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Black Mesa State Park, OK

Black Mesa State Park, Oklahoma

Black Mesa State Park, established in 1959, is located in Cimarron County, the northwest sector of the Oklahoma Panhandle, northwest of Boise City on Highway #325. It consists of 549 acres of land, of which 259 acres are leased and 90 acres are state-owned. Lake Carl Etling, the 200- acre lake was formed by a dam on Carrizzo Creek.

The Black Mesa itself is 8 miles northwest of the park proper and is also a state park area. Lava from an extinct volcano created the rugged setting of the Black Mesa which is the highest point in Oklahoma, just short of 5,000 feet above sea level. Bird watchers, rock and fossil hounds, archaeology buffs, campers and anglers, and hikers find common ground at Black Mesa State Park.

Travelers are directed to a dry creek bed where tracks of the Allosaurus from the Pleistocene era are preserved. More than 18 tons of fossilized dinosaur bones have been taken from the area.

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Black Mesa State Park Camping

Black Mesa Park Campgrounds
Black Mesa Park CampgroundsBlack Mesa State Park offers 2 campgrounds and a group camp adjacent to Lake Carl Etling providing 64 Campsites, picnic facilities, 2 boat ramps and a mooring buoy, fishing, a playground, restrooms with showers and a group camp with 12 bunkhouses to accommodate 132.

2 picnic areas with 18 charcoal grills
One modern comfort station (with hot water and showers)
26 concrete tables
15 individual shelters and one group shelter
Eight pit latrines
Eight electrical trailer outlets
One group camp with 14 buildings (132 capacity)
Two camping areas
One playground with equipment
Boating (6 miles per hour)
Three boat ramps
Fishing year round in channel (Lake section is closed November 1 to February 1 for wildlife protection.

Black Mesa State Park Archaeology

Black Mesa Archaeology
Black Mesa ArchaeologyBlack Mesa's history began millions of years ago when pre-historic beasts like the 65 foot-long brontosaurus, who skeleton was discovered here, roamed the area. Petrified logs, displayed in the park, are remnants of another era, also millions of years past. Primitive man entered the picture, according to scientific theory, some 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, and cliff dwellers are thought to have lived in the caves near Black Mesa 1500 to 2000 years ago.

Coronado and his Spanish exploring expedition crossed the area. An inscription "Coronatto, 1541, " in old Castillian style and spelling, is carved upon a canyon wall. Its eroded condition upholds its authenticity.

The famed Santa Fe Trail crossed this corner of the Panhandle during its colorful 62 years of life, and over it passed wagon trains and thousands of travelers between Independence, Missouri and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The remains of old Fort Nicholas, established by Colonel Kit Carson for protection of travelers from hostile Indians, are still to be found southwest of the park area, near the New Mexico State line. The Panhandle became part of Oklahoma territory in 1890 and the State in 1907.

The fascinating past is revealed by Indian writings and pictographs. These crude writings and pictures show the daily life of the pre-Columbian Plains Indians and the animals they hunted.

Remnants of pumpkin vines and ears of corn support a theory that this was one of the earliest agricultural areas in the United States, cultivated during the time of Christ. Some experts believe the petrified logs found in abundance may be parent trees to the present giant Redwoods of California.

Black Mesa State Park Trails

Black Mesa Hiking
Black Mesa HikingBird watchers, rock and fossil hounds, archaeology buffs, campers and anglers find common ground at Black Mesa named for a lava-topped mesa 8 miles north of Black Mesa State Park. At 4,973 feet, Black Mesa, formed 30 million years ago, is the highest point in Oklahoma and it extends for 45 miles into New Mexico and Colorado. The highest point can only be reached by a fairly challenging, 4 mile hiking trail and is marked by a granite monument. Around the park itself, travelers find dinosaur pits, American Indian pictographs and volcanic rock formations.

Park Area Attractions

Boise City 12

Park Area Events

Boise City 1

Park Area Businesses

Boise City 6