Kayaking & Paddleboarding Prescott's Lakes

Prescott sits in the middle of a string of pine-ringed lakes, up in the cool high country, all calm and all an easy drive from our cabins. Bring a boat or rent one, and make a morning of it.

Where to paddle

• Watson Lake, the showstopper. Weaving a kayak or paddleboard among the giant granite boulders of the Granite Dells is one of the most surreal, beautiful things you can do in Arizona. Go early when the water is glassy.
• Lynx Lake, calm, friendly, and wrapped in ponderosa pines. Electric motors only, so it stays peaceful. A favorite for an easy paddle and a picnic.
• Goldwater Lake, a mellow pair of reservoirs just south of town, and good for a low-key afternoon on the water.
• Willow Lake, Watson’s quieter neighbor, with its own dramatic granite and big open water.

Renting vs. bringing your own

Bring your own kayak, canoe, or paddleboard if you’ve got one, there’s roof-rack room and easy parking at our cabins. If not, seasonal rentals are usually available right at the popular lakes (Watson and Lynx especially) in the warmer months, so you can show up empty-handed and still get on the water.

A few tips

• Go in the morning. The water is calmest, the light is best, and the parking is easier. Afternoon winds can pick up, especially on the bigger lakes.
• Sun and water. It’s high desert sun even over the water, hat, sunscreen, and more water than you think.
• Check the rules. Most Prescott lakes are non-motorized or electric-only, and some charge a small day-use/parking fee.
• Bring a dry bag for your phone, you’ll want photos of the Dells.

Paddle in the morning, hot tub in the afternoon. Both of our cabins sit minutes from the water. See the open weeks and plan your float.