Lynx Lake: Easy Trails, Trout, and Lakeside Calm

If Watson Lake is Prescott’s showstopper, Lynx Lake is its easy, friendly counterpart: a calm reservoir wrapped in ponderosa pines just southeast of town, where the to-do list is gloriously short: walk, fish, paddle, repeat.

A gentle day outdoors

Sitting around 5,500 feet and roughly 55 acres, Lynx is kept peaceful with an electric-motors-only rule, so the water stays quiet for paddling and fishing. It’s a place to slow down.

• Walk the loop. The Lynx Lake Loop is an easy, mostly flat trail of about 2.3 miles that circles the water through the pines, great for all ages.
• Cast a line. The lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout, with bass and catfish too. Bring an Arizona fishing license.
• Paddle. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards all suit the water here; seasonal rentals are often available.
• Eat by the water. The lakeside café is a local institution for a relaxed bite with a view.

A little gold-rush history

Lynx Creek, which feeds the lake, was one of Arizona’s richest placer-gold streams in the 1800s, and recreational gold panning is still a thing in designated spots nearby. Kids love it.

Good to know

Expect a small day-use fee, and go in the morning for the calmest water. It’s a short, pretty drive from our cabins in Groom Creek.

Lazy lake day, then the hot tub back at the cabin? Yes. Book your stay.