Discover Prescott: Hiking Trails, Lakes, and Art

Prescott combines diverse hiking experiences around lakes with the art and history of the American West. For planning your trip, there are very different trails to choose from: a paved loop hike with a somewhat steep beginning, short easy multi-use trails, and longer routes along the shores of Willow Lake and Watson Lake. The outdoor offerings are complemented by the Phippen Museum in Prescott’s Granite Dells.

Hiking Trails for Different Day Plans

The Thumb Butte Trail is a moderate, 1.75-mile loop hike. The trail is paved and somewhat steep at the beginning. This makes it a different option for planning your day than the short trails at Goldwater Lake, which are described as easy. Anyone who prefers a loop and wants to plan for a somewhat more challenging start will find a clearly described option here.

At Willow Lake, a 3.5-mile trail follows part of the lake in a loop above the flood level. This provides a longer hiking option in which the lake itself sets the framework. For families or travel groups with different ideas about their hiking day, it may be helpful to compare such longer trails with shorter alternatives rather than planning all outings in the same way.

The Lower Granite Creek Discovery Trail is located along the western shore of Watson Lake. The one-mile trail connects the viewpoint at the highway with the Prescott Peavine Trail. Near Watson Lake, the Peavine Trail also offers pleasant, relatively flat terrain. These two details present different possibilities for visitors who want to compare a shorter route with an additional trail section without committing to a specific route in advance.

Short Trails at Goldwater Lake

Goldwater Lake has two easy multi-use trails with clearly different lengths. The North Shore Trail is 0.26 miles long, while the Bannon Creek Trail measures 0.6 miles. These specific distances can play a role in planning the day if there should still be time for other Prescott experiences in addition to a walk. The designation as a multi-use trail applies to each trail described and should not automatically be transferred to other routes.

Art and History at the Phippen Museum

Those who do not want to spend their entire stay hiking can include the Phippen Museum in Prescott’s Granite Dells in their plans. Through exhibitions, events, and educational programs, the museum presents contemporary and traditional art as well as the history of the American West. This creates a cultural contrast to the trails around the lakes: outdoor experiences and a museum visit can be viewed as different focuses of the same trip.

The Right Accommodation for Planning Your Trip

When looking for a vacation rental in Prescott, it is worth first determining the travel rhythm you want. If short and easy trails are to be the focus, the information about the two trails at Goldwater Lake is particularly relevant. Those who prefer longer routes or a loop hike can consider the Willow Lake Trail or the Thumb Butte Trail. For a trip that includes a cultural component, the Phippen Museum is also suitable as a separate itinerary item. The choice of accommodation should therefore match the experiences you actually want to combine.

Other Places for Your Search

If you would like to extend your accommodation search to other places, you can also look at Prescott Valley, Seligman, Jerome, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Lake Montezuma, Clarkdale or Ash Fork. Prescott itself is especially suitable as a search destination if you want to combine hiking around lakes with the art and history of the American West.

For the overarching travel overview: Yavapai.