Lynx Campground

Lynx Campground is located in the Lynx Lake Recreation Area at 5,600 feet in elevation, within a quarter mile of the popular Lynx Lake and situated along the lake's west shoreline. It is about seven miles southeast of the city of Prescott, Arizona. Several trail systems lie within the Lynx Lake Recreation Area, and 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, mountain bikers and hikers can be found on most trails. Wildlife viewing is a grand event when a bald eagle, osprey or great blue heron has been seen flying effortlessly above Lynx Lake or skimming the water surface. Recreational panning is allowed on the Prescott National Forest, as long as no natural feature is harmed and no motorized or mechanical equipment or mining aids are used. Lynx Lake is one of the most popular recreation spots in central Arizona and attracts more than 90,000 visitors each year; it offers a boat ramp and allows boats with 10 HP motors or less, along with oar, paddle and sail-powered boats. Forest Service day-use facilities in the Prescott Basin are accessible at no additional fee; see the volunteer host for a complimentary pass validated for your length of stay. Visiting a day-use facility requires a pass visibly displayed on the vehicle's dashboard, driver's side. Each of the 35 campsites has a picnic table, steel fire ring and either an established tent pad or an area with room for one to two tents. Two campsites also have a lantern hanger, and a steel ramada is present on select campsites. Campsite driveways are parallel, pull-through or back-in and all have asphalt surfacing; some allow a camp unit and an extra vehicle quite easily while others may be snug, and a few campsites are a short walk-in. Four vault toilets, two flush toilets, six trash dumpsters and eight water faucets service the campground. There are no RV hook-ups or dump station. Campsites 10-19, 22-23 and 28-34 have steps; campsites 20, 21 and 35 are fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Lynx offers visitors pleasant summer temperatures and cool breezes, in a ponderosa pine ecosystem mixed with alligator juniper, oak species and a variety of forbs and native grasses. The 55-acre Lynx Lake skirts the campground's east boundary. Several species of colorful wildflowers bloom in the spring and during the summer monsoon seasons, and afternoon thunderstorms are likely from late June through mid-September. Visitors may see deer, osprey, great blue heron, bald eagle, mountain lion, bobcat, coyote, fox, skunk, rabbit, and several species of snakes, lizards and birds. The Highlands Center for Natural History, in partnership with the Prescott National Forest, is only a few minutes away, offering a learning center, a trail system on 80 acres and scheduled interpretive programs through the spring, summer and fall. The Lynx Lake Cafe near the North Shore Day-Use Area is a full service restaurant. The City of Prescott is a few minutes' drive, with arts, crafts and music festivals throughout the summer; Watson Lake, managed by the City of Prescott, is within a 20-minute drive; and Fain Lake in Prescott Valley, a private enterprise a short 20 minutes away, offers fishing and picnicking.