Cabresto Lake fishing

Cabresto Lake fishing lists Brook Trout on a high alpine lake, outside the stocking reports. Species guides list dawn, day, and dusk as the active times.

Illustration, not a photo of this lake
Last stocked
Not in these reports
Plants on record
0
Species recorded
1

Fish at Cabresto Lake

0 stocked · 1 confirmed present

Brook Trout Confirmed present Best: dawn, day, dusk

Best: dawn, day, dusk

Carson NF says Cabresto Lake is one of the few places in New Mexico where visitors might catch a brook trout. NMDGF also lists the lake among uncommon brook trout waters. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 29, 2026)

How to fish it

USFS and NMDGF both single out Cabresto Lake as an uncommon New Mexico brook trout opportunity; fish from shore or a small non-motorized craft after the steep walk down from parking. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 29, 2026)

Brook Trout species guide

Access and facts

Water type
high alpine
Nearest town
Questa, NM
Shore access
Yes
Facilities
restrooms, camping

Carson National Forest campground at 9,500 feet, 5 miles NE of Questa on FR 134 then 2 miles on primitive FR 134A. Four semi-dispersed sites, vault toilet, no potable water. Shore reached via a steep slope from the shared Lake Fork Trail parking; non-motorized boats only, single-person kayaks or…

Other places to fish at Cabresto Lake

Cabresto Lake shoreline

Steep slope from the campground parking lot is the only shore access; USFS says that is also how paddle craft reach the water. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 29, 2026)

Lake Fork Cabresto Creek

Stream fishing opportunity tied to the same recreation site as the lake, listed by Carson NF alongside lake fishing. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 29, 2026)

Lake Fork Trailhead

Shared parking with the campground leads into Latir Peak Wilderness day hikes from the same access point used by anglers. (fs.usda.gov, accessed September 29, 2026)

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About Cabresto Lake

The small USFS campground sits on a ridge above the lake. Non-motorized boats are allowed, but there is no formal hand-launch, only a steep shore approach from the parking area. Cabresto Lake is a high-alpine Carson National Forest water at about 9,500 feet northeast of Questa. overlooking Latir Peak Wilderness access via Lake Fork Trail.

Nearest lakes

Eagle Rock Lake 5.1 mi last stocked July 24, 2026 Red River East Fork 10.5 mi last stocked July 14, 2026 Red River West Fork 10.5 mi last stocked July 14, 2026 Red River (below Questa) 12.8 mi last stocked September 14, 2026 Red River (abv Questa) 12.8 mi last stocked July 21, 2026

Camping near Cabresto Lake

Campgrounds within 15 miles of Cabresto Lake's mapped point, nearest first: Elephant Rock camping (3.7 miles), Fawn Lakes camping (4 miles), Columbine camping (4.7 miles), Twining camping (10.9 miles), and Cuchilla camping (13.1 miles), each with its own campground page on campgroundsdb.com.

Straight-line distances.

Public land at Cabresto Lake

Cabresto Lake is inside Carson National Forest.

It is 0.1 miles outside the edge of Latir Peak Wilderness.

Boundaries from Public Lands DB, part of the same network.

Common questions

What fish are at Cabresto Lake?

Brook Trout (Carson NF says Cabresto Lake is one of the few places in New Mexico where visitors might catch a brook trout. NMDGF also lists the lake among uncommon brook trout waters) is recorded here outside the stocking reports.

How do you get on Cabresto Lake?

Shore fishing is available. The nearest town is Questa, NM. Facilities include restrooms and camping. Carson National Forest campground at 9,500 feet, 5 miles NE of Questa on FR 134 then 2 miles on primitive FR 134A. Four semi-dispersed sites, vault toilet, no potable water. Shore reached via a steep slope from the shared Lake Fork Trail parking; non-motorized boats only, single-person kayaks or….

Sources (1) +