Willow Lake is another great hiking destination in Prescott. To get there, you travel north on Willow Creek Road and take a right on Willow Lake Road. Willow Lake Road winds around the southern side of the lake and there is a free parking area at the very southeastern corner. You can also park near Heritage Park / Zoo or Embry Riddle, but I believe there is a $3 charge at those parking lots.
I start the loop going clockwise, which is on a very flat path that take you around the south side of the lake and then North toward Heritage Park. This is not the quietest part of the trail - lots of road noise, Prescott Dirt trucks, and airplanes taking off and landing. This section does make a great beginner biking and dog walking path.
I learned that there is a Watson-Willow Lake Ecosystem Important Bird Area (IBA). Yes, that is what it is called! Apparently this is a great place to do bird watching. They even have a bird blind where you can stake out and do some bird watching.
I learned that there is a Watson-Willow Lake Ecosystem Important Bird Area (IBA). Yes, that is what it is called! Apparently this is a great place to do bird watching. They even have a bird blind where you can stake out and do some bird watching.
Once you pass the boat ramp on the north side of the lake, the technical part of the hike begins with climbing on the boulders and passing through crevasses in the rock structures. Although much shorter, this part of the hike is more technical than Watson Lake. But once you get to the highest part of the boulders, you get some great views of the lake.
The last time I hiked Willow Lake, there was not a hiking path that extended all the way around the lake. In order to accomplish the circle route, they added some stairs near the back road so you could re-join the hiking path. They also built a bridge over a crevasse and added some paths through the cracks in the rocks. Took some doing, but they did accomplish the full circle trail!
There are both high water paths and low water paths. I was able to take all the low water paths with only one area where I lost the path altogether, but was able to rejoin the path again by mucking through some high grass heading away from the lake. Once you get back to flat ground you pass through a meadow of high grass to get back to the parking area.
As with Watson Lake, at Willow Lake there is little shade, so wear sunscreen and a hat. The entire Willow Lake Circle path is about 5 1/2 miles long and took me about 2 hours. There is very little elevation gain but scaling the boulders was somewhat difficult in areas.
As with Watson Lake, at Willow Lake there is little shade, so wear sunscreen and a hat. The entire Willow Lake Circle path is about 5 1/2 miles long and took me about 2 hours. There is very little elevation gain but scaling the boulders was somewhat difficult in areas.
It continues to amaze me of the great hikes that are in our own backyard. The Willow Lake Circle Trail earns 4 1/2 boots!