K A Y A K I N G
on Watson Lake P R E S C O T T, A R I Z O N A
I
had visited the beautiful area of Watson Lake in Prescott a few times before, but always admired it from up top, while navigating the rock formations on the outskirts of the lake. This time, we wanted to see it from the bottom-up! We found out that you could rent kayaks and paddleboards lakeside by the hour. With a storm looming in the
distance, we took our chances – and we began our relaxing exploration. With each swish of the paddle it brought us closer to the unique granite boulders, some of which are right in the middle of the lake. It was neat to look around and see so many people visiting the area and absorbing its beauty both high and low, land and ‘sea,’ from every level. Fun Fact: Watson Lake is one of two reservoirs at the Granite Dells, in Prescott, Arizona, that was formed in the early 1900s when the Chino Valley Irrigation District built a dam on Granite Creek. The City of Prescott bought the reservoir and surrounding land in 1997 to preserve it as recreational land. Local rock climbers use the granite cliffs above and adjacent to the lake for top-roping and lead climbing. The lake is also the home of TriCity Prep Rowing Crew, a local high school team and the only rowing team in Northern Arizona.
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Arizona KEYMagazine
