5/15/2023 0 Comments Whatson lake prescott azAnd the temperature is refreshingly cool beneath the trees. Huge Cottonwood trees shade this section. It’s a local favorite for evening strolls and family bike rides.Ī right turn onto the Discovery Trail leads around the base of Watson Lake. This wonderfully wide, flat pathway was constructed atop a 19th-century railroad track. In Spring and Summer these are filled with colorful thistle and wildflowers.Ī half-mile further on, the hike merges onto Prescott’s renowned Peavine Trail. True to its name, breathtaking views of the lake, its shores and the wacky rock formations that jut from the water, roll out from various high points.Īs the trail exits the Dells, the path opens onto wide fields. The path now becomes the Lakeshore Hiking Trail. One particularly beautiful spot is Secret Cove, a large inlet with views out onto the lake. Here reflections of sky and stone, beneath the distant silhouette of Granite Mountain, just beg for social media posting. This section ascends back onto the Dells and meanders in and around them for the next mile. Here a relief waterfall gushes out, spritzing the air.Įxiting this lush area, the trail becomes the moderate, Over the Hill Hiking Trail. Suddenly, the air is moist and cattails spring from a marsh! Crossing a small bridge, a short side trail leads to the back of the dam. Kids of all ages will have a blast hopping around this part of the trail!Īfter a moderate descent, the North Shore Hiking Trail curves around to reveal one of the coolest features of the hike. These immense formations seem otherworldly – with their oversized bulbous shapes and bizarre layering. Passing the dam, the hike leads to a seemingly endless stretch of eroded Granite Dells. And each sports a totally different character! Our favorite starting trail is t he North Shore, for its granite surface, long views and hidden treasures. This slightly moderate, 1-mile long leg, meanders over the rolling Granite Dells that define Watson Lake’s unique beauty.Īfter a half-mile on the North Shore Hiking trail, fantastic views of the Watson Lake dam appear. From the trail, it’s fun to watch kayakers approach and paddle the rim. The wonderfully varied Watson Lake Loop Trails can be kicked off from a number of trailheads. Each portion surprises with a totally unique character. Weathering along joints produced the rounded boulders and other unusual rock formations that characterize the Granite Dells.Explore rolling Granite Dells, hidden coves and a waterfall on this stunning loop hike. The Watson Lake Loop Trails circle Prescott’s largest lake on a series of mile-long sections. Through a process called spheroidal weathering, the huge boulders that make up the Dells have since been eroded away. Granite here has been dated at 1.4 billion years old by scientists. This place has become an iconic site in recent years due to the viral spread of pictures on social media that highlight the massive oblong granite boulders that protrude from glassy calm waters on the north end of the lake. The area consists of exposed bedrock and large boulders of granite that have eroded into an unusual lumpy, rippled montage. The result is visually stunning. Watson Lake is a man-made reservoir that was cleverly designed to accent an amazing natural phenomenon known as Granite Dells. But there’s one city park, just north of Prescott, with some truly unique wonders of its own. Arizona is home to three national parks that millions of people flock to each year to see some of the state’s most amazing natural wonders.
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