The amount of water frontage, the quantity and quality of the water, and the recreation afforded by it are important. A restricted frontage may be too crowded an area for public use. The quantity of water flow may be critical; a stream or pond which is attractive in the springtime may become stagnant or dry in late summer. If the site is on a reservoir, the level of the water at various seasons as it affects recreation should be studied. Check the quality of the water. A stream which has all of its watershed within a national forest or other lands under good conservation practices is less likely to be affected by pollution than one passing through unrestricted logging or past an industrial area. Other factors, such as water temperature, depth of water, the fish life it supports, wave action, flooding, etcetera, will affect its recreation value.

Other natural features which can be of high interest are the forests, canyons, mountains, deserts, seacoast, beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls, springs, etcetera with which the area is blessed. Just as the national and state parks place emphasis on features which are of national or state significance, counties should seek out these features which are distinctive of their area. Although the site may not contain the features themselves, there are often opportunities to include them as additional interest to the site. The route to the park may lead people past them or display views of them. A group of native trees or plants which are outstanding in a particular county can be featured at the site.