Most of the southern shoreline falls within the Heron Lake State Park, a well-maintained and very pleasant facility for the outdoorsman, fisherman and camper. The attractive Visitors' Center is manned by knowledgeable folks. You may call the park office at 1-505-588-7470 for information about the availability of campground spaces, both improved and semi-improved, for tenters or deluxe RV's.

Improved camp spaces include water and electrical hookups. Fairly new pit toilet and a shower-house facilities are available, but there are no gas stations or grocery stores within the park. Water is available in the improved campground areas. The whole area is well-maintained and attractive.

The attraction of the lake is clear. It's a beautiful body of water, surrounded by forested areas right down to the shoreline. Ringing the lake are magnificent mountains, many snow-capped well into the summer. Just being there and enjoying the scenery is enough, but there's more. Fishing is good, in your boat or right from the shore. It's an exceptionally clean lake, though algae does turn the water a slightly green color in late summer. You can see down at ten feet or more, even with the muddy lake bottom.

Limitations restrict boating to trolling speeds, which is not much of a problem for canoeists or kayakers like me. But since the lake is only five miles long and perhaps three wide, it's not suited to boat racing anyway. The shoreline is accented by numerous small coves and bays, and there is one small island in the western third of the lake, not far from the dam A marina at the east end includes another boat ramp and some docking space. One sees everything from simple inner tube floats to sailboats and deluxe pontoon barges or outboard fishing boats.
Summertime weather is varied. It gets hot in the daytime, into the low 90's. But nights at that elevation cool off rapidly, often into the low 40's. Afternoon thundershowers can kick up fresh breezes. And one should be mindful of quickly changing conditions, especially high winds.

Early summer can be buggy, with gnats, mosquitoes and other voracious critters anxious to make you their meal. Be sure to bring repellent, bug screens and maybe some anti-itch balm. When breezes blow it's not bad, but when it's calm the bugs prevail. Late summer and early autumn are relatively bug-free, especially after the first frost. Nights are delightful. The clear skies are filled with brilliant stars not often seen by city dwellers bothered with street lights and illuminated buildings. At Heron Lake the night skies are a delight.