Opened in 1971,[1] it features a 44 acre lake, over 40 miles of hiking trails,[2] a nature center with a planetarium theater, fire tower, and animal habitats.

[4] Other activities include hiking, orienteering, mountain biking, camping, and fishing.

In 2017, the Pavilion at Lily Pad Cove was added for events rentals and special events and in 2019, 75 extra parking spots were added to alleviate peak season parking issues.

[6] Since 1992, Bays Mountain has been home to a pack of gray wolves.

This is one of the few places a visitor can experience an actual wolf pack dynamic and behavior.