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Elevation: 5,000 ft
GPS: 34.59304, -112.4191
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Page Views: 20,586 total · 191/month
Shared By: JJ Schlick on May 14, 2015
Admins: Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen

Description Suggest change

Watson Lake is an iconic Prescott reservoir set in a huge granite bowl on the south end of the famed Granite Dells, just north of town on Hwy 89. The northwestern shores are littered with walls, small canyons, and breathtaking views. With rock similar to that of Joshua Tree, CA this is an amazing place to hone those mid to large grain granite skills.

Watson Lake

Most of the original bouldering and route development was done side by side in the early and mid 90's by the usual suspects of that era. There are probably hundreds of problems here, with the majority of them being tall moderates. However, there are a handful of truly classic problems here with grades up to the V9 range at least. If you are into highballing, this place is certainly worthy of exploration, and getting lost a few times....

Mike Gasch dealing well with a Painful Truth V4, Thor's Chasm, Watson Lake, 1999. Voodoo Blues is the chalked up black streak on the far right.

This area is covered with painstaking accuracy in Bill Cramer's "Prescott Bouldering Guide". I would recommend getting a copy before heading out, as the place is slightly disorientating and rather maze like.


Sort of crude, but it will help. Some of these areas are not in Bill Cramer's Prescott Bouldering Guide. His books are a priceless resource for any Prescott boulderer.

Getting There Suggest change

From Prescott drive north on Hwy 89, until you get to Watson Lake County Park. Pay parking. There are campsites, and facilities.

17 Total Climbs

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