Goldwater Lakes Loop

Goldwater Lake is Prescott’s lake in the pines: a small, quiet park about 4 miles south of downtown, where two reservoirs sit in a forested canyon below the Bradshaw Mountains. The loop around Upper and Lower Goldwater lakes is short but full of character, with rocky singletrack, short steep pitches, and views down to the water through the ponderosas. This is our guide to hiking the Goldwater Lakes Loop and making the most of the park.

What to expect on the trail

The loop around both lakes is about 2.4 miles with roughly 200 feet of total climbing. That’s not much on paper, but it comes in lots of short, steep ups and downs, and the rocky singletrack has a few narrow spots with drop-offs to the water. We’d rate it moderate for hikers: fine for most families with school-age kids, but keep a hand on little ones near the edges. Hikers and mountain bikers share the trail, and dogs should be leashed.

Want more? The loop connects to Goldwater Lakes Trail #396 in the Prescott National Forest, part of the long Prescott Circle Trail, and to the Feldmeier Trail #330, so you can easily stretch a short walk into a half-day hike.

Highlights

• A bit of Prescott history. The lakes are named for Morris Goldwater, Prescott’s longtime mayor and the uncle of Senator Barry Goldwater. The lower dam on Banning Creek was finished in 1923, and a 1932 dam created the upper lake, both originally built for the city’s water supply.
• Pine-forest setting. Higher and greener than the Granite Dells lakes, Goldwater feels like a mountain escape just minutes from town.
• Calm water. The upper lake allows kayaks, canoes, and electric motors only, and kayak rentals are available. The lower lake has no watercraft except float tubes, and fishing there is catch-and-release with artificial flies and lures only. Swimming isn’t allowed at either lake.

Getting there, parking, and fees

Goldwater Lake Park is at 2900 S. Goldwater Lake Road, south of town off the Senator Highway. Start from the upper lake lot. It’s a City of Prescott fee site: $5 per vehicle per day, free on Wednesdays, open year-round, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from April through October and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from November through March. The upper lake has restrooms, large ramadas, a playground, picnic tables and grills, horseshoes, sand volleyball, fishing docks, and a boat ramp, and the lower lake has a ramada and restrooms.

Insider Tip: Goldwater sits a few hundred feet higher than downtown, so it’s often noticeably cooler, a great summer escape. Pack a picnic: the shaded ramadas and playground make it an easy family afternoon even after the hike.

When to go

Late spring through fall is prime time, and summer mornings are especially pleasant thanks to the elevation and the pines. In winter the trail can hold snow and ice in shaded spots, so check conditions and bring traction if it’s been cold. Water levels run low after dry years; in early 2026 the city reported both lakes several feet below normal.

Make a day of it

Goldwater pairs nicely with a drive out the Senator Highway into the Bradshaws, or with a stop downtown on the way back. For more lake options, see our Prescott lakes guide, and for other easy walks, our beginner hikes in Prescott.