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Beautiful area to hike. We enjoyed hiking here around the lake, nice views and lots of wildlife. We witnessed a hawk hunt a snake here, an incredible moment.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
This is a fun lake to explore because there is so much to do here. We came over here to Watson Lake because 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 Granite Dells. These rock formations make this lake very picturesque. I used to see pictures of Watson Lake 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. Before coming here, just know that there is a small daily fee to park your vehicle 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. read more
This stunning lake is just outside of Prescott. The scenery is spectacular, with amazing rock formations around and in the lake. There are several hiking trails around it. There is some boating/kayaking allowed. Boat ramps, some playground equipment, picnic tables. It costs to get in, but you can buy an annual pass which gets you into other parks in the area. We love coming here when we're in the area. read more
9 months ago
Beautiful trail with lots of pathways and cool scenery. Also can get a really nice view of the lake and hear the ducks. Would for sure recommend checking this trail out if you can and just enjoy the scenery. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Beautiful area to hike. We enjoyed hiking here around the lake, nice views and lots of wildlife. We witnessed a hawk hunt a snake here, an incredible moment. read more
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. read more
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. read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
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. read more
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 read more
1 year ago
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. read more
10 months ago
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. read more
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! read more
4 years ago
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. read more
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 read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
Stunning location. I drove up from Phoenix and it ended up raining about twenty minutes into my ISUP adventure. It was okay until it started to hail and lightning so I wasn't sure what my oar was made of and decided I didn't want to hold a potential conductor so I waited out the on and off hard rain, deflated my board and hiked around. Luckily I brought back up clothes because it's not the first time I've driven up north to do something water oriented and it storms. I didn't go all the way around so I'll be back to try it again. I happened to go on a Wednesday too so it was free! Bonus for not getting to do much since it poured basically the entire time. I started to get cold so I dipped out but it was beautiful there. Tip for Arizona: plan for all seasons when you leave your home. read more
If you are in Arizona and near Prescott this is a must stop. You can drive in pay $3 park and your right at this beautiful view. If you don't want to pay for parking and don't mind the walk there is a small parking lot by willow lake and you walk down some steps to the left and continue to Watson lake. You can walk all the way around Watson lake or just part of it. There are benches along the way and choices of steep trail or steeper trail. There is a small beach area where you can put a paddle board or kayak in. No swimming is allowed. Dog friendly and I felt very safe. Most everyone was wearing a mask and would step off the trail to let me pass. If you're a disc golfer there is also a course here. There is also a huge grassy area people were playing bocce ball and playing with their dogs. If you're not a hiker you can still just enjoy the view from a bench at the top. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
In between his busy schedule, Charmin Chicken decided to visit Watson Lake in Prescott (Preskit) AZ and what a gem it was! If you plan to walk/hike close to the lake, the trails can be rocky and slippery so be prepared. You don't need to go crazy to enjoy the amazing views, but it was a great nature walk and Charmin spotted a heron and a huge koi fish at the lake. How the koi fish got there is anyone's guess, but Charmin highly recommends a visit to Watson Lake if you're in the area! read more
6 years ago
Beautiful lake! $3 to get in and Wednesday's are free! I asked the lady at the gate if there was benches and a great place to see the view. She said go straight all the way up, don't turn and that's what I did and saw a beautiful view! There's grass and a little kids park as well. If you want to sit on the grass you can bring your own chairs. read more
Prescott was a cool town .. grabbed lunch .. looked at scenery and saw this lake on Yelp. was hoping to take pics of lake with reflections of the cool rocks. theres a pull off on the road that you can see the lake from above for free but limited parking. The fee for getting into the park was 3 dollar but when we went to pay it said it's free on Wednesdays. We stopped and looked ... its pretty but there wasn't the cool reflections in the water that I was hoping for. LOTS of birds ... a lady brought food for them and they were obviously expecting it. the large geese were very loud. there were people walking their dogs, kayaking, hiking. nice place read more
This is one of my favorite parks in Prescott. Really great area to take a hike, bike, have a picnic, or even just watch the sunset. It was quiet and peaceful during our time there. I've heard a lot of people kayak here but it was to late for us to do that. Some of the trails have loose rocks so I'd recommend having shoes with some grip. read more
A very scenic beautiful park in the city of Prescott with stunning views year round and great walking trails. The lake itself is an old man made reservoir to save water for lower elevation farms. It was built in the 1930s and nestled in the Granite Dels. During the warmer months it offers a great place for kayaking, canoeing and water activities. It has been the back drop to many advertisements posters and commercials because of the stunning beauty. read more
5 years ago
Such a pretty hike around the lake! First time here (FINALLY) after 6 years of us going to Prescott 2x per year! Not sure why we hadn't checked out out, but boy I glad we did! Parked up top walked down by the boating launch area and started a hike there. Followed the white dots through the boulder trail, love that btw! There was 8 of us, the youngest being 5 years old and it was an easy hike for most of us. The weather was perfect when we first started at 46* but then we had to stop when it started raining & then it got windy lol. Will definitely be back here again and continue the rest of the trails! The boulders are remarkably unique and out of this world. This place makes you feel like you're on an entirely different planet! Too bad the lake is polluted but looks fun to kayak on it for sure! Such a gorgeous scenery all around. The granite formations are picturesque & take pictures they look absolutely amazing! Can't wait to go back during the winter when they're covered with snow! read more
What a pleasant surprise! We visited here during a mother daughter trip. My mom likes to get out and explore but hates hiking. So, I convinced her to go and just checkout the lake and it kept her entertained for a good hour, which is tough to do LOL. There are many picnic tables, barbecue grills and more. I was surprised to see 2 boat launches, kayak rentals, restrooms, horseshoe pits and more! This place is DEFINITELY large, so I would do your research ahead of time on where you want to go as once inside, if you don't really know where you're going, you might be driving around a bit! read more
Watson Lake has incredible variety from aquatic marshland for bird watching to incredible coves and ponds amid granite outcrops. The ~5 mile Watson Lake loop trail is a must do if you are sure footed and OK with scrambling along the outcrops on the north shore trail and over the hill trail. We hiked the full loop clockwise from the parking along the highway 89 overlook. The North Shore portion of the trail provides the classic boulder lined lake view with numerous side trails to the water. The trail just north and below the dam at the intersection with the Flume trail is incredible with running water from the dam outlet, lush grasses, numerous ponds, and solitude. We saw no other hikers in this portion. The Over the Hill portion of the loop will challenge your footing. Boots with good soles are necessary and you will not be able to use hiking sticks in this section. On the northeast portion of the loop you can cut over to the Peavine bike route to speed up your return or stay in the rocks. The southern portion of the peavine trail runs next to the city wood chipping and waste transfer area so is a bit noisy but you quickly cut across Granite creek among beautiful cottonwoods to the Discovery trail and the parking lot. This last portion is excellent for bird watching and we saw several nature photographers here. read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
Good Little Hiking Spot, Dirty Water Though... Good area for some little hikes through the rocks along the water part of the way. Close in town so easy access! Nice park areas and picnic spots. You now have to pay $3 entry fee... The water levels are pretty low right now and green with algae. This leaves you with stinky water. What else can be said.... Go take a hike! read more
Went on a last minute trip to Prescott and visited Watson Lake for the first time, and was worth the drive. The lake is beautiful and the area surrounding the lake as well. Unfortunately, I was not prepared and was not wearing my hiking shoes, so I couldn't hike down to get close to the water. This lake is perfect to check out during the summer and enjoy the water, kayak, fish, and take your boat out. Will definitely be back once the weather starts to warm up. read more
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More info about Watson Lake
3101 Watson Lake Park Rd
Prescott, AZ 86301
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(928) 925-1410
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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…
Review Highlights - Watson Lake
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