Lynx Lake

A simple hike around a lakeside trail in Prescott turned into our own little version of “Fear Factor.”

For those unfamiliar with that TV show, “Fear Factor” involves judgment-impaired people participating in dangerous stunts and eating such things as crickets and grubs.

Thankfully, we ate nothing but raisins during our hike, but we did stare danger square in the eye in a daring creek crossing.

Before I turn anyone away from this hike, let me admit publicly that our creek-crossing adventure happened only because I missed an earlier crossing point. Otherwise, the trail is lovely. Go. Enjoy it.

The trail roughly follows the circumference of Lynx Lake in the Prescott National Forest. More than half of it is a woodsy dirt trail through tall ponderosa pines, yet only feet from lake’s edge.

From the starting point at the northern parking lot, hikers can take the trail left or right. We chose left, thus hiking the loop clockwise.

We faced a challenge almost immediately. A dam sits on the north side and on our day, about an inch of icy cold water flowed over our path.

The path remains a paved walk along the north edge of the lake, but once you turn the corner, it turns into a nice, soft dirt trail.

The dirt path skirts the lake’s edge all along the eastern side, sneaking in and out and hugging several little coves.

As we made our way south, we eventually found ourselves walking alongside Lynx Creek, which feeds into the lake. The trail narrowed and became harder to follow. This is where we apparently lost our way.

We arrived at a man-made waterfall, which really was pretty fun to see. But my best guess is the place to cross the creek is just before the falls.

Yet we continued upstream. After a bit, the trail had all but disappeared. We were bush-whacking now.

That’s when we came upon several metal railings hanging from a guide wire above the creek. It was either turn back or cross there.

We crossed. Once across, we followed the stream north back to the lake.

The trail is easy to find once you’re near the lake again. Follow it to the parking lot on the south shore.

From the parking lot on the south all the way to our original parking lot on the lake’s north side, the trail remains a paved walk.

It follows the lake’s edge and hugs the coves, too, but it’s much more pedestrian than the dirt trail on the other side. It’s also mostly flat, so it would accommodate wheelchairs or strollers.

The cost to enter Lynx Lake Recreational Area is $2 per vehicle. Restrooms are available at the parking lots.

To get there, turn left on Walker Road (just past the Prescott border) and follow a couple of miles until a sign directs you to take a left-hand turn to the Marina and General Store. The parking lot is just past the store.

This hike was first featured January 2005 and revised February 2007.