Looking for a nice day hike in Prescott? Watson Lake hiking in Prescott Arizona is an excellent area to explore. Begin your day on the Flume and Watson Lake Dam trail with creekside hiking. After, check out the canoe rentals!
Watson Lake Dam Trail Hiking in Prescott
When to visit Watson Lake:
When is the best time to visit the area? That is a question I get often from those planning their trips. Most agree Prescott is best hiked from March-April or October-November for instance. However, Tim and I visited the Watson Lake Dam trail hike in mid-September. Although it was still a little toasty in the sun, we still really enjoyed it.
How to get to Watson Lake Dam Trail:
Firstly, if you’re coming from Phoenix, you’ll take a short hour and a half drive north to the town of Prescott Arizona. Then, the hike to the dam starts at the small dirt parking lot for “Flume and Watson Dam Trailhead“, as seen in the map at the end of this post. This small dirt parking lot is located right off Granite Dells Road.
Most importantly, when you see the trailhead signage, take a look at the rules and the map before beginning the hike. Head through the opening in the trees and you’ll be on your way!
Trail Rules:
- Always respect nearby properties and be quiet ( obey park signage ).
- Stay on the marked trail.
- Dogs are allowed on this trail but must be kept on a leash.
- The trail closes at dusk.
Note: No trespassing signs mark the neighboring properties. Respect the signage, and keep your voices down on this trail.
🙂 Be kind!
The Hike:
This Watson Lake hike is an easy-to-follow 1.6-mile roundtrip trail. The elevation gain is minimal, with a little rock scrambling here and there but overall it is quite easy. There are also a couple of offshoot trails that link back into this one if you don’t want to do the same out-and-back trail shown below.
The park service has marked the trail with white dots, seen below, to keep visitors on the trail and off the sensitive vegetation and private properties.
Large boulders are what make the Granite Dells area so unique. You’ll get a little workout with some sections being rockier than others, but the views are worth it!
Tim was on the hunt for trash and loaded up some food wrappers and bottle caps he found along the way. Always remember to keep these beautiful trails clean and if you see something pick it up :)!
Another thing to be on the lookout for are snakes. On our previous trip here, we ran across one on the Watson Lake loop trail nearby.
At this point, the trail starts to follow alongside Granite Creek, a small tributary of the Verde River. As can be seen above, there are bridges that help you cross over the creek in a couple of spots.
While you continue down the trail, the sound of water slowing trickling through the rocks and insects buzzing can be heard near the creekside. Occasionally I would snap a video where you could really hear the sounds. Check out the IG story highlights here.
Generally, the creek water is clear, however, the slower-moving sections of the creek almost always remain coated in green algae. Despite some visitors complaining about the algae bloom, I happen to think the vibrant green algae is a neat sight to see.
The Dam:
As soon as you cross the second bridge, the weathered, 100-year-old, dam comes into view. You might notice a slight temperature drop in this area through this shaded section near the bridge. Meanwhile, sunlight peeks through the overhead trees and glistens off the water below.
The views of the dam are excellent, however, you might not want to stick around long. The musty air smells a little like rotten eggs because of the water turnover. Thought the area smelled funky, the ducks didn’t seem to mind. They dipped their heads under the water to feed off the plants and insects as we took a break on the shore.
In addition to the dam views, Prescott also offers a wide range of other trails in the area including the popular Prescott Loop Trail. Tim and I hope to tackle this one someday in the future as well.
Canoeing at Watson Lake | Prescott
Early fall in Prescott is also a wonderful time to visit Watson Lake for canoeing. Because temperatures were in the mid-80s, it was perfect for an afternoon trip on the water after our hike to the dam.
We rented our canoe in advance this day. Prescott Outdoors, located on the south shore of the Watson Lake parking lot, allows visitors to reserve canoes and kayaks in advance. Canoe rentals run around $35 for 2-hours. Life vests are required when on the open water.
I layered up with my favorite Volcom flannel and we loaded up the boat with our fishing gear and snacks.
Fishing at Watson Lake:
If you bring your fishing license and fishing pole with, you can anticipate catching rainbow trout and largemouth bass in Watson Lake. Despite Tim’s best efforts, he struck out on the fish this visit. I had been hoping to get as lucky as I did on my Alaska trip to Salmon Falls Fishing Resort. Go check out that 37lb fish. NEXT TIME PRESCOTT… NEXT TIME.
Reminder: Don’t forget to bring sunscreen! Shown above is Tim. Tim packs his Hemlock hat to protect his head but forgets sunscreen to protect his knees. Therefore, Tim’s knees get roasted. Don’t be Tim. Apply sunscreen.
New gear update! Weebill 2 Gimbal
Watson lake has some amazing scenery and what better way to capture it than through video. I recently added the Weebill 2 Gimbal to my gear bag and have loved having the ability to shoot content both with and without another shooter. Check out my first review video below!
Overall, Watson Lake hiking in Prescott coupled with canoeing through the Granite Dells never disappoints. It’s an excellent place to be just in time for the start of fall.
Watson Lake Dam Trail Hike | Prescott, Arizona
Length: 1.6-mile hike roundtrip
Difficulty: Easy
- Easy hike with beautiful views of the creek and the dam.
- No parking fee at the Flume Trailhead.
- Pack out what you pack in! Don’t leave any trash behind and follow all Leave No Trace practices.
Watson Lake Canoeing | Prescott, Arizona
- Parking at Watson Lake Park is $3 per car.
- We rented our canoe from Prescott Outdoors.
- No swimming is allowed at Watson Lake.
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