Some places balance accessibility and authenticity better than most. Lynx Lake is one of them — close enough to Prescott to be convenient, deep enough in the Bradshaw Mountains to feel like genuine forest country.

Lynx Lake is a 55-acre reservoir located within Prescott National Forest, approximately 5 miles east of Prescott, Arizona, in the Bradshaw Mountains at 5,530 feet elevation. The lake was formed in 1963 when Arizona Game and Fish completed a dam on Lynx Creek, 6 miles below Walker, Arizona. What began as a water management project became one of the most visited recreation destinations in central Arizona — drawing over 125,000 visitors annually.

The Lake — Recreation Overview

Lynx Lake offers mild weather, cool ponderosa pine forest, trout fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, gold panning, archaeological sites, and bird watching. Wildlife viewing is a highlight — bald eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons have been seen flying above the lake or skimming the water surface. Animals native to the area include mule deer, bald eagles, osprey, and javelinas.

Boating and Kayaking

The lake offers a boat ramp and allows boats with 10 HP motors or less. Oar, paddle, or sail-powered boats are also permitted. We brought our Oru Kayak — an ideal lake for a quiet paddle, especially in the off-season when motor boat traffic is minimal. Visitors can also rent canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and electric row boats at the campground concessionaire. Swimming and wading not permitted in the lake.

Fishing

The lake is a popular fishing spot with crappie, trout, bluegill, bass, and catfish available. Arizona Game and Fish periodically stocks the lake with rainbow trout. Arizona fishing license required for anglers 10 and older. Swimming and wading are not allowed in the lake.

Trails

The 2-mile Lakeshore Trail loops around the lake and features stunning views. Several trail systems are within the Lynx Lake Recreation Area. Most trails allow for multiple modes of travel. The exceptions are Lynx Creek Ruin Trail #301 and Loop Trail #311 which allow hiking only. Horseback riders and mountain bikers are welcome on most trails.

Lynx Creek — Gold Country

The creek that feeds the lake has a history that predates the dam by nearly a century. Lynx Creek and its tributaries account for some of the highest placer gold production in the state, with records showing over 100,000 ounces being taken out of this area since the initial discovery of gold in 1863. Just a few miles from downtown Prescott lie some of the best gold placers in the country. Millions in gold have been removed from Lynx Creek and the surrounding washes since the 1880s.

Recreational gold panning is permitted on the Prescott National Forest as long as no natural feature is harmed and no motorized or mechanical equipment or mining aids are used. The Lynx Creek Gold Pan Day Use Area on Walker Road is the official access point for panning — vault toilets, no tables, no water, no fee. Bring your pan and your patience.

Lynx Creek Ruins — Archaeological Site

The Lynx Creek Ruin Trail #301 leads to a prehistoric Yavapai and Tonto Apache site — one of several archaeological sites in the Lynx Lake Recreation Area. Hiking only, no bikes or horses on this trail. Worth including on any visit.

Campgrounds and Day Use Areas

Lynx Campground is located in the Lynx Lake Recreation Area at 5,600 feet within 1/4 mile of the lake along its west shoreline. Each of the 35 campsites has a picnic table, steel fire ring, and either an established tent pad or an area for one to two tents. Reservations via Recreation.gov. The Lynx Lake Cafe near North Shore Day-Use Area offers a full service restaurant serving breakfast and lunch Thursday through Sunday and dinner Thursday through Saturday.

Eagle Ridge Group Campground sits adjacent to the lake in tall ponderosa pine forest — two group sites, Osprey and Peregrine, accommodate 26–75 and 15–25 people respectively. Reservations required via Recreation.gov.

Dispersed Camping on FR 30 — designated sites only along the forest road corridor. Our campsite coordinates: 34°29'37.9"N 112°21'52.3"W. No reservations, no fees, 14-day stay limit within any 30-day period on Prescott National Forest.

Day Use Areas:

• Day use fee: $5/vehicle (2026)

• North Shore Day-Use Area — lake access, picnic tables, Lynx Lake Cafe nearby

• South Shore Day-Use Area — boat ramp access, lake views

• Lynx Creek Gold Pan Day Use Area — vault toilets only, no fee, gold panning access on Walker Road

Our Visit — October 25–27, 2024

We camped at a designated dispersed site on FR 30 at coordinates 34°29'37.9"N 112°21'52.3"W — a comfortable camp along Lynx Creek in the ponderosa pines. The designated dispersed sites along FR 30 are the right balance between primitive and accessible.

We explored the creek in search of gold — discovering fascinating structures, ruins, and the remnants of someone else's gold hunting efforts along the way. The creek corridor holds evidence of over 160 years of prospecting activity — old workings, rock diversions, and equipment remnants that connect the present to the Bradshaw Mountains mining era. We didn't strike it rich but the exploration itself was the point.

During the night Luca was sleeping outside on his cot when a javelina visited our camp — and then the neighbors. The visit added an adrenalin note to an otherwise peaceful evening. Javelinas are common in this area and generally harmless when not cornered — but encountering one in the dark while sleeping in the open is a genuinely memorable experience.

We visited Lynx Lake itself to fish and enjoy the water — taking our Oru Kayak out for a paddle to soak in the views. The lake in late October is quiet and beautiful — the crowds of summer long gone, the ponderosa pines surrounding the shoreline reflecting in the still water. Fishing attempts were part of the experience regardless of what we caught.

⚠️ Important Update — Lake Drained December 2024

In December 2024 the Arizona Game and Fish Department announced that the lake would be drained due to a mechanical failure that caused an outlet valve to remain in the open position. Our October 2024 visit was just weeks before this occurred. Check current conditions before visiting specifically for the lake — restoration and refilling status should be confirmed with the Bradshaw Ranger District before your trip.

Nearby Prescott

The City of Prescott is a few minutes drive from Lynx Campground — arts, crafts, and music festivals scheduled throughout the summer. Prescott is rich with history embodied in its world-famous Whiskey Row and abundant historical landmarks. Watson Lake, managed by the City of Prescott, is within a 20-minute drive — worth adding to any Prescott area trip.

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