The 13 best views in Prescott

Watson Lake is absolutely stunning and a must-visit in Prescott! The unique granite boulders surrounding the lake make for some of the most picturesque views you’ll find anywhere. It’s a great spot for hiking, kayaking, fishing, or just enjoying a peaceful picnic by the water. The trails around the lake are beautiful and offer plenty of photo opportunities. Easy to spend a whole afternoon here soaking in the scenery. A true gem in Prescott and perfect for nature lovers!

One of the most beautiful lakes I've ever visited. Tucked away just outside of Prescott Arizona it is definitely a hidden jewel. The layers of rocks surrounding the lake are absolutely gorgeous. It's almost like going back in time. The photo opportunities are many. The water reflections of the hillside's, rocks, and beautiful blue sky and clouds make for phenomenal photos. We live in San Diego but we make it a point whenever visiting Arizona or Phoenix, we make the drive up to Prescott

I almost don't want to post anything about it because I want it to remain the treasure that it is. This is a beautiful place to kayak, plus there's trails all over the place, really cool ones through riparian areas.

Went kayaking for an hour. The first time slot at 8 am I believe is the best time to go. The birds are out and you can see cows on the mountain. We saw an Eagle. Beautiful boulder of rocks and fish. Wasn't hot and a good little work out on your arms and core. Good price for the hour. You can tandem or solo.

Beautiful place to spend some time relaxing. You can rent a kayak and go kayaking in the lake just no swimming. View from up top was beautiful and the place was not that crowded. Best time to visit the lake is early morning or later in the evening. There is an entry fee for day time entry and for overnight camping. There is a designated area for the camping and recreational activities. Plenty of parking so no issue there. Hike around the lake is easy to moderate (depending on the hikers capacity) but a perfectly tracked way with easy walk. So, Enjoy !!!

The water I. The lake is filthy but the natural view of the lake is amazing. Never been to a lake surrounded by rocks. The recreational area is also very nice and comfortable. Such a good place to enjoy hiking in a beautiful day!

Great Lake and Park outside of Prescott, AZ. Great trails that run the perimeter of the lake. Great views on the trail. Peaceful no wake lake. Perfect spot to kayak. The surrounding park has picnic areas, playgrounds and open fields to play. Clean bathrooms. A well maintained park. $3 for day visit.

Definitely worth doing if you have some extra time in Prescott. This is the location of the first building, the governors mansion and the first headquarters of government when it was established as the capital. The transportation museum is really awesome and really a lot of really cool replicas and actual old buildings takes you back in time! !!

We loved this museum! Our family - ages 10 to 60+ enjoyed reading, learning, and exploring. We spent three hours here and did not see it all. It was nice that kids are free and that admission covered two days!

I have a lovely time here with my husband, brother, and sister in law. It's a laid back museum that shows artifacts from Prescott History. It's super cute and I found a couple neat books in the gift shop too. You can take a couple of hours to get through it, or, take extra time to sit on the benches and enjoy the landscaping.

Omg, this is a must see museum in Prescott, AZ. It's $15 adult admission, but, worth every penny! It is on 4 acres with beautiful landscaping between the historical buildings. Each building has a different theme regarding the history & artifacts of the evolution of Prescott. One is Travel, which has bicycles from the 1800's to an actual covered wagon. Another an original house exactly as it looked, with the household items displayed. I could go on & on. So, if you are lucky enough to be in Prescott, AZ, you should plan it as part of your itinerary.

For those looking for Old West historical enjoyment, Sharlot's Hall Museum and Rose Garden is great Actual buildings from the 1860's have been moved there. In some of the buildings a recording describes the house & the events of the time. In other houses there are individuals that describe the house and the historical individuals who once lived there and what was going on. It was easy for us to spend over three hours there, because we were interested in all the exhibits. The entrance fee was $14. I felt it was worth it.

Fantastic visit and history of Prescott and surrounding the with a really nice native American exhibition

The rose garden is so beautiful! Everyone was so kind and the buildings are all so great. There was even a neighborhood kitty (Mr. Chunk) who stopped in to say hello. It's an excellent place and we'll be going again very soon.

Go right on trail 33! I should have read reviews better. We went left and it was very very steep for kids (ages 6, 4, 1). My 4 year old went pretty high with dad but I didn’t make it to the top. I’m out of shape and should have brought more water. We could have taken more breaks and gone higher but for our kids it was enough adventure to go as high as we did.

Great place to hike, nice trails and views!

Amazing hike, make sure you take the back way up it's so much more enjoyable. The views are awesome and right now it's not eagle mating season so the ascent is clear. It's 5$ for parking but they do take card there is also a bunch of mountain biking I would like to check out after the daily rain calms down. What are you waiting for get out and hike it!

This is one of my favorite hikes. The trail is quite steep and it's a good challenge.

One of the best hiking experiences i’ve ever had. The 1st with the trail is pretty easy to finish but the 2nd part which leads to the top of the mountain is tough. You need to be careful. Stunning view is a nice reward.

Great area for hiking. Took trail 33 which is a couple of miles long with some steep sections but most of them paved. Paid parking in the National Forest service lot across the street. Beautiful area and on a weekday morning not at all crowded. Information on the hike is on the National Forest service website. There are a number of other hikes from the same starting point. Great spot

Very pretty hike! We found a cactus shaped like a heart, and that was fun. The Forrest smelled good and everyone was friendly. The top of the trail is closed for half the year for bird nesting, which was kind of sad, and there is a $5 parking fee, but it was totally worth it! The hike was steep but easy and short.

More of a museum of Western art, mostly paintings, than an exhibit of historical Western items, it was still a good time. If you are not into art, but want a museum of Western culture abd items, this may not be for you. My teen sons got bored quickly, but I enjoyed it.

Nice trip through western history. Spent about 2 hours there but I like to read a lot of the information associated with the pictures and the artifacts. I really enjoyed it. Nice little gifts shop. Also opportunities to buy art, posters etc.

They ask, because it's an art gallery, for people not to post pictures of the art... That said, we had a wonderful time!!! Some truly stunning art from the Cowboy Artists, which includes canvas, sketches, bronze statues, and actual exhibits of the artists' workshops. The items belong to the museum or are on loan, and the exhibits change from time to time. If you are a veteran, make sure to mention this before paying for tickets. Prices for senior citizens are $10 at the time of this post. I am not a senior, but I AM interested in art. I wouldn't bring young children here, but its truly a wonderful place for a day trip for anyone over 20... I had a wonderful time, and they DO allow photography as long as you don't post it or use flash... Well worth the trip, very close to Prescott, gorgeous views of the rocks around the museum too. Loved the volunteers who took time to show people around and tell stories about the art and artists. FUN!

Women of the West exhibit is outstanding. A friend, Barbara Gerard-Mitchell has her painting there so we stopped to see all the art. Wonderful museum. Off the beaten path, so take your time and enjoy.

If you love western art this is the place to see some of the best work. Mr Phippen’s work is amazing and There are a ton of other Cowboy Artist’s (CA) work as well. We loved it all especially the Sculptures. We really enjoyed our tour from Linda. She was very insightful and informative. We would recommend this to anyone that wants to see some great paintings. You can even buy some of the art that is displayed and they have a nice little gift shop too. They change the showcase every so often so you can always get a chance to see other artist’s work throughout the year.

What an amazing small museum! We had a personal guided tour by Docent Lonnie! Lonnie provided us with a plethora of information on the museum and George Phippen, the artist. A Western Museum opened in 1984. This museum may be small, but the exhibits are of high quality and are very unique. Admission is $10.00 and $8.00 for Seniors. I had never heard of George Phippen or Ray Swanson prior to today, or any of the other talented artists! The current temporary exhibit is 'The River Flows' and features watercolors of the American West. This museum is well worth a visit.

If you're a fan of the old West this is a great place to check out! Incredible paintings and sculpture's, A lot of old artifacts, weapons, saddles and history.

The Courthouse Square in Downtown Prescott is a place where people walk around, sit on benches, walk their dogs, or enjoy one of the weekends where there are lots of vendors selling products and the community comes together. Lots of great stores down here, antique shops, and some great places to eat. The Courthouse Square, or Whiskey Row, use to have several bars downtown 100 years ago but a few are left. The trees are very thick & tall so there is lots of shade. People bring blankets to sit on the grass and enjoy a lunch sometimes. I lived and worked in the Phoenix heat for 30 years, so this was a COOL PLACE to come and breathe fresh air instead of the hot air of Phoenix. In retirement, I’m thankful to be here at 5,000 feet in Prescott and have a chance to walk the Square and talk to friendly people.

This is a small town square with restraunts, bars and specialty shops around a beautiful historical courthouse and park. Plenty of places to wander around for a couple of hours or more. Can be crowded during weekend events. It's a great place just to wander around and relax.

Such a beautiful and peaceful spot in the heart of Prescott! The courthouse itself is full of history, and the surrounding square is perfect for a relaxing stroll. Shady trees, benches, and charming shops nearby make it a great place to unwind and take in the pretty surroundings. Definitely worth a visit if you're in town!

I’ve heard it called the “gem of Yavapai County” It’s pretty charming. I take my sun here to play in the shade of the trees during the summer. It’s lovely during the holiday season too. The trees are festooned with colored lights. The Plaza hosts numerous events over the course of the year. Restaurants and bars surround. Definitely worth a walk around if you’re in Prescott.

The court house is beautiful, it holds that hometown America feel. The statues are amazing the grounds manicured I encountered both Prescott Police and YCSO deputies, they were friendly and professional! Unfortunately there was a crowd disparaging law enforcement, carrying signs with vulgarities and distracting the American flag. They swore and flipped people off who were not swearing or making obscene gestures to them. They were attendees of the No Kings Protest. Sort of ruined the feel.

Well I hadn't been there in 30 years so it obviously changed. It's a very nice space with some nice monuments and lots of eateries around. You could easily spend a day here. It'd be nice if the bathrooms were open after 5:00. But such is life.

What a beautiful place,🏦 the weather is so nice🌞 and cool in Prescott in July, they have the memorial for the granite mountain HotShots crew that died in the fires, they have beautiful long green grass🍀🌿🌱 around the Hill Court House, my sister 🧑‍🤝‍🧑and I took our shoes 🩴off and walked barefoot 👣in the grass, we have not done that for years, they have an ice cream🍦 shop across the street and a lot of people🧘🏻 were sitting in the park eating ice cream🍨, and other people walking their dogs🐕‍🦺🚶🏻, people just sitting in the grass under the trees🌳 where it's nice and shaded, the atmosphere there is just hypnotizing, right before we left late afternoon there was a mother🧑🏻‍🍼 and two of her children 💑sitting in the park in the grass having ice cream 🍨🍦 and then the two little kids were rumbling around together in the grass, that was so cool to see the kids playing outdoors instead of being on their computer devices, and boy where they having a good time, my sister and I were just sitting there watching them and smiling 😁 and laughing,🤣 we did walk down whiskey row, walked around a lot of shops,, went and ate🌯 lunch. We will be back, you must go enjoy this beautiful place ❤️

The rodeo was awesome, as it is every year. The atmosphere was electric, the staff was friendly and helpful. There were so many wonderful vendors. The pregnancies between events were terrific. I hadn’t been to the rodeo for about 15 yrs and it was as awesome as I had remembered. The last time I attended my children were young. This time I got to bring my grandchildren and we intend to return each year as we did when my children were young. My grandkids just loved it and I look forward to seeing them enjoy it more and more as they get older.

This was our first time as a family attending the rodeo. The adults had been previously & have wonderful memories. I think the kiddos made great memories too. Our oldest did mutton busting before the rodeo begins for the day. 12 kids are selected in advance & they all take turns getting settled on a sheep & busting out of the gate. It was such a great experience!

One of my absolute favorite events every year! The entire town is bustling with activities and it’s fun for all ages.

I’m not one to complain and understand mistakes happen but was absolutely shocked at the widespread problem people were experiencing! The rodeo venue scammed us. We bought tickets 4 months in advance and showed up at the rodeo to be told the rodeo deleted our tickets assuming “it was a scam purchase”- zero effort to contact us, no refund and they resold the seats. With no seats then available our only option to enter was “standing room.” In our time getting it sorted, we saw at least 3 other groups experiencing the exact same scam. How many seats did they double sell? Being pregnant and bringing 2 toddlers to watch the rodeo, I bought seats because shocker, we wanted seats in addition to kids under 7ish not being tall enough to even see over the banner rail in standing. So we alternated between sitting on the dirt with zero view and holding kid up. Halfway through we were then moved out of the standing room area by rodeo workers because heads in way of the seating area. Driving 3 hours and bringing visitors from England we continuously pushed through the misery. The show itself was to be expected rodeo, but absolutely would never attend again and scared for anyone to purchase tickets at a high chance you’ll be scammed out of your purchase.

Great small town parade lots of fun I recommend checking it out!

This rodeo has a great business model. Charge people for tickets they never send out! I purchased tickets right when they went on sale. Was told they will be sent out at a later date. 2 weeks before the rodeo I called and spoke to someone in their office named Pam. I was told that my purchase was flagged as fraudulent but now that I was confirming it was a real order that’s they would be sending my tickets out. After that I received no communication with no lack of trying on my end. Ended up having to buy inflated priced reseller tickets because my family and I had already made the trip. Now I still can’t get a response from their office and the rodeo director Jason won’t even answer an email! Some scammy work if you ask me. They might as well be working in government. All I want at this point is a refund for my original tickets!!!

Came to the rodeo with a large number of extended family. At the gate we were told our tickets were invalid due to “being flagged at time of purchase as fraudulent” with no communication letting us know. The rodeo was obviously completely sold out at that point and we were turned away. Showed the email confirmation and had the pdf tickets in hand. All they said was sorry nothing we can do. I have been reaching out to their main office for a week and not getting any response. I just want a refund for the tickets I bought. Everything keeps saying to contact the rodeo director whose name is Jason but I can’t get a response. So horrible.

Our visit to the Museum of Indigenous People in Prescott was informative and enjoyable! We went on a Saturday morning, and the two docents had so much knowledge to share and so much respect for the people this museum represents. I'm grateful Prescott is preserving this incredibly important and rapidly disappearing history. Stop in to see gorgeous, handmade artifacts; imagine the ways humans lived life many many years ago; and come ready to learn about the people who were here long before we were.

Thoroughly enjoyed this! A lot of history is explained here, with a great amount and variety of artifacts and displays. Went there with my wife and two teen sons, and we all enjoyed this. We learned a lot too. Staff was very friendly and very knowledgeable too.

We really enjoyed our time at the museum of indigenous people. Tones of amazing original art and artifacts. The building is really beautiful and the staff was very friendly. Will definitely be going back on our next visit.

Love this museum. It's small, but the displays are very informative and the building all the artifacts are displayed in is an artifact itself. The museum curator was pleasant and full of information. There was a collection of old used books that have to do with anything about the lives of the Indigenous people around Prescott. I bought an amazing book about all the different types of baskets that were made in the area by the Navajo, Hopi, and Apache, for $4. I was too happy. There's also lots of Indian handmade Jewelry, pottery, trinkets, and new books written and beautifully illustrated. ♥️♥️♥️

Very informative and impressive, we had a great time! They also have a bunch of fun events.

On 5/6 in the early afternoon I visited Museum of Indigenous People for the first time. Right after entering the museum I was greeted by a very courteous and welcoming gentleman. I believe his name was Mike. His courtesy made a great impression on me. Mike gave me a brief, yet informative overview of the museum. Regarding the museum itself, wow!! An astounding collection of art, artifacts and information. I was enamored with everything that I feasted my eyes on. I visited the museum for 90 well-spent minutes. And I'd love to someday return to view the exhibits that I didn't get to see.

-Timeframe: We visited mid day on Saturday. There were only a handful of visitors in the museum. -Pricing: It cost $6 for 3 people, 2 of whom were free with Native American ID (CDIB) + $6 for a veteran discount. Kiddo could have also gotten in free for being under age 12. Ample free parking is available around the building. -The front desk was very friendly, extending invitations to show and explain exhibits -Meeting “n” Exceeding: The museum provides a relaxed hometown feel, with many regional donations and exhibits. Although there is a large volume of display items, the facility is not huge therefore it’s not difficult to peruse all exhibits within 1.5 - 2 hours. -Room to Refine: Although the front desk provides a booklet that indexes the exhibits and offers extended details, the arrangement and flow of the artwork itself left an unclear narrative. -Summary: We recommend a visit to this museum for the many unique exhibits and the support of this important history.

I went to this beautiful gen if a center on an Event Day. It was not planned as such. Got to learn alot about different insects, animals and plants of the area. I went to hike through the trail and relax and just enjoy

This place is extraordinary! We're so happy to have found out about the Highlands Center when we came for a field trip with our homeschool group. The staff are amazing! Jules and Nick led our group of students and they did such a great job engaging the kids and really fostering their curiosity and thinking. Jules's enthusiasm is infectious. Lots of learning and fun were had. The facility is beautiful as are the surrounding grounds. We highly recommend making a trip out.

This place is beautiful. Me and my family stopped by after the giftshop had closed but we were still able to hike around on the well kept trails and take advantage of the free parking. It also has clean restrooms. This place takes donations and has a drop slot in front of the giftshop. We will be moving to Prescott Valley soon and this is already one of my favorite spots to enjoy nature.

Beautiful scenery. The trails behind the nature center are great. Little to no traffic at all.

Great place to take the kids if you are in the area. Hoping that in years to come they are able to expand. A great addition to the Lynx Lake recreation area.

Great place to spend couple hours exploring nature and art, lots of benches to set down and read book ar have nice conversations with your companion in quiet atmosphere, bathrooms are very clean and enough free parking spaces, I highly recommend to visit on your way to Lynx lake.

A absolutely wonderful experience for all. Educational and I love places that make nature more accessible for those with disabilities. Please treat the area with care so others may enjoy it after you leave. Our children love this place.

Watson Lake in Prescott is a hidden gem. The Granite Dells create an amazing backdrop for kayaking and hiking. The trails offer a mix of easy walks, and more difficult hikes, so it’s perfect for all skill levels. It’s a peaceful spot to picnic, fish, or just look at the views. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area!

We actually went out to hike the five mile five Watson Lake Loop. We parked in a parking lot just off the highway near the bird sanctuary area, so we had no fee. We started our hike walking towards the dam and granite dells. We passed through the park where there was, a boat ramp, toilets, kayak rental place, picnic tables, and an old Frisbee golf course. This was an easy part of the trail, From there, we started to head up and over the granite boulders going in a clockwise direction. We wanted to get the harder parts out of the way first. It was a beautiful hike. We are 61 and 67, regular hikers, and found some of the areas a little challenging. There was a bit of scrambling and rock hopping. Be prepared with good hiking shoes and maybe hiking poles. Some areas are quite steep. It is absolutely beautiful. We actually got lost in the beauty and added an extra mile to the hike. It is well marked for the most part, but it is easy to go off trail. The last section around the marsh was flat and easy. We were sure glad we'd picked to do the hard part first. Go prepared and take plenty water. We packed a picnic, to stop and enjoy along the way. It was certainly worth the effort.

What a beautiful little Park up out of Prescott. There were some camping sites there that weren't great but would be okay... But the rest of the park and the kayaking is out of this world.

Amazing rock formations along this lake. The park that leads the way to the lake is green and well kempt. Pleanty of trails to follow to get some amazing views.

It’s a very beautiful place the whole family can enjoy kayaking,fishing,hiking and biking all for $3 oh and you can camp also

The lake is always beautiful, never too many people unless its being used for a public event, otherwise its very relaxing, The camp offers a beautiful lush field which is rare for AZ and while the lake isnt clean enough to swim in, the diversity of birds and other wildlife make it the perfect place to spend a cooler afternoon

This is a great place to spend the day with friends and family. You've got a beautiful wake with multiple hiking trails available. There's plenty of parking. The bathrooms were clean. There's no vending machines around, so make sure you pack a lunch and bring plenty of water.

Heritage Park Zoo is a great place for kids. All the exhibits are the perfect height for children, and closer than a larger zoo so you have a better chance of seeing the animals. There are large conservation efforts and it seems like the animals are well taken care of. There is also a playground and water feature for children to run through and scheduled times for feeding where the caretakers introduce the animals, tell their back stories, and educate patrons. There are mostly native species of animals to see with some exotic species as well and they are currently working on expanding the reptile house. Overall neat zoo and a great time for children and adults.

Amazing place for little kids. Really enjoyed how close the animals are. The petting zoo area was a fun spot. There are lots of playgrounds throughout to play on and even a little splash pad. The zookeeper interactive sessions with the bears and jaguar were real highlights!

What a great place! Wow! We were so impressed! Playground, splash pad, and all the animals to see, makes it an awesome experience for kids! Well kept grounds! Highly recommend!

What a fantastic experience! We opted for the private behind the scenes tour (1.5 hours, just under $300 for two people), and it was so worth it. You get up & close to several animals to give them snacks, and the host gives you a plethora of information about the sanctuary and each animal. Dyann was so knowledgeable and a great guide for our experience. The sanctuary is a wonderful cause and well worth every minute. It's not a massive complex either, so it's very easy to take a stroll around with just a few little hills and awesome scenery. Highly recommend!

Just spent a wonderful few hours visiting the zoo. The park was clean and the walk through clearly marked. The zoo is fairly small compared to those in large cities. We finished the walk through, played in the splash pad (SO glad they had one), and visited the gift shop in about 2.5 hours. We loved seeing the wide assortment of large cats and birds of prey. There was a summer camp happening and all the kids looked like they were having a blast.

This is a great little zoo. Seems well kept but most of the animals are nowhere to be found of it is a warm day or unless they are being fed. Just be aware of that before you go.

I absolutely loved it!! It was just me and my son that went and we had a blast! All the staff were super friendly and helpful! 10/10 would recommend. (My only "complaint " would be options for food..but thats okay i brought lunch anyway!)

This is the goat of all trails and hiking here in beautiful Prescott!! Just breath taking! A real spiritual experience!!!

Great hike, 2.2 miles for the outer loop. Quiet trail, didn’t really see anyone else when I was there except at the parking lot. Mostly easy, with some climbing over rocks. Balanced rocks seeming to defy gravity. Very interesting rock formations and colorations. I imagined faces, animals, and shapes of all sorts:) highly recommend!

It's a nice place to hike as long as you don't need shade. The trails are fairly easy as well.

Excellent trail for experience Prescott hiking areas.

Beautiful trails!!

Great walk.

Cost 3$ to park here.

Love coming here to fish! Haven't caught one yet, but they always are sure to swim by and wave a fin, or jump out of the water in front of me.

Just a great place to walk or ride. Easy flat no rocks on the main trail. For walkers that want a little more, there are other trails that meander through beautiful rock formations. Beautiful views of the lake as well. Free on Wednesdays.

It's a great place to go for a walk and enjoy the beautiful scenery Prescott has to offer. Parts of the trail are very accessible to those looking for a leisure walk. It's also a great place if you're looking to climb on some of the boulders as well.

We did the Watson Lake Loop Trail. 5.6 miles You follow the path and white dots sprayed on to the rocks to make your way. It is a Prescott City Park you pay $3 for the day. You can go to another location in town that charges too as long as it is the same day.

Beautiful scenery and lots of trails to approach this hike. It has beginner friendly as well as more challenging trails.

What an adventure! If you go hiking, make sure to pack more than you think you'll need because my boyfriend ended up running out of water while hiking (due to our own inexperience) Luckily, we ran into a fellow hiker who gave us some water. Thank you guy! You saved us! We climbed up and down the dells to get back to Watson Park and made it right on time, right before sundown (the park closes at sunset) Got a lot of good pictures on the way. Everyone is friendly and we enjoyed our visit! We look forward to seeing the park when the construction is finished!

Great place to hike or mountain bike. The Peavine trail is an old railway it's wide and pretty easy grade it's about 7 miles from Prescott to Prescott Valley (double check the distance yourself) it is mostly red ciders and decomposed granite. It has great views and the boulders are fantastic. Off of the Peavine trail the City and volunteers have some really great trails check the city maps for difficulty.