a mother and about 10 ducklings swimming along. The water is cold as it comes from a spring but the kids still loved getting out and just wading a little.

We enjoyed our visit to the Ocona.luftee Island Park. There is plenty of benches and other areas to sit. We spend several hours just watching the river, ducks and the children play.

Spent an afternoon while on vacation letting boys ages 12 and 13 play in river. Better than hotel pool. Lots of people. Water cold but refreshing. Stay in sun and not shadows for warming. What a great local park in city. Restrooms, tables and benches. Lots of green space. Just a great time. Current swift so little ones need to be with parent.

This park is on both sides of the river and is perfect for families and children. You can tube, fly fish, sit on rocks and enjoy the cool waters. There are bridges over the creek so you can choose your best place to sit and relax. There are ample places to picnic too. There is a walking trail on both sides and it is safe for everyone.

beautiful when it wasn't raining alot of fishing and kids in the water. plenty of places to grill fireworks there too

We attended the bonfire program. The program was phenomenal but the restrooms at the park were very dirty. But, overall, the park is beautiful. We did happen on some falling limbs during our short stay. No one was hurt.

Could not get into park because of lack of parking. Looks nice from road but did not have places to sit and watch the river.

I visited this park on Thursday afternoon, April 28, 2016.

It is a relatively large park populated by some residential ducks and geese. The park offers a multitude of shaded seating areas and some are located more or less alongside the river. There are some play areas for young children and toddlers. The views are very nice and I in particular enjoyed walking through the bamboo forest. It was obvious that some work had been recently done to the park grounds as there were some newly poured concrete walkways.

I only have two negatives: 1) Parking is limited to the pull off section of the road and 2) the grounds could have been better maintained.

Looking to get close to nature this is it, close to downtown Cherokee but not so close. There is walking and running trails and certain times they have bonfires and with history all around with free scenery you can't go wrong.

Anytime we go through Cherokee, we stop here and have a picnic. It is right next to the Oconaluftee River. It is very relaxing and peaceful and is a nice place to take a break from driving.

Vacations are always rush, rush, if your family is anything like ours!! In the middle of a hot, rushed, vacation, this is the perfect spot to stop, relax, and enjoy your vacation and your family time together!!! It was hot as blazes, we just walked in the water, didn't swim or float, and we were so refreshed! It is so cool and relaxing in the water, in the shade of all of the trees! There are picnic tables, under a shelter, later that evening there was a storyteller but we were not able to stay. I would love to go there and just stay the day and evening just to listen to the water and look at the beauty that surrounds this park!!! I love it!!!

Plenty of free parking. Just walk and watch fishermen catching trout. Very easy paved path. Follows along to n Indian shopping center and the Indian Museum.

Water was low, but flowing. Peaceful walk and spotting fish in the water. Relaxing after sightseeing and the casino.

My son participated in the Talking Trees Trout Derby in this spot. The family event was very fun and organized. We enjoyed this spot.

awesome park in the heart of cherokee, surronded by quaint shops , trail , boardwalk , fishing ,wading , tubing or cool off on a hot mountain day

We enjoyed walking by this pretty little park and watching the many ducks swim and feed around the river's edge. It seems like a good place for a picnic and has lots a spots to take beautiful photographs.

Wonderful place for kid to play in the shallow water. The bamboo forest was our favorite. Clean bathroom on site. Lots of places to have a picnic. Parking was free and easy to access. Plan to spend a few hours here!

Very nice park along the creek. Great place to walk the dog or let kids play in the shallow water.
Very peaceful place.

I think the park and the shallow, rocky river that goes through it may have been one of the highlights of our trip! We stayed about 45 minute drive away and yet we came back here twice over the two week period. Swimming and wading with my kids in the shallow, rocky river was so enjoyable. It was very hot on the two days we visited the area, so the cool water was appreciated by all.
I can't wait to return when my kids are older so we can all go tubing down the river. It looks like so much fun!
There is something very calming and peaceful about the Cherokee area. Despite the heat and crowds of people, we always felt calm and relaxed the two times we came here. Perhaps it's the affect the river had on us.
I hope to return to this area in the future for a family vacation so that we can actually stay in Cherokee and have more time to explore this area.

wonderful place to go and sit and relax and watch the river flow by and the kids can play in the water It has picnic areas and a few bridges to walk over...I would highly recommend that you stop at the park if your in Cherokee

We enjoyed so much the park and the river. We played in the river for hours. So many families around enjoying there time together. Fishermen catching trout right beside kids playing in the water. Just great family time at a beautiful park and nature at its best!

There were a lot of Christmas decorations (lights) as I had hoped to see this year, but the Oconaluftee Islands Park solved that problem for us! We only sat in the car looking at them, because it was so cold, but they were beautiful! If it hadn't been so cold, I would have loved to walk around the park to see them up close. We also appreciated the giant light displays across the street. I am kicking myself now for not taking pictures!

Nice public park with picnic areas, water access and doggie stations! There is a good walking trail around the entire park, keep an eye out for the ducks and what they leave behind though!

The trail meanders through river cane and picnic areas in this park. In the warm weather many families like to cool off wading in the creek. Fishermen also frequent these waters (you'll need a special fishing license to fish on the Cherokee Reservation).

It was fun to park and walk right down to the river. Benches and picnic tables available in sunny and shady spots. River play was fun and there are different areas for shallow and deeper play. The river runs briskly - hang on to shoes, hats, toys - the river will carry them away QUICKLY!

There is something about the sound of the water and the sight of the rocks ... that makes this such a peaceful oasis in the middle of bustling Cherokee. It is a place to lose track of time... I love it here.

Lots of families and little kids playing in the rocky clear water of the river. Lovely spot for a picnic, which many people were doing. We sat in the water in our chairs and read for a while, as it was just so pretty! Plenty of free parking across the street.

I took my children to the fireside storytelling, ready to immerse my children in more Cherokee culture and historical truth. What I got was a five minute sweet story followed by a 30 minute tirade against "European" settlers, all told with a sweet smile by storyteller "John John". Much of it was absolutely historically inaccurate to the point that it even contradicted what the Cherokee tour guides told us at the Oconaluftee Village earlier that day. Almost everything he told was extremely agenda driven. I was so disappointed that I had to spend much of the car trip home explaining all of the historical inaccuracies to my children. If you are seeking an experience where your family can embrace the Cherokee and learn true history (much of which is indeed sad), this is not for you. If you want to embrace a version of history that falsely claims the Cherokee lived in a utopian society until the Europeans came and then ALL the Europeans were bad, then you will enjoy this event thoroughly.

This is a wonderful park to take the kids in a walk to feed the ducks, and for $.25 you can buy pellet from a dispenser to feed them. The kids loved hiding in the bamboo forest after feeding the ducks. Nice way to spend an afternoon.

Great river for tubing wading and frolicking for all ages the area is very clean and safe and the water was delightful

We stopped here and let the kids run around, talked to some locals and partook of a pastime of geocaching and letterboxing. Stop by and visit the park and look for trout in the stream.

This is a nice little park where people can visit to just set and watch the duck and geese. Kids play in the water and people trout fish. The water is so clear here you can see the bottom almost all of the way across.

its fresh mountain water, and cold. nice to dip in on a hot day..great tubing or just swimming.. you can buy feed to feed the ducks. or hang out on a park bench in the shade. its just nice and relaxing..

This is a beautiful park. Locals swim here, beautiful bridges, a bamboo forest to trek through, and a very peaceful environment. You can sit on the benches and watch tubers go by. Pack a picnic and let the kids and dogs splash around. There is only one complaint on this awesome little park. There are no restrooms, they have 2 portajohns set up at the small parking lot but that is it. Do not let that deter you, just plan accordingly, because the park is absolutely a must do.

The area is absolutely beautiful, and we will take our children and family members next time. Children were playing in the water and the water is crystal clear, I nearly jumped in as well.

You MUST visit this park while in Cherokee!! The river is crystal clear and relaxing- the entire park is very clean and quiet and peaceful! The bridges are very nice and the bamboo forest is beautiful- just take your mosquito repellent! :)

Stopped to have lunch in the pavilions. Sat by the water and watched people tubing . Water was very shallow but was deep enough to allow standing in up to about your knees as an adult. bathroom needed some housekeeping work.

We had a great time at the Oconaluftee Islands Park in Cherokee NC. The water was really nice and pretty clean, one bad thing is that I may have lost a slide… but that’s ok. The island was awesome it had plenty of picnic tables benches and geese. Don’t go if you don’t like geese or dogs Oconaluftee Islands is an amazing park and I would definitely recommend checking it out.

this park is so relaxing to just sit by the river, or wade out into the water so refreshing. You can just listen to the water flow. or go fishing. Use the park to your needs of enjoyment. Great place to visit.

We went for Day of Mourning to spend time with my mother and we absolutely loved the Christmas display! It was our first time there during this time of year when the mountain was not on fire, so we could safely be out and about. The display is absolutely adorable! I love Christmas décor, so I got absolutely jazzed about this!

My wife and I took an early morning walk through Oconaluftee Islands Park while visiting the area a couple of weeks ago. It was a beautiful day, so we brought breakfast with us and ate it at one of the picnic tables in the park. It was relaxing to see and hear the river flowing in front of us while we ate. Afterwards, we walked through the park and dipped our toes in the cool river water. There were a few other people out getting some exercise in before it got too hot. Everyone was friendly and said hello to us.

If you are in the area looking to do something quiet to unwind without having to go all the way up to the national park, Oconaluftee Islands Park is definitely a great option!

We were with our children and grandchildren and we wanted to stretch our legs. This park was fun. The boys were skipping rocks in the river, and the granddaughter was stacking rocks to form art. There are also photo opportunities through out the park. A fun place to relax and enjoy the quietness of the outdoors.

The greatest place for children and adults alike. Fishing, picnicing and just sitting watching the children play in the shallow watters. They pick up rocks, swim, watch the ducks.

We always go here everytime we go Cherokee. You can wade in the river, fish and or tube. Great place to picnic.

Had a few hours to kill before going to the play. Took my teen boys over to relax and hang in the water. Water was really too shallow, but they got in the COLD water all the same. Just so peaceful watching the kids play and watching the ducks. Would be a great place for a picnic and just to sit and read.

We strolled all thru the park. Skipping rocks and watching the ducks swim up and down the creek bed. The cane Forrest was fun to walk thru and found some pretty rocks.

My family and I enjoyed a picnic lunch here while in the area and then allowed the kids to play in the river and the small bamboo forest. We saw numerous tubers in the river which was not deep at all (Oconaluftee means waist-deep) but clearly deep enough for tubers. The current is gentle enough that my 6 and 7 yr. old had no problem getting around and most places water only went as high as their thighs. There are many rocks that are often slippery so water shoes would be a plus. The park has many picnic tables, benches and a covered picnic area. The bathrooms are at the entrance when crossing the bridge and were clean. The bamboo forest is a nice shaded area that the kids ran around in. I totally wish we had a park like this back home...free water play and scenic.

We went here just to relax and that is exactly what was good for this 71 and 90 yr. old ladies, we stuck our feet in that cold water, Daddy always said good for Arthur.

Good for tubing, creek exploring or trout fishing. Good shallow areas for young children. Creek side areas for portable seats. Few picnic tables. Walking boardwalk.

Beautiful area. Great place for a picnic with your family or your sweetheart. Lots of entertainment...from people walking their dogs to families enjoying the water to fisherman and frisbee players. Recommended.

We purchased some tubes and spent several hours playing in the river. Park is beautiful and perfect for a family picnic. We had a blast!

Got lunch, and picked out a bench and sat and watched the ducks. It was very peaceful, well kept and clean.

Even when this park is busy, it still retains its peacefulness. The river is gorgeous and lovely to sit next to.

Awesome park, been here many times over the years. Bring my children here for the river, this visit we came while on our anniversary trip. The storytelling native was interesting and taught us a lot about Cherokee heritage. Great free activity on weekends in Cherokee!

Clean friendly place with a great view.
The bathrooms where clean and the place on a whole was very entertaining..

The day we visited the park the weather was perfect. 78 degrees and blue sky full of puffy clouds. Picnics at every table. All ages playing in the water. Happy people in their happy place.

Plenty of picnic and grilling areas and benches. It could use some trash pick up but for as many people that seem to us it, it wasn't that bad. Nice to sit and watch the water

Greatspot to stop to picnic or tube. It's close to shopping. Nice family friendly spot to stop relax, stretch your legs or stay for a few hours

After sightseeing all day, we stopped here to watch some tubers and children playing in the water. It's beautiful and they have benches along the way where you can sit and just chill.

This park was super refreshing! We were able to take the children to wade along the rocky edge alongside the water. Pavilions were able to handle the visitors with picnics. The park was very clean and we felt safe there. It was a nice relaxing time. I would definitely recommend visiting this treasure spot!

Feed ducks by hand or walk through a bamboo forest. Several people fishing too. Just missed the campfire nights, wish they still did it in October.

Great place for a picnic. We lucked up and ate at the covered picnic area because it started to rain. One of the best parts is that there was storytelling and flute playing for a couple of hours. Great place to let the kids get in the water and play. Saw several people catching fish. And it is FREE!

We come here every year to get a Christmas tree but we happened to come for a train ride in the summer. The kids were able play in the water and they had so much fun. Clean bathrooms and very safe feeling area. Tip: bring your water shoes. The rocks are sharp and they hurt! The eater is also super cold but in the heat of summer it was amazing!

If you’re looking for a place to picnic or even spend the day, this is it. We picnicked by the river, walked our dog along the trails, and even waded in the cool water. It’s absolutely beautiful and in a great location!

My wife and I stayed in Cherokee for a week and went to the park one evening. It is beautiful. There a number of footbridges across the main road to the park. The park has picnic areas and other recreation. The river is shallow enough to wade in. I don't know if we went at a bad time, but trash cans were overflowing and spread around on the ground near the cans. Otherwise, a beautiful little park.

This is a good park that you can walk from one end to the other and it is surrounded by water. There are a few shelters for use. In summer months they have a bonfire close to the KFC side and parking lot. They tell stories and talk about blow guns and things like that. There is also a craft market on the end (in parking lot area) for locals to sell their crafts.In winter the park is decorated with Christmas light figures. Good for all ages. No dogs are allowed in the park. I live locally and have been there a lot.

Nestled right by the road so it is easy to access. Children were having a blast playing in the shallow water and fishermen were nearby trying to snag a trout.

Nice area to drive through & get out & walk around, there is a picnic area & some shops with a nice war memorial too

We didn't get cell phone service up on the mountain, so we drove to this park daily to hang out while catching up on phone calls, during our stay. Beautiful park. Well maintained and manicured.

Kids fee the ducks with pellets from the quarter machines, walked the bridges and played in the bamboo forest.

Great spot for picnic. They have several covered pavilions and tables throughout.

Great little park for a relaxing walk by/in the river, be careful the ducks leave a lot behind. Have fun

Had such a great time walking through and seeing these beautiful light displays! Nice walk along the River with several different displays. Several ones that you and be in the display for photos. Holiday music playing as well. Nearby they had a small ice skating rink with free ice skating, a food truck and more holiday music. Definitely worth seeing!

this is not what it use to be. used to be excellant to visit. not as much anymore. hopefully it will get better. but overall the walk across the bridge was nice just to stop and watch the water flow by

This is a wonderful area for a picnic, there are a lot of shaded tables all around the park. The creek is fun to play in the cool water. The restrooms are not the greatest but when you gotta go you gotta go. My family had a great time. Starting on July 1st they have Walk On The Water, a giant bubble you can get in on walk down the creek. Looks like fun.

Easy to access and good for small children. We stopped by twice while vacationing with our small children to cool off. The kids played in the water and enjoyed the rocks. Bring water shoes and be careful. Some of the rocks are slippery.

We stopped for a picnic and got to explore a bamboo forest! Totally worth the stop just for the bamboo forest.

Such a wonderful place to sit down and relax. We ate lunch right next to the river and spotted people fly fishing, others enjoying lunch and people walking around to the bamboo forest. It's a beautiful place to step away from the town (which is completely relaxing, too). You can meet natives and all our super nice and helpful. Even sharing some fun stories. A beautiful town. They say they regularly see Elk at the river, but we were never their early/late enough to see.

The park is so beautiful. The river and bamboo walkway were our favorite parts. We had a bbq at the park on evening and it was the perfect atmosphere. We ended up here several times during our trip to Cherokee. Great place for families!

If you are staying anywhere nearby, grab your tube, your campchair, your kids and a lunch (and your phone) and spend a few hours here. It was fantastic. It was clean with clean restrooms, and so relaxing, and the only place we could find with a strong cell signal. We stopped here almost every day to plan our day and really enjoyed playing in the river, building dams and catching minnows.

My grandsons and I love to fly-fish here in the Oconaluftee River. We almost got granny to come in and try it. We love it (even though we have not caught a fish yet).

Stopped here and found a great spot to sit on the grass beside the river and have lunch. We then relaxed and actually took a nap!

This park is in the center of the town, good to spend some spare time and for kids to play in the water.

My Husband and I visited here today. Beautiful park. The Bamboo forest is gorgeous! The bamboo is so tall, I was a little disgusted though how some of them were all carved up by people carving their names and other things. The river is great for skipping rocks along side the bamboo Forest. There were many ducks and geese in the front area near the parking lot.

Nice park with grills, we walk on the river ,went to the bamboo cove was a nice experience kids enjoy

We came to the park to walk, picnic and sightsee. We are assuming they recently had slight flooding, because mud and debris were scattered on the sidewalks in various areas. There is a bamboo mini "forest", which has a trail that cuts through the middle of it. The walking path is a flat, concrete walking surface, which is easily handicapped accessible. A pleasant place to stop and have a picnic, walk, run or let the kids burn off some energy.

located near downtown cherokee, this is a great place place for a day of fun for all ages. you can bring a picnic lunch or pick up something from one of the near by restaurants. their is a dairy queen, hardee's or kentucky fried chicken where you can get food to go and take with your for your picnic, great spot to trout fish just make sure you have a special fishing permit to do so. great place to go for a walk, take the kids for a swim as well as the big kids also. lots of walkways and bridges. easy access their are covered and uncovered picnic tables, very popular place for summertime bring a tube and go tubing or just wade around, located right off highway 441. just two miles from the great smoky mountains. easy access to the park. a lot of open space. The best part is it's free.

Centrally located in Cherokee, Islands Park is a great place to let kids wade in the creek. It's good for picnics and family gatherings, too. Clean restrooms on site. No food vendors in the park, so pack your own lunch and enjoy a great day at the park. The water in the creek is cold but kids never seem to mind. I'd recommend water shoes of some sort, because the rocks can be sharp and/or slippery. Keep an eye on your kids because in some areas, the water is deeper than it looks, however, for the most part, it's great for wading and playing.

Nice little park along the river. We went on Friday night for the bonfire and Cherokee storytellers (free - nice added bonus!). The first person told stories describing how the deer got his antlers, how the buzzard got his red head, etc. Then, we saw a Cherokee war dance and learned about the club (probably not the official term...) used by Cherokee warriors. Fascinating, but not for the faint of heart. Afterwards, we visited a few small vendor stalls where individuals were selling handmade jewelry and trinkets.

This is a beautiful site and the storyteller was excellent although the bonfire was very small. The fire did get rid of the bugs and perhaps it was just too warm for a large fire.

I needed to have team meetings with distancing... Island Park pavilions were the answer and lovely as well!

Wonderful place to picnic and enjoy the day, fishing, etc. wish the open air market hd been open but itvas raining.

I love the fact that I could let my three year old son play in the water without the fear of drowning. As far as the older kids, they would use their floats to tube on the deeper end of the creek. Great area for picnics and relaxation. Love this place!

The most awesome place to stop to rest with your children. Picnic area to cook out or eat. Kids can play in the river , not too deep. Cherokee bonfire on Friday and Sat. summer nights.

People in a hurry to get over the mountain to Gatlinburg just drive right on by this pretty city park in the heart of downtown. You can park on the west (away from the river) side of hwy 441 and cross over to the park for a picnic, a stroll, or a rest. We had the entire place to ourselves on a weekday in March.

Found this place via Pinterest! We went over to find it and it was a unique and cool find to enjoy and explore. Lots of photo ops! Very different! Would love to know the back history on it. Worth a stop. Lots to see and do at the park.

Spotless trails and fitness stations as well as ample picnic tables make this park a jewel for locals and tourists. The water is clear and you are welcome to wade on in. On the weekends you can enjoy a bonfire and a Cherokee storyteller will be on hand to share music and stories of their culture.

Was quite and peaceful place to visit enjoyed watching some younger kids swimming in the river as well as watching fly fishermen challenge the river for trout or watching flocks of ducks and geese swimming up and down the river always something happening

The park is very clean and has picnic tables for those who want to enjoy eating by the river. The river is clean (you can see the bottom where it isn't deep) and children will enjoy getting into the water on a hot day.

The kids had a good timebut one step into the water convinced me to stay on shore. The rocks are very slippery so bring watershoes. Explore toward the back of the park for a bamboo forest with a neat little trail!

We spent a lovely Wednesday afternoon here swimming and picnicking, followed by a captivating storytelling session by Native Cherokees at the Bonfire from 7-9 pm.

Alright! It may not be that tropical island, but it is a nice little oasis. in the middle of the river.

We played all day for 2 entire days. Free, clean, and very beautiful! You can fish (have to get Tribal permit, yall), swim, play, walk, or just sit and enjoy it all! Gorgeous and so natural.