Lake Carina Preserve Parking provides access to a 494-acre forest preserve with parking, toilets, and an accessible fishing pier on the main entrance at Milwaukee Avenue.

The preserve offers a separate Des Plaines River canoe launch with its own parking area near Gowe Park (McClure Avenue and O'Plaine Road), providing access for cartop boats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards; electric trolling motors are permitted but trailers are not, and launching is free at your own risk.