Veterans Lake is the smaller of the park's two reservoirs — a quiet, 67-acre lake on the eastern side of the recreation area, ringed by a 2.7-mile trail that follows the shoreline through oak woodland. It is a deliberate counterpoint to the busier Lake of the Arbuckles: no powerboats are allowed, so the lake stays calm and the bird life is correspondingly richer.
The lake is popular for bank fishing — catfish, bass and crappie — and the perimeter trail is the longest walk in the park, easy underfoot and well marked. A canoe launch lets you put a boat in for a quiet paddle. The Veterans Lake area also has a picnic shelter and a small dock for fishing.