This lake is located adjacent to Black Mesa State Park, outside the Nature Preserve. This is good news for anglers, as fishing is allowed in Lake Carl Etling. Winter is the time to catch trout, and a variety of fish can be found all year round.
Black Mesa State Park features some of the blackest night skies in the country, making the park a haven for amateur astronomers. The state park draws star watchers from all over each August when the annual Perseid meteor shower appears. Stay nearby in one of several Black Mesa State Park cabins and get your telescope ready.
The actual Nature Preserve is not open after dusk, but the park is available for tent camping, RV hook-ups, and a group camp facility with twelve Bunkhouses. Picnic facilities, boat ramps, and a well-maintained playground add to your camping experience.