Trailblazers are ready to kayak Watson Lake. [photo by Helen]

Helen, Jim, Lynne, Norma, Lee, Cindy, Chuck, Kim, Barbara, Anna.

It’s late May at Watson Lake in the Prescott Dells area, as ten kayakers from the Arizona Trailblazers gather near the lake’s South Ramp to prepare our kayaks for launch. Two of our kayakers are already in the water and paddling around, patiently waiting for the rest of us to get ready. Note to self: must get to the lake even earlier next time. By 9:20 a.m. ten kayakers in ten kayaks are on the water and ready to start paddling under crystal clear blue skies with not even a single wisp of a cloud overhead.

Last-minute preparations for launching. [photo by Cindy]

Barbara observes a family of ducks near the launch ramp. [photo by Cindy]

The temperature is about 78 degrees, with a high of 85 degrees forecasted for the day. If we get too warm in the sun today, we can always dip our hats in the lake or wet a large bandana to wrap around our necks. That’s a major advantage of kayaking over hiking in warmer weather. We’re surrounded by an endless supply of cooling water to tap into at any time. And if it gets really hot, we can simply slip overboard for a cooling plunge in the lake. Of course, getting back onboard might be a little challenging.

Norma and Lee are underway. [photo by Cindy]

Setting course for the Granite Dells. [photo by Helen]

We begin paddling northeast towards the scenic Granite Dells area of the lake at the far north end, where we’ll spend the majority of our time on the lake today. We continue leisurely paddling up the west side of the lake and reach the Granite Dells area in about 20 minutes. The Granite Dells consists of huge granite boulders, some the size of a large truck or even as big as a house. After the dam was built and the lake filled with water, many of these large boulders became partially or even fully submerged.

Anna approaches a wonderland of granite boulders. [photo by Cindy]

This female Northern Shoveler looks after her brood of 11 ducklings. [photo by Cindy]

The end result is a vast collection of massive granite boulders, promontories, monoliths, and small islands on the lake. This is truly a kayaker’s paradise, with a labyrinth of passageways to explore, weaving among the many boulders and promontories. In addition, the north end of the Watson Lake Loop Trail threads its way among many of these granite boulders that still sit high and dry above the waterline. By foot or by kayak, this area is definitely the most scenic and picturesque part of Watson Lake.

Meanwhile, these Double-Crested Cormorants are just basking in the sun. [photo by Cindy]

Watson Lake and neighboring Willow Lake, located on the west side of Highway 89, were both created in 1915 when the Chino Valley Irrigation District built Watson Lake Dam (then called Granite Creek Dam) on Granite Creek. In April of that year the creation of Watson Lake would justify the biggest celebration Prescott witnessed in many years, with speakers, free barbecue, local bands, and even a special event train to transport people to the lake. A general holiday for the city was even declared. The City of Prescott eventually purchased both reservoirs and surrounding land in 1997 to preserve it as recreational land and would later create Watson Lake Park.

Cindy pauses for a quick picture. [photo by Helen]

We slowly paddle our way through this granite wonderland of jumbled rocks for an hour or more, taking numerous pictures along the way. By about 11:15 some of us are thinking about lunch since we’ve already been on the water for nearly two hours. So, we start paddling our way back to the South Ramp and soon reach what passes for a beach on this lake and exit our kayaks near a long, seriously sloping wooden picnic table near the water. Here, we enjoy conversation and a leisurely lunch/snack break beneath the shade of a sprawling willow tree. The only problem with this location is having to carefully navigate around numerous small piles of goose poop, left behind by a large flock of Canadian Geese in the area. When a goose has to go, it goes wherever it wants to go.

Helen and Chuck are gliding along among the granite boulders. [photo by Cindy]

After lunch, we decide to check out the large grove of partially submerged trees at the far southwest end of the lake. Depending on the water level of the lake, these trees may or may not be accessible by kayak. When the water level is low, these trees are left sitting high and dry. But when the lake is full or almost full like today, one can kayak throughout the partially submerged trees. Although the lake level has already dropped about three feet from its highest point earlier in the year, there’s still enough water to allow for paddling among the trees today. On our May 2022 kayaking trip to Watson, the lake was almost at full capacity, and we were able to paddle for quite a distance into these trees.

Lee and Barbara check out the “bathtub ring” on Watson Lake. [photo by Cindy]

Norma and Lynne cruise close to the rocks. [photo by Cindy]

Yanis, one of our kayakers on that May 2022 trip, described this part of the lake as “Arizona’s bayou country”. And it really is somewhat similar to southern Louisiana’s iconic bayou waters, with two narrow channels of water, both lined with a canopy of towering cottonwood and willow trees providing deep shade and relief from the heat on warmer spring and summer days. You almost expect to see an alligator or two slide silently into the water from the shore. Swamp land in Arizona? Not quite, but probably the closest thing we have to it. On our 2022 trip we paddled a full half-mile or more up one of these channels. But with the lower water level today, we’re only able to kayak about half that distance into the trees before being turned back by shallow waters.

This female mallard is in her element. [photo by Helen]

An armada of kayakers cruising the waters of Watson Lake. [photo by Cindy]

Soon we leave the “swamp” behind us and paddle over to the east side of the lake and follow the shoreline to the northeast for another half-mile or so, before finally heading back to the South Ramp area. By now, the afternoon winds are starting to pick up quite a bit and those forecasted 8 mph winds are now approaching 18 mph winds. Time to get off the lake and call it a day. By 1:15 p.m. we’re all back on shore adjacent to the South Ramp and packing away our gear and kayaks. Most decide to head back home, while Cindy and Helen drive into Prescott for lunch. Meanwhile, Lee and I drive to Dewey for a late lunch at Leff-T’s Steakhouse & Grill. We’ve stopped here numerous times over the years after hikes in the Prescott area, but this is the first time after kayaking.

This Great blue Heron is stalking the shallows for a meal. [photo by Cindy]

Collision course! Oops! [photo by Cindy]