Hiking and Kayaking in Prescott, AZ

This was my site at Yavapai Campground in the Prescott National Forest. No hook-ups, but paved and well-appointed with a beautiful view.

Thistle and I kayaked in Granite Basin Lake, a small lake near the campground.

Cormorant and Widgeon. The female looks like a Ring-necked duck.

We hiked some of the many trails around the campground. I think that's Granite Peak , but we didn't hike the trail to the top of that.

There are many boulders in the area.

It was cool, and we both enjoyed the hikes. We saw deer, but no pictures.

Granite Basin Wilderness

One day I left Thistle home and went into Prescott to kayak on Watson Lake.

It is a large lake in the "Granite Dells."

There are huge boulders and rock formations in and around the lake, making for an interesting paddle. There is also a trail around the lake.

Calm waters and reflections.

Kids of all ages love to play among the rocks.

You have to keep an eye out for boulders beneath the water too.

Just like clouds, you can begin to identify shapes, like the profile on the left.

Not sure if she's taking a picture of the geese or me.

There are multiple passageways and hidden coves to explore.

A few trees grow out on the rocks.

A pair of Northern Shovelers.

And a pair of Ring-necked Ducks.

The different colored rock shows previous water levels in the lake.

Lizards like the warm rocks.

A Common Merganser

Rocks and kayaks are good places to sit and meditate...

Lots of balancing rocks.

And where would rocks be, without Rock Wrens singing amongst them?

Always let sleeping ducks lie...

The dam at the end of the lake.

Cormorants

Exploring a secret cove...

I spotted what looks like a Geocache high on the rocks on the right.

A little hard to reach with the water level so low. I wouldn't try it.

More ducks flying in or out.

Another cove led to a portion of the hiking trail...with hikers.

A quiet place to stop and picnic, or maybe swim in the summer.

It was a delightful float.

The next day, Thistle and I headed out in search of the Salida Gulch Trail, a loop trail around Lynx Creek that I had read about. It was supposed to lead to some petroglyphs. We found Lynx Creek, but never found the trailhead.

But we did see some birds while we were looking...this Acorn Woodpecker,

And this western Scrub Jay 

Can you spot the Spotted Towhee under the Manzanita Bush?

So we went back to another trailhead we had passed. This one leads to an ancient pueblo ruins.

Thistle led the way...

View from the trail...that spot of blue in the center is Lynx Lake...

Another place I could kayak? Of course we'll check it out later.

The pueblo ruins is up there.

It's a good thing they have information and a drawing of the pueblo...

Because it looks like a pile of rocks to me.

But the views were worth the climb.

From there we drove to Lynx Lake. There is a trail around the lake, so we hiked part of that.

They rent boats and canoes in the summer. Those are a bunch of cormorants on the dock.

Ruddy Ducks

A female Common Goldeneye

We ran out of time, so I didn't get back to kayak, but I know it's here...

Horseback Riding in Wickenburg, AZ

As part of my goal to go horseback riding once a month between now and the November mule trip in the Grand Canyon, I booked a 3-hour ride in Wickenburg.

Turned out, I was the only one who wanted to ride 3 hours that day. My wrangler, the woman, was newly hired, and so I had two wranglers. The man is cinching the saddle on my horse, Mocha. Don't ask me to remember anyone else's name...too much time has passed.

 I think we rode every trail they have here, as the man was marking trails for the trainee.

We started out down a wide wash. This ride is closed during the rainy season, and they move the horses to Prescott. 

We came upon some cows and a calf. 

They pointed out 3 eagle nests up there. Only one is active. 

Here we climbed out of the wash. 

And enjoyed some views from above. 

A rock meditation circle. There are images of a snake, a tortoise, and a rabbit made of stones. Mocha was meditating. 

Back down into the narrow end of the wash at its source. 

 Where a giant waterfall flows in the rainy season. It is the water that created the wash.

From here we had to have a little discussion with Mocha. He thought he only signed up for the 2-hour ride and wanted to head right back down the wash to the corral. We finally persuaded him to climb out of the wash and do another trail, although my butt was agreeing with him at that point.

At last we were done, and both Mocha and I survived. This company also does rides in Sedona which should be very pretty through the red rocks. I will hire them again if and when I get back to AZ.