Lake Nasworthy is a little gem tucked away on the outskirts of sunny San Angelo, TX. It’s not a “tourist attraction” by any means, but San Angelo is hardly a popular vacation destination as it is. The city could be considered a “military town,” with Goodfellow Air Force Base at the center. Having a population of only 100,000 people, San Angelo boasts local beauty and culture…and not much else. However if you find yourself in the area, I personally think Lake Nasworthy is a great spot to visit. It’s dog-friendly, offers camping areas, and is a nice spot for fishing. At the lake you will find Goodfellow AFC Recreation Camp where you can rent boats, kayaks and cabins. If you’re looking for something to do, you can make a fun day trip out of it with your pup!
Dog-Friendly Lake Nasworthy & Goodfellow AFB Rec Camp in San Angelo, TX
About Lake Nasworthy
Lake Nasworthy stretches for over 1,300 acres and doesn’t get deeper than about 29 feet. It was impounded in the year 1930, and the water level is maintained by Twin Buttes Reservoir. Shores are lined with bulrushes and alligator weed. Star grass, sago pondweed, and coontail are also found beneath the water. Enjoying the depths of the lake are several species of fish including largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, white bass and sunfish.
Beautiful homes and docks line many parts of Lake Nasworthy, and boats and jetskis are allowed for recreational use. There are numerous boat ramps around the lake which are operated by the San Angelo Parks & Recreation Department.
Goodfellow AFB Recreation Center
Located on Lake Nasworthy is the Goodfellow AFB Rec Center. You can rent cabins, park your RV, or rent boats there! Anyone can access the rec center during the day but after hours requires a military ID to enter. You must also possess a military ID to rent anything on the premises. However, if you want to park your car there and bring your own kayak for the day, it’s an option! There are nice picnic tables there and the parking is close to the lake. You also have access to restrooms.
We rented a kayak at the Goodfellow AFB Rec Center and it was only $5/hr, as opposed to the $20/hr I’m used to! They had very high quality Pelican sit-in and sit-on-top kayaks, which Wynston and I very much appreciated. I also enjoyed the kayak launches at the dock area. They made it SO easy to get our stuff and selves into the kayak easily.
Kayaking on Lake Nasworthy
When I visited Lake Nasworthy with Wynston I was fully prepared with my inflatable Intex Challenger K1 kayak. However, recent storms had caused rougher waters so I decided to rent the hard shell Pelican kayak instead. I’m glad I did because it was difficult to paddle against the wind and waves. I had never tested my inflatable in anything but calm waters.
Kayaking on the lake was extremely enjoyable, despite the more difficult conditions. It was fun to see the beautiful houses, and I’m still a beginner kayaker so it was comforting being close to shore and in sight of civilization as we battled the heavy current.
Lake Nasworthy is a pleasant local lake that I very much enjoy visiting. It’s a great place to relax and kayak, or have a picnic and park your RV. It’s nice to have easy access to bodies of water when I travel because it’s not as convenient at home.
Do you ever check out new lakes when you travel with your dog? Tell me about it!
Interested in kayaking with your dog? Check out these helpful posts!
Intex Challenger K1 Kayak Review
Kayaking With Dogs at Lake Pleasant, Arizona
You’re really enjoying these kayaking adventures with Winston,xx Rachel and Speedy