It is named for Wallace S. Allis, who willed his Bear Mountain Farm to the State of Vermont to be developed as a campground and recreational area.

The park itself is accessed from Bear Hill Road/VT 65, which is one of the last remaining Vermont state highways that is still maintained as a gravel road.

The park road rises to the west before bending south, after which it reaches the entrance gate and then subsequently splits.

The Bear Hill Nature Trail is a 3/4 mile hiking loop that connects to the day-use/picnic area at both ends.

The park facilities were developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, which constructed the access road, camping loop, and picnic pavilion.