The mountains are generally composed of Paleozoic sandstones and shales of the Pennsylvanian period, formed roughly 300 million years ago.

Flat Fork, along with most streams in the park, is drained by the Emory River, the headwaters of which are located along Bird Mountain's northern slopes.

The non-designated area consists of 330 acres (1.3 km2) at the confluence of Flat Fork and Judge Branch where park offices and the campground are located.

Chestnut oak and shortleaf pine are the dominant species along the higher ridge crests and mountain tops.

Frozen Head consists of a long ridge that forms an amphitheater-like formation above the Stockstill Valley (occupied by Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary) with the summit at the north end and a subpeak known as Indian Knob (el.

The mountain rises from its base near the park offices in the Flat Fork Valley and stretches for nearly 5 miles (8.0 km) to its intersection with Frozen Head at Tub Springs Gap.

Mart Fields consists of a relatively thinly-forested knob at the junction of Chimney Top Mountain and Frozen Head.

Emory Gap Falls, a 25-foot (7.6 m) plunge waterfall amidst the headwaters of Flat Fork on the southeast slope of Bird Mountain.

Abandoned prison mines between Frozen Head and Armes Gap and a CCC dynamite shack along the South Old Mac Mountain Trail are among the park's historical features.

What is now Frozen Head State Park was once part of the vast Cherokee hunting grounds that covered much of East Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky.

The first Euro-American settlers arrived shortly thereafter, although they largely avoided the rugged mountains in favor of the more fertile bottomlands along the upper Emory River.

In 1911, the Emory River Lumber Company purchased the Frozen Head area and cut most of the forest's commercial timber.

Most major park facilities are located in the 330 acres (1.3 km2) designated for development area in the Flat Fork Valley.

The major backcountry sites are located at Tub Springs, Mart Fields, Chimney Tops, Panther Gap, and Bird Mountain.

Parts of the Watts Bar Lake impoundment of the Tennessee River are visible approximately 20 miles (32 km) to the south.

To the west, the Flat Fork Valley and the descending western flank of Bird Mountain dominate the view.

Approximately 80 miles (130 km) of hiking trail connect the remote sections of Frozen Head State Park.

The trail rises along Rough Ridge, descends briefly to the Taylor Branch Valley, and ascends Chimney Top Mountain from the west.