The Lakes of Prescott

Prescott is situated in the high desert of northern Arizona. It was a surprise to me, therefore, that there are several lakes in the area. Carolyn and I have had a chance to visit five of them so far: Willow Lake, Watson Lake, Goldwater Lake, Lynx Lake, and Granite Basin Lake. Each one is very different from the others.


Watson Lake is one of two lakes a few minutes from our house on the north side of the city. It is uniquely situated in the Granite Dells, an area of giant boulders that have weathered over time and taken on irregular and attractive shapes. Ruins and artifacts indicate Native Americans lived here in the early 1800s. Legends abound of lost gold treasures hidden in the rock outcroppings. Early Hollywood cowboy, Tom Mix filmed many movies here.






Watson Lake is open year round for kayaking, canoeing, and sailing.

It also offers rock climbing for both the casual and the serious climber.

Willow Lake adjoins Watson Lake. It is shallower with marshy areas great for water fowl and aquatic plants.

It shares, in part, the boulder formations found at Watson Lake.

Willow Lake is also bordered by hiking trails and picnic areas.

Goldwater Lake is just a couple of miles south of the downtown area. It too is a small lake. It is nestled in among ponderosa pines and surrounded by hiking trails.

It's a nice place to fish or picnic.

There is a beach area for launching small boats, canoes and kayaks. In the summer there are boat rentals.

Carolyn and I have enjoyed sitting by the lake watching the waters, having a late lunch as the sun sets, and enjoying a good book by the shores.

There are endless amusements at Goldwater Lake. We have seen kids having naval battles on paddle boats in the lake, watched the adventurous practice roll-overs in their kayaks, and chuckled as young dogs tried to catch crayfish in the shallows.

The other day, I found this tiny boat that someone had made with a piece of bark for the deck, a twig for a mast and an aspen leaf for a sail. With a bit of ballast, it caught the wind and sailed steadily.

Lynx Lake is also located south of town. It is a manmade lake of 55 acres surrounded by woods and trails.











During parts of the year sections of the trails are closed to prvide sanctuary for bald eagles which nest nearby.

Granite Basin Lake sits at the foot of Granite Mountain about 8 miles west of our home. It is a small lake that affords fishing and picnicing facilities.