| Santa Rosa Lake State Park, surrounded by low, rocky hills dotted with pinon and juniper, offers a variety of water sports which include fishing, boating, water-skiing, canoeing, and wildlife enthusiasts. Anglers usually have luck fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel catfish, walleye and crappie. There are also sunfish, yellow perch, and a few trout.There are two short, easy trails, both paved and wheel-chair accessible, maintained by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. The Scenic Trail is a loop of about 0.5 mile, offering good panoramic views of the lake and picturesque rock outcroppings. The Handicap Trail is a loop of about 0.75 mile through similar terrain.There are also trails leading from Rocky Point Campground down a rocky slope to the lake. This is a good area in which to catch a glimpse of mule deer, raccoons, skunks, squirrels, foxes, or coyotes as they come in for water.The lake attracts Canadian geese, pelicans, ringbilled gulls, and a variety of ducks, and in recent years, bald eagles have had winter roosts on snags on the islands and along the shoreline.Visitors climbing around the rocks should watch where they put their hands and feet to avoid disturbing rattlesnakes. There is also nonpoisonous bullsnakes and racers, and tarantulas are often seen in late summer and fall. |
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