About 12 minutes outside of Prescott, off of Senator Hwy, is a little gem of a lake to explore. This is the perfect time of year to make your escape from the heat of Phoenix and head up to the milder climate there. Goldwater Lake is a wonderful place to spend the day enjoying the scenery, the tranquility and, of course, the cooler weather!
Getting to the lake is pretty easy as it’s off a main road that is fully paved and, once there, there is plenty at the lake to keep a family happy. There are picnic tables, a trail that goes all the way around the lake (well, actually there are 2 lakes and there’s a trail around both of them, figure 8 style), lots of trees and shade, a little play apparatus for kids, fishing, and boating. Kayaks can be rented from https://prescottoutdoors.com/ and fishing info and licenses can be found at https://www.azgfd.com/fishing-2/licenses-and-regulations/ . There are also bathrooms there. One thing to note is that there is no swimming.
It’s a nice quiet and beautiful spot that locals know about but is generally not too crazy jam packed with people. Because it’s a little quieter, there’s wildlife too. In the photos you can see a Horny Toad, a beautiful blue/black Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly and, zoom in to the grey smudge that is over the water in the lake photo. You might just be able to make out the white tail and head of the Bald Eagle that is swooping through the photo! So when you go, keep an eye out for animals, since that will be something the kids will love and remember.
Entrance costs $3 and the lake is open from 6 am to 10 pm during the summer season. It is located at 2900 S Goldwater Lake Rd., by Prescott. More information is here.
