Lynx Lake Loop

If you only have time for one easy hike near Prescott, the Lynx Lake Loop is a great pick. Officially Lynx Recreation Trail #311, it circles a 55-acre lake tucked into the ponderosa pines of the Prescott National Forest, about 2 miles south of Highway 69 off Walker Road. It’s short, mostly gentle, and full of things to look at: anglers on the shore, kayaks on the water, and, if you’re lucky, a bald eagle working the lake. This is our guide to hiking the loop, from parking and fees to the best way to spend a morning there.

What to expect on the trail

The loop is about 2.3 miles around the lake, and the Forest Service rates it easy. The west side is paved and wheelchair accessible, which makes it one of the few genuinely accessible lakeside walks in the area, while the rest of the loop is a natural-surface path through the pines. Most of it is close to level, but there’s one exception: heading south, the trail climbs steeply at the last road crossing, so take it slow there with little ones. Plan on about an hour at a relaxed pace, longer if you stop to watch the birds or let the kids explore the shoreline.

Dogs are welcome on a leash no longer than 6 feet. The trail is for hikers; equestrian use is prohibited around the lake.

Highlights

• Bald eagles. Eagles nest east of the lake, and the Forest Service closes part of the nearby John’s Tank Trail #94 every December 1 through June 30 to protect the nesting area. The Lynx Lake shore trail itself stays open, but watch for posted signs.
• Fishing. Arizona Game and Fish stocks the lake with trout periodically, and anglers 10 and older need an Arizona fishing license.
• Swimming and boating. Lynx is the one Prescott-area lake where swimming is allowed (stay away from the boat ramp). Boats are limited to paddle, oar, and sail craft and motors under 10 horsepower. Note that the boat launch has been closed because of low water since January 2025; check the Forest Service alerts before bringing a boat.
• Gold country. Gold panning is a listed activity here, a nod to the 1863 gold strike on Lynx Creek that helped bring settlers to the Prescott area.

Getting there, parking, and fees

From Highway 69 in Prescott, take Walker Road south about 2 miles, turn left into the Lynx Lake Recreation Area, and continue past the Lynx Lake Store and Marina to the North Shore Picnic Site, the easiest place to start the loop. There’s also parking at the South Shore day-use area.

Day use is $5 per vehicle, paid at the North or South Shore fee boards (cash, check, or card), and it’s free on Wednesdays. That one payment covers every Prescott National Forest day-use site the same day, so you can hike Lynx in the morning and Thumb Butte in the afternoon. The forest’s $40 annual pass and America the Beautiful passes are accepted.

Hours change with the season: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in March and April, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. from May through August, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September through November, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. from December through February.

Insider Tip: Go early on a weekday. The lot and the paved west side get busy on summer weekends, and early morning is when the water is calmest and the birds are most active.

Facilities

The North Shore has picnic tables, grills, a wildlife viewing scope, and seasonal drinking water (May through October). The Forest Service notes its flush toilets have been temporarily replaced with portable toilets. The South Shore has 28 picnic tables and vault toilets. The Lynx Lake Store and Marina runs from late spring to early fall, with a restaurant whose hours vary by season and boat rentals from May through October, so call ahead if you’re counting on lunch.

When to go

Lynx is good year-round. Summer brings the most activity and the most shade-seekers; fall brings crisp mornings and color in the oaks around the lake (see our Fall Color Report); and winter is quiet, cold, and prime time for eagles, with the earliest closing time of the year. The pines make it one of the more comfortable lake walks on a warm day.

Make a day of it

Longer trails branch off the loop, including Salida Gulch Trail #95, and the short Lynx Creek Ruin Trail #301 leads to a prehistoric site with an observation platform (it’s a separate fee site). The Highlands Center for Natural History is just up Walker Road, with free nature trails. For more lakes, see our guide to Prescott’s lakes, and for other easy walks, our beginner hikes.