Black Mesa State Park is adjacent to Lake Carl Etling and offers RV, tent and equestrian campsites, picnic facilities, boat ramps and a mooring buoy, trout fishing in season, a playground, restrooms with showers and a group camp with bunkhouses.
History of the Area
This park is in Oklahoma's panhandle and got its name from the layer of black lava rock that coated the mesa about 30 million years ago. The Nature Preserve is located 15 miles from the state park and features Oklahoma's highest elevation at 4,973 feet above sea level.
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Nearby Parks
Area Attractions
Features/Facilities: 349 Park Acres • -Acre Lake Carl Etling • 64 Campsites • Group Camp (capacity of 120) • Black Mesa Preserve • Hiking Trail • Boating • Fishing • Playground
Park Visitor Online Reviews
September 9A nice Oasis...
The lake is almost completely dry, but it still makes for a nice place to spend the evening when in the panhandle. Good facilities and a quiet night.
July 28No water!
The lake is dried up. My daughter attended a youth camp there in June 2011 - no water in the hole. Bummer.
August 22Great Camp Hosts by D&T in OKC
Camp Hosts were a great help when we found we didnt have the proper equipment to change a flat tire!! As for the lake, yes there is some water in it as we got 3 1/2 inches of rain (in 2 hrs) on Aug 18th. Very quiet, well maintained, Rolla does a fantasatic job. We recommend the drive from Kenton to Raton NM on hwy 456 and 72...lots of wildlife, anteloupe, mule deer, and mountain goats...awesome trip! BEWARE, there is 17 miles of dirt road...but worth every mile!
August 19Water? by dmoore
Is there any water in the lake yet?? We were there several years ago----it was bone dry.
August 8A nice day hike
Our family spent four plus hours at the park Saturday. Everything was very nice although the signage for the summit seemed confusing. We were fortunate to get some help in the park and to run into two other hikers who had the same trouble before finding the summit trailhead. Make sure you have your bug spray because they were out in force. No snakes or other wildlife and all in all a very rewarding hike. We have children ages 10 and 13, and they both made the eight mile round trip in great shape.
August 27Spectacular! by pjemery
Quiet, tranquil, no crowds, breathe taking!
June 24Great Park by jelsberry
We agree with the last posting in that this is a very good run park. When goiing to New Mexico from Tulsa its only 20 miles or less from Hwy 412 and then easly road to Clayton. Would recommend to all.
February 18Relax and Enjoy by KLee
If you need a spot to simply relax, this place has it. The campgrouds is very neatly kept. You can bike or travel by other means and see spactular wonders of nature. It is close to other ares of pure visionary wonder like Mt. Capulon and other sites along the way. It has dinosaur tracks, 3 state marker, old country church buildings, hideouts and much more. There is no need to hurry there is plenty of time to view it all at a reasonable price and very little to disturb you.
The lake is almost completely dry, but it still makes for a nice place to spend the evening when in the panhandle. Good facilities and a quiet night.
The lake is dried up. My daughter attended a youth camp there in June 2011 - no water in the hole. Bummer.
Camp Hosts were a great help when we found we didnt have the proper equipment to change a flat tire!! As for the lake, yes there is some water in it as we got 3 1/2 inches of rain (in 2 hrs) on Aug 18th. Very quiet, well maintained, Rolla does a fantasatic job. We recommend the drive from Kenton to Raton NM on hwy 456 and 72...lots of wildlife, anteloupe, mule deer, and mountain goats...awesome trip! BEWARE, there is 17 miles of dirt road...but worth every mile!
Is there any water in the lake yet?? We were there several years ago----it was bone dry.
