Mild breezes make the lake ideal for sailing and windsurfing.
Summer fishing for record-size trout and salmon is popular and every winter hearty anglers try to catch the big one through the layer of ice that covers the lake. Great hiking is nearby on the Rio Chama trail. Official web page. Many scenic campgrounds line the southwest shore of Heron Lake. Willow Creek, the most popular site, provides a dump station, water faucet and restroom.