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    Watson Lake

    4.6 (153 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Watson Lake Photos

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    Jon W.

    If you are looking for a quiet place to rest from the noise of the busy city Watson Lake is the place. Impressive twisted rock formations surround this still lake that reflects the blue sky above. Its quiet shores are home to water fowl that frequent this oasis. We had a great time hiking around the lake and enjoying the scenery here, sitting on the rocks, climbing the boulders, keeping ourselves from falling and breaking our necks (no kidding!) and legs, and just being awed by the beauty of this magnificent natural wonder of a creation by God. Really quite incredible, you have to see it for yourself.

    Watson lake at rush hour!
    Pam M.

    This lake is amazing for kayaking! The dells are breathtaking, especially as you glide in and out of the many coves! And the famous Aunt Jemima rock formation is a sight to see! So beautiful and majestic. And for a real thrill, try moonlight kayaking in the summer months! Outstanding and unique.

    A D.

    Gorgeous lake with unique rock formations. There's a $3 entry fee to park. The main attraction here is the lake that is surrounded by granite dells. This is a great spot for boating in a small craft (kayak, canoe, small fishing boat). There's also a five mile loop where you can hike around the lake. There's excellent bird watching here. The park itself has a small playground for kids and some picnic tables.

    Lizard
    Deena J.

    Great location for both camping and walking. The Watson Loop Trail [not gravel the entire way] is semi-difficult depending on the weather. Amazing views and wildlife can be seen. Bring more water than you think will be needed for this hike in the hot sun.

    Kelly P.

    This Is Great Place to go boating or hiking, there are small kayaks that you can rent on the lake if you catch it at the right time and there is a plethora of different hiking trails. There is a moderately strenuous trail that does go around the lake, which will include climbing over rocks and is just under 5 miles . It's beautiful, but take a lot of water and I wouldn't do it during the high heat of the day. Hike it clockwise!!! That way you take the difficult part first and the second half is much easier

    Cindy L.

    Beautiful, the rock formations are astounding. The have kayak rentals, next time I will have to do. It was a beautiful Monday, no one was around. I WOULD RECOMMEND

    Tori B.

    A true Prescott gem. Watson Lake is a man made lake about an hour and a half north of Phoenix. On a sunny August day, temps got up to about 90. While this is still hot, it's a great way to beat the 112 temps back home. I wanted to bring up my paddle board to get active while staying in Prescott for the week. I was skeptical of being able to paddle board, with signs that said "no swimming." There was a kayak rental truck so I talked to the employee who told me that paddle boarding is allowed. Life jackets are permitted for ages 12 and under. They must be worn. For 13 and over, you just need to have them on board. I tied my life jacket to my paddle board and was able to enjoy a nice tan. Lots of algae and fish! Beautiful views, some birds enjoying the sun on some rocks, and a nice quiet lake. There are multiple rocks with lots of parking. $3 entrance fee, cash or card. Lots of places to sit and enjoy the weather and a playground for younger kids. Everyone enjoying the lake was super friendly. Highly recommend!

    Alex S.

    A beautiful, short hike close to downtown! The rocks surrounding the lake are breath-taking. I started from the North shore, near the boat ramp and went clockwise. Instead of planning this ahead of time like I normally do, I decided to just wing it and go as far as I had time for and turned around whenever I needed to. The hike is somewhat technical, there are parts where you have to climb up a little. I highly recommend wearing a good pair of grippy trail/hiking shoes to help you get better hold on the rocks. What's great about the trails here are they are marked with white dots, so as long as you're following the white dots, you won't stray off the trails and get yourself lost (even though you might veer off to a different trail). In about a mile in or so, you'd come across a man-made little waterfall! Entrance/parking is $3 for an all-day pass. Check the website for hours because hours vary depending on season.

    Marshall G.

    This is a quiet peaceful lake connected to Willow lake by a small dam. The water level is down here. They allow Kayaks but no swimming. Many picnic areas and bocce ball and horseshoes. The sign said the City of Prescott spent 15 million on property and upgrades. I think it really shows. Wonderful areas.

    Watson Lake
    Mila E.

    Beautiful Lake. Lovely Scenery. Varying-In-Difficulty Hiking Trails. Kayak Rentals Available. $3 Parking. Different Summer & Winter Hours. See Below for More Info: Beautiful Lake: Located in Prescott, Arizona, Watson Lake is beautiful and easily one of my favorite bodies of water. Lovely Scenery: The Watson Lake scenery is lovely. From views of the gorgeous, blue lake to the vibrant, tall trees, one will appreciate being out in nature. If you are a fan of waterfalls, I recommend hiking the Flume Trail to Watson Dam. Varying-In-Difficulty Hiking Trails: One of the many things I appreciate of Watson Lake is that there is a hiking trail available for all difficulties. These trails include the Peavine (12 miles), Watson Lake Loop (4.8 miles), Flume (2.4 miles), Northshore (2 miles), Lakeshore Trail (1.6 miles), Discovery Trail (1.6 miles), and Over the Hill Trail (1 mile). Kayak Rentals Available: Kayak rents are available at Watson Lake for an hourly or daily rate courtesy of Prescott Outdoors. Different Summer & Winter Hours: Watson Lake hours in the summer are from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM whereas in the winter the hours are from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Free Parking: Watson Lake has parking for $3. However, parking is free all day on Wednesdays

    Joyce W.

    Absolutely beautiful and magnificent lake with all the dells and the landscape is truly breathless. We came to explore and decided to go on a hike to the dam and it was about a mile or so. The terrain changes so you're never bored. The hike would be moderate level and very rocky in many places but also some easier stretches. What's extra fun is that the scenery keeps changing so you're never bored on this hike. We didn't go all the way around the lake which would have been the full 5-mile loop, but we sure got plenty of exercise and enjoyed the views. It's a bit intense and strenuous at times if you're not used to hiking and for little ones it's definitely harder, but my kids did well and even better than me.

    Atul S.

    Have been to Prescott multiple times but never went here unless on our last trip we decided. This is a unique lake and the views are gorgeous. $3 for car parking/entry is very economical. Has a big park as well inside with well-built restrooms. The place has plenty of parking options and we could get it easily. This is picturous lake with big rocks everywhere and you will have to hike a bit to reach near the lakeshore. We loved this lake and would recommend it in Prescott town.

    Kam M.

    This place is beautiful and less than 5 minutes from my apartment. Located in the City of Prescott about 10 minutes from downtown. The lake has picturesque views, grassy areas for children to play, picnic areas, areas to camp, a lake for kayaking and plenty of trails to choose from for every fitness level. The trails were very safe and marked so even I couldn't get lost. I'm not sure why I've never been before but I will definitely be back to enjoy the beautiful views.

    Ducks!

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    5 months ago

    I love this lake a lot very beautiful views although you can't swim in it. Lots of places to walk around

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    1 year ago

    This lake has dried up so much. It was sad seeing it. We did however see an eagle from afar on a dried tree.

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    2 years ago

    Awesome place. Can rent canoes and paddle boards. Great trails around the lake. Wonderful views and scenery. Kept very clean.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Watson Lake

    Are there views of the lake that are easily accessible from the parking lot? My parents cannot walk long distances.

    You can see the lake but the pretty areas you need to hike or kayak to. I would recommend Goldwater Lake. Easy walk & not far from parking lot and in a pretty forest area. Lots of areas to sit, places to sit and relax by the water, and bathrooms… Read more

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Watson Lake

    Our teens said it was the BEST hike they've been on because of the scenery, and not too long or too hard to do at all.

    Mentioned in 21 reviews

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    Lynx Lake - Path by the dam

    Lynx Lake

    4.2(57 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    My daughter Zoe rented Loop B at Lynx Lake from 8/23/24 - 8/26/24. Rich & Jenny are AWESOME…read moreVolunteers who take care of the area & they are amazing folks. Very helpful & ready to tell you any helpful information you need while staying. We left a night early because my daughter rented the amount of days just in case we wanted to stay longer. Yet the 25th(today) is my 54th birthday & I was ready to be home for the week. We came home very rested with plenty of beautiful pics & cool experiences to tell friends & family.

    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.

    Photos
    Lynx Lake
    Lynx Lake
    Lynx Lake - East side trail

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    East side trail

    Watson Lake - lakes - Updated May 2026

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