Black Mesa State Park in Oklahoma, USA - map and visitor information

Research checked: 2026-10-29. Check linked official notices before travel.

Black Mesa State Park is the camping and stargazing base beside Lake Carl Etling near Kenton in the Oklahoma Panhandle. The hike to Oklahoma’s highest point is in Black Mesa Nature Preserve, about 15 miles away. Plan the two destinations separately.

Dark skies and a separate summit hike

Stay at the state park for an evening under dark skies, or make a daylight trip to the preserve’s plateau. The high point reaches 4,973 feet. Allow at least four hours for the preserve hike and return.

Keep the park and preserve rules distinct

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for exposed walking

Summer hikers need plenty of water and preparation for high temperatures. Do not rely on the preserve’s trailhead restroom or halfway shade structures as a water supply. The official park and preserve overview explains the separate locations and hike preparation.

Protect the nighttime setting

During quiet hours, 11 p.m.–7 a.m., turn off exterior lights and keep lighting minimal. Decorative or excessive exterior lighting should not be used. Red flashlights are encouraged. Read the park’s dark-sky booking notice before an overnight stay.

Choose a campsite by its actual facilities

Book RV or tent sites through the authorized Black Mesa campsite service. Tent sites allow two vehicles onsite and prohibit RVs and trailers. Use designated overflow parking for additional vehicles or trailers. Check site type and final charges before confirming a reservation.

Lake Carl Etling near Kenton

The state park is at 11546 North Lake Road, Kenton, OK 73946, approximately 30 miles northwest of Boise City. Use this address for the camping area, not the nature-preserve summit trailhead.

Nearby protected areas

Black Mesa Nature Preserve is the closest protected-area extension described by the operator, about 15 miles from the state park. It permits daylight hiking, with no camping. Farther west in New Mexico, Capulin Volcano National Monument has a road entrance on NM 325, reached from the village of Capulin on US 64/87. Treat it as a separate regional drive.

Match the outing to the destination

Walk the state park’s Vista and Carrizo Creek trails from the main campground area. For the summit hike, drive to the nature preserve. Around Lake Carl Etling, fishing and boating are listed activities, but water sports are prohibited. The official lake entry distinguishes the lake’s operation from park camping.

Campsite areas differ

RV sites near the office have water and electricity, with showers nearby and a dump station. Creek Area tent sites have a nearby comfort station. Lake View tent sites have no water or bathrooms, so bring what you need. Their boat ramp is seasonally accessible. West Canyon tent sites have nearby drinking water and a comfort station within walking distance.

Lava above the shortgrass prairie

The mesa takes its name from black lava rock deposited about 30 million years ago. The nature preserve protects the transition between the Rocky Mountains and shortgrass prairie.

Birds of the western Panhandle

The operator lists golden eagles, scaled quail, black-billed magpies, and pinyon jays among the area’s birds. Bring binoculars and allow time for observation without expecting a particular sighting.

Official park contact

Call the park office at 580-665-8396. The reservation call center is 877-657-2757. The park address is 11546 North Lake Road, Kenton, OK 73946.