Meat Camp, Pottertown and Sutherland were once, according to Dr. Patricia Beaver of Appalachian State University, "bustling, dynamic communities".

These gatherings have also given the students and young people of the region a chance to learn about sustainable agriculture practices that were commonplace throughout the history of Elk Knob.

[5] Elk Knob State Park's location atop an amphibolite peak has made it a vitally important and ecologically unique area.

Amphibolite is a dark metamorphic rock which is rich in nutrients and supports the growth of rare plants.

[6][7] The forests of Elk Knob State Park provide a habitat for a number of woodland species including a breeding colony of ravens, the American black bear, bobcat, white-tailed deer, and wild turkeys.

A less steep and easier to ascend hiking trail was constructed with the help of volunteers,[9] and it was finished September 4, 2011.

The park has allowed limited front-country camping during the weekend of the National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout.