Many visitors assume Goldwater Lake was named for Barry Goldwater. It actually honors his uncle Morris Goldwater, who served as Prescott's mayor for a combined 22 years and led construction of the city's first water system. The original dam went in on Bannon Creek in 1923, and the city council named the reservoir Lake Goldwater. In 1932 a second dam built upstream created the upper lake that most people now know, and the older reservoir became Lower Goldwater.
The two lakes are small. The City of Prescott describes the upper lake as about 15 acres, ringed by ponderosa pines about 4 miles south of downtown. Its trails connect into the Prescott National Forest. The upper lake is the developed half, with fishing docks, an electric-only boat ramp, ramadas, a playground, and a sand volleyball court. The lower lake is quieter, with no boating and its own catch-and-release rules.
AZGFD stocks Upper Goldwater with rainbow trout often through fall, winter, and spring, which makes it one of the most dependable trout waters close to Prescott in the cooler months. The department has also stocked Gila trout here and adds channel catfish during the warm season. Goldwater's small size does not mean small fish. AZGFD's verified hook-and-line records list Goldwater as the source of the state-record bluegill, redear sunfish, and Gila trout.
Lake notes updated October 6, 20263 recent scheduled weeks are listed for Goldwater Lake. Dates are stocking weeks, not guaranteed same-day plants.
| Scheduled Week Of | Lake | Region | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 2026 | GOLDWATER LAKE | Prescott Area | Trout |
| Nov 9, 2026 | GOLDWATER LAKE | Prescott Area | Trout |
| Oct 5, 2026 | GOLDWATER LAKE | Prescott Area | Trout |
Goldwater Lake Park is a short drive, about 4 miles, south of downtown Prescott. Parking is paid at the kiosk. The same City of Prescott pass also covers Watson Lake, Willow Lake, and the Peavine and Constellation trails, which makes an annual pass worth considering for anglers who fish several city lakes.
Most shore fishing happens around the upper lake, where fishing docks and handicapped-accessible picnic sites make it practical for kids and anglers with limited mobility. Hand-carried kayaks and canoes, along with boats with a single electric motor, can use the public ramp. Restrooms, ramadas, and picnic tables sit near the water. Lower Goldwater sits below the upper dam. It has a rentable ramada, restrooms, and hiking trails, but no boating, so anglers reach it on foot.
Trout stocking starts again once the water cools, and AZGFD reports that the bite improves on both lakes as temperatures fall. Summer hours (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) run through Oct. 31.
The park stays open on winter hours (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and the upper lake keeps getting rainbow trout on a regular rotation. This is the season when Goldwater most clearly outperforms nearby warmwater lakes.
Trout stocking continues, and AZGFD has added Gila trout in some springs. Largemouth bass move shallow and respond to small moving baits and soft plastics.
Trout fishing fades as the small lake warms, and channel catfish stocked in summer become the main target. AZGFD surveys have turned up catfish over two feet long in the upper lake.
Upper Goldwater has a special bass limit of one fish, with a 13-inch minimum, and allows only a single electric motor. Lower Goldwater is catch-and-release only, restricted to artificial flies and lures, and closed to watercraft except float tubes. All other species follow statewide limits. Anyone 10 or older needs a valid Arizona fishing or combination license. Review the current AZGFD regulations before you go, since special rules can change.
No. It honors Morris Goldwater, Barry Goldwater's uncle and a longtime Prescott mayor. The city council named the first reservoir after him when the dam was completed in 1923.
No. The upper lake is limited to a single electric motor, and the lower lake does not allow boating except float tubes.
No. Lower Goldwater is catch-and-release only, and only artificial flies and lures are allowed. Live or dead bait is prohibited.
Yes. The City of Prescott waives the $5 day-use parking fee every Wednesday.
Dates are AZGFD stocking weeks, not guaranteed plant days. How this data is sourced