This is a fun lake to explore because there is so much to do here. We came over here to Watson Lake…read morebecause Lynx Lake had to be drained and we couldn't kayak over there. Watson Lake is great for boating, hiking, fishing and day picnicking. Rock climbers like to climb on the large rugged granite rock formations known as the Granite Dells. These rock formations make this lake very picturesque. I used to see pictures of it all over social media before coming here. Watson Lake is located a few miles from Downtown Prescott. It is a reservoir that was formed in the early 1900s when a dam was built on Granite Creek. There are two boat launches for canoeing and kayaking. The Prescott Peavine Trail is the area's most popular trail if you want to hike around the lake. You cannot swim in Watson Lake because water quality and algae concerns. There is a small daily vehicle fee to park at Watson Lake. We enjoyed kayaking here. There were a lot of areas to explore at this lake. The rock formations are fun to kayak around and make for pretty photographs. If you are into bird watching, this is a great place to go because the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is nearby.

Beautiful and well worth the visit. Scenery is spectacular and tons to do around the lake.read more

Amazing hike! All incline! Over 600 feet in elevation I…read moreenjoyed it very much! The views are absolutely breathtaking and I loved the options for the hike down as well.

OK. This is a super short and super easy hike. It is slightly challenging if you take the direct…read moreroute straight up. Going this direction, it is paved all the way to the base of the rock formation forming the top. Going this direction is also steeper than going the opposite direction (CCW). From here, you're climbing, not hiking. But that part is pretty easy too...just be careful and stay within your limits. Perigrin falcons nest on the top rock section and this section does have a nesting closure period which I believe is summer through fall...but you should research the exact range as I'm not sure. If you keep your eyes open, you can see them most times of the year...but they're fast! You can also get to the base of the rock section forming the top, by a dirt path. The grade is easier, but the path there is longer. You'll occasionally see mountain bikes on this path, so heads up. Regardless of which path you use to get to the top, keep your eyes open (& ears a listening) for rattlesnake. I've seen them multiple times hiking this area. I've also seen numerous hikers that let their dogs run free (against park rule). It would not be a good day for your dog if it gets bitten.

We were invited to a wedding here and loved it. The couple reserved a Ramada and it was enough room…read morefor 50 people. The lake itself was beautiful and clear. Lots of people were fishing. Too cold to swim in for March even though it was hot out (80s). Only $3 to park, National parks pass does not work since it's a City of Prescott lake. Overall, we loved it, very peaceful. A Prescott gem.

Visited on Saturday, November 1st, and arrived around 1 PM. Parking was $3. We first stopped at the…read morelower lake since the upper area was pretty busy, but quickly learned that the lower lake is lure fishing only--no bait allowed. So, we made our way back up to the upper lake, where bait is permitted. The upper lake was fairly crowded and a bit noisy (sound really carries there), but it's a beautiful spot overall--small, peaceful, and scenic. We stayed for about two hours, didn't catch anything, but did spot a few fish swimming around. Still a pleasant visit!

We drove up a very bumpy and road to visit Mingus Lake and various spots along the way, as well as…read morefurther hop into the forest. It is a beautiful area and we would like to go back to do some hiking sometime. Toward the top is an area used for take off with hang gliding. No one was doing it while we were there, but that would also be fun to see sometime. There are wonderful views from there as well. If you're a camper, there were some nice looking campgrounds. It is an area worth doing some more exploring.

Mingus Mountain is off highway 89A between Cottonwood and Prescott Valley. This scenic route…read more overlooks Verde Valley. During heavy rain or snow storm this highway is a white knuckle of a ride as snow can pile up heavily. The kiddos love to go sledding here. In fact, there were enough snow to make our snow fort, or what the little ones call igloos. Then, after each frozen shield's erect, snow dodge ball commence...no mercy. Snow in side the jackets, ears, nose and anywhere with a crevice. This is the time when boys turn into men and the girls into women. No crying allowed Fun times!

This is a decent hiking spot. While it does have a ton of space, it still is kind of small too and…read moregoes around in a quick circle. The biggest complaint I have is needing to pay for parking because it's not that big of a hiking trail or spot. But it can still give you a decent view of the scenery as well as see beautiful rock formations. Will also say that the spot where the memorial for where the constellation crashed is touching. However, again this is not the best hiking spot.

The Constellation trail is a great local hiking area with a series of trails through the north end…read moreof the granite dells outcropping. So if you're looking for a short easy one to three hour walk this is a great place to visit. See my older review about the naming of this park dedicated to the Navy Constellation which crashed here. There is ample parking at the trailhead and restrooms. Make sure to bring your water though because it can be hot in the summer. However their are great trees to provide rest areas. It is full of birds and wildlife.

I have camped in Prescott before, but never at this lake. I had heard great things about Lynx Lake…read moreand have always wanted to check it out. This lake was formed in the 1960s when they dammed Lynx Creek. It is stocked for fishing and has a campground and hiking trails around it. There are lots of animals that are native to this area like mule deer, osprey and bald eagles. I booked a campsite here during the summer because I own a kayak and wanted to get out on the water. After setting up my site, I headed over to Lynx Lake. I was a little disappointed to see the water so low. I guess in late 2024, the lake was partially drained to fix a mechanical failure in the dam's outlet valve. It has to rely entirely on natural rain and snow to be refilled and could take years to get back to normal. So we just did a hike around the lake and headed back to our campsite. Lynx Campground has around 35 campsites with a picnic table, fire ring and a grill at each site. There are no RV hook-ups, but they do have drinking water and toilets. The campsite is about half a mile directly south of Lynx Lake. We enjoyed our campsite and had a fun time. We had to partially share our site with another family because their giant tent spilled onto our site (which was annoying). But we made the most of it. The nice thing is that the Town of Prescott isn't too far away if you need any food or supplies. As for kayaking, we were able to do that over at Watson Lake. You can book a campsite ahead of time on Recreation.gov.

I've been to Lynx Lake a few times, and this recent visit was pretty similar to my past…read moreexperiences. I'm giving it a 3-star review mainly because the lake has recently been drained and they want it to refill naturally, so it's unclear when water levels will return to normal. There is also a $5 day-use fee to enter the park. You can pay cash or card. Currently, the park opens at 7:00 AM and the gates close at 5:00 PM. The trail around the lake is about 2.5 miles and offers a few different routes, including at least one path that leads to a small waterfall (or what would be a waterfall if the lake wasn't drained). The west side of the lake is more paved and level, making it easier for walking, while the east side is more rugged with a dirt trail. One thing to add, the bathrooms were clean, but they had smell in them was hard to ignore and really unpleasant. Overall, it's still a nice area for a casual walk around the lake, especially if you're in the area.

Great place for short, well marked hikes with a lot of variety. Grab a trail map near the…read moreamphitheater and take the highlands trail for 360 views on the north part of the loop, plus creek side walking and interesting geology. The trail guide points out numerous topographic, geologic and historical areas. Finish up with a walk along the gardens. There are many benches along the way and also a children's play area.

Absolutely beautiful grounds, and free!! Easily walkable paths for the kids. The large bug…read moresculptures were super cool. Kiddos loved the play area and could have stayed there all day. We look forward to coming back next time we're in Prescott.

This hiking spot is pretty good. It has lots of beautiful scenery and rock formations. If you can…read morefollow the trail using the provided white dots you can get a beautiful view of the damage and listen to the water as it falls. Just be careful of high grass as well as snakes. There could be some if you're not careful. The biggest problem otherwise is the parking lot. It's very small and almost always full. There's no spot then just find another spot.

The Flume trail is a scenic and relatively easy out and back hike just north of Watson lake that is…read morea bit less crowded than some of the other Watson Lake trails. The trail wanders through trees, shrubs and a creek, then traverses granite outcrops with nice views before ending at the base of Watson dam where there are ponds, lush vegetation, and lots of bird life. It is such a treat to see thick, verdant green plant life in the middle of summer. We even saw a small garter snake whisking through a puddle in the boulders. On the way to the dam or back to your car, there are a couple of short, well marked cross cutting trails that you can explore for variety. Shoes with good tread are recommended for the boulders, and if you want to get close to the base of the dam you may encounter wet areas, especially after a summer rain.

Beautiful pine, smells great, lake is sparkly in the sun, air is crisp...worth the drive, will be…read moreback

Absolutely Wonderful Place To Find Peace and Beautiful Nature!…read more This is one of the greatest parts of Arizona with wonderful big pine tree forests mixed with many other high desert plant-life. Creek and streams and little lakes here and there being a much appreciated addition of beauty and life to this area! This is really a wonderful place for hiking, mountain biking and most other outdoor activities. One of my favorites places in the world!

Took an e-bike on this trail and had so much fun! The dirt and gravel path is well maintained and…read moreeasy to ride, with beautiful views along the way. There are incredible rock formations, lush greenery, and scenic lake views throughout. We also came across some old rail cars that make for a really cool photo op. Definitely a great ride!

This hiking, walking, biking, horse trail is a gem. We had our e-bikes, so that is how we chose to…read moreexperience it. There is a large parking lot that costs $5, or you can buy an annual pass that gets you into other area parks as well. It is mostly flat, mostly dirt/rock. There were a few off-shoots we could've taken. There was a porta-potty a ways in. The scenery is spectacular, with stunning rock formations, and some sections showing you the gorgeous Watson Lake. It was used by lots of walkers, a couple of joggers, several bikes, and even a horse. Fun morning.