Watson Woods Riparian Preserve

Watson Woods Riparian Preserve is one of Prescott’s best-kept secrets: a shady creekside forest of cottonwoods and willows along Granite Creek, just minutes from the busy Highway 89 corridor. It’s flat, quiet, and full of birds, a completely different world from the sun-baked granite of the nearby Dells. This is our guide to walking Watson Woods, including the rules that keep it special.

A forest saved

The preserve’s 126 acres are what remains of a riparian forest that once covered about 1,000 acres along Granite Creek. The nonprofit Prescott Creeks Preservation Association has cared for it since the preserve was established in 1995, on land leased from the City of Prescott through 2045, and it restored this stretch of Granite Creek between 2009 and 2013. Today it’s a living classroom for the importance of streamside habitat in a dry state.

What to expect on the trail

The preserve has two easy loops, the North Loop and the South Loop, joined by an old road and totaling about 2 miles. The trails are flat and somewhat primitive dirt paths that wind through the cottonwood-willow gallery forest beside Granite Creek and a pond. Shade is excellent, a rarity around Prescott, and it’s an easy, educational walk for kids.

Know the rules before you go

To protect wildlife, Watson Woods is hiking only. Prescott Creeks prohibits dogs and other domestic animals (including horses), bikes, and motor vehicles in the preserve, so leave the dog at home or walk the Peavine instead. There are no trash cans, so pack out everything you bring. Fishing, camping, fires, smoking, and collecting aren’t allowed, and Prescott Creeks asks visitors to stay off the trails when they’re wet or muddy. Groups of 10 or more should book ahead.

Birds and wildlife

Watson Woods is part of the Watson and Willow Lakes Audubon Important Bird Area, and birders love it. Three species of cottonwood grow here, and the canopy supports breeding Yellow and Lucy’s warblers and nesting green herons. A pair of Common Black Hawks, a rare raptor in this part of Arizona, was first recorded in 2010. Bring binoculars and go early for the best activity.

Getting there, parking, and fees

Park at the shared Peavine Trailhead lot on Sundog Ranch Road (1626 Sundog Ranch Road) and follow the paved Peavine a short way to the preserve. Entry to the preserve is free, with a suggested donation of $2 per person to Prescott Creeks, but the lot is a City of Prescott fee lot: $5 per vehicle per day, free on Wednesdays. The preserve is open during daylight hours year-round, though the city lot keeps its own hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m. April through October, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. November through March).

Insider Tip: Watson Woods is the coolest walk in town on a hot day. When the Dells are baking, the shade under the cottonwoods along Granite Creek can feel 10 degrees more comfortable.

When to go

Spring brings nesting birds and fresh green leaves; fall turns the cottonwoods gold in late October (see our Fall Color Report); and summer mornings are cool and shady. Skip it right after heavy rain, when the trails are muddy.

Make a day of it

From the same lot you can head north on the Peavine Trail along Watson Lake. Learn more or donate at Prescott Creeks, and find more easy walks in our beginner hikes guide.