Prescott Lakes
Prescott is home to five distinct lakes, each offering a unique 'outdoor laboratory' for gardeners to study how water, geology, and elevation create diverse plant communities and landscape inspiration.
Watson Lake
A masterclass in "rock gardening" on a grand scale; gardeners will love seeing how Banana Yucca, Hedgehog Cactus, and Live-Forever (Dudleya) anchor into the crevices of the Granite Dells, providing a natural blueprint for xeriscape design. A kayakers dream.
Willow Lake
Offers a stunning contrast between its rugged boulder fields and lush riparian grasslands. It’s a top spot for spotting Desert Willow and Apache Plume, which thrive in the transitional zones between the water's edge and the high-desert scrub.
Goldwater Lake
A serene 'lake in the pines' that showcases a classic Pine-Oak forest. It’s the perfect place to study shade-loving native plants and see how massive Alligator Junipers—with their unique "checkered" bark—serve as ancient anchors in a mountain landscape. A Prescott favorite fishing and kayaking lake.
Granite Basin Lake
Nestled at the base of Granite Mountain, this quieter lake is a hidden gem for observing the transition from Riparian Cottonwoods and willows to high-altitude conifers. It provides excellent inspiration for creating 'layered' landscapes that move from water-loving focal points to drought-tolerant perimeters.
Lynx Lake
Tucked into the Bradshaw Mountains at 5,500 feet, this lake is surrounded by a dense canopy of Ponderosa Pines and Gambel Oaks. Gardeners will appreciate the forest floor’s rich tapestry of manzanita and mountain mahogany, which stay vibrant and green even in the winter. A fishing men gathering spot along with the eagles often spotted in the canopy treetops.