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Kayak Adventures in Prescott Arizona

View Of Watson Lake From Kayak

Kayak Adventures in Prescott Arizona

A few weeks ago my family and I ventured to Prescott, Arizona for a few days filled with kayak adventures.  I am sure many of you can commiserate with our travel experience this summer.  A trip to New Mexico was rescheduled from May to July but then needed to be canceled due to travel restrictions. We were left still wanting to do something but chose to stay in-state and settled on a few days on a lake.  What could be better than hours in a kayak exploring and relaxing?  


Granite Dells on Watson Lake

Watson Lake

We had been to Watson Lake on a kayak trip many years ago and decided to return.  For anyone who finds themselves with the opportunity to stop, Watson Lake is a beautiful and rather distinctive lake situated on the outskirts of Prescott, Arizona.  The granite dells are very unique and provide many little coves which allowed us to just float on calm water, enjoy the scenery, and the wildlife.


My family and I rented kayaks through Prescott Outdoors.  For anyone curious about our experience during COVID, I should mention that the paddles, life vests, and kayaks were sanitized between each use and their site allows for filling out all forms and making reservations prior to arrival.  Reservations were very simple and fast to make.  Masks were not a requirement either in Prescott, Arizona or in the county they are located.  Most people in line were not wearing masks though we were kept a decent distance apart from other groups.  With the exception of one or two workers, masks were not worn by the employees either.  


Learning to Paddle a Kayak

I shared a tandem kayak with my husband which we have never experienced before.  There were times we zig-zagged our way across the lake and many times we had to do some rather massive coarse corrections but on the whole, I would say that it was fairly easy to get the hang of maneuvering through the water.  I will say that a tandem kayak seemed a little slower than a single kayak even though we had two paddlers but we were not in a hurry so that wasn't really an issue.  We just allowed more time to get back to the dock when our time was almost expired for the rental.

Black and White Photo Lake


A little time to get in sync and some flat out paddling at the beginning of our kayak trip made the coves extra welcome so that we could just relax, enjoy the cooler weather, the building clouds, and the beautiful scenery.  Toward the end of our trip, the clouds built to a beautifully layered storm cloud sort of look but we thankfully experienced no rain, lightning, or thunder.




For anyone planning on being in the general area of Prescott, Arizona, I highly recommend giving Watson Lake a visit.  There was an entrance fee of $3 during our visit however there are many hiking trails and picnic tables surrounding the lake with plenty of nature and beautiful views to be seen even if you are not heading out onto the lake.  On the whole, I felt very safe traveling there during the pandemic.  Enjoying nature isn't about how far you travel but venturing out of your everyday life.  Travel allows me to gain perspective, recharge, and be ready to come back to my normal life with positivity.

Check out some of my newest Zazzle store offerings featuring photos that I took while on the lake.  The below link contains an affiliate link for while I earn a referral.
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