Under blue skies and a warming sun, I feel myself being pulled into the embracing clutches of Mother Natures Wonderland. As I seek new adventures under foot of a new trail, I have found one. The New Goldwater Lake trail (Trail # 396) with in the heart of the Prescott National Forest. Good medicine for spring fever.

The New Goldwater Lake Trail is a gem of a hike and should not be missed. Recently, this 4.6 mile trail was added as a connector to the Prescott Circle Trail (PCT), a fifty mile loop trail that will introduce the hiker to the wide variety of environmental diversity that the Prescott region has to offer. Thirty miles of the loop trail has already been completed and the New Goldwater Trail is its newest addition.

A new trail, wow! With backpack in hand, I’m on my way and soon my boots are treading on a newly carved trail with in the national forest. You don’t get this everyday and what a joy it is to follow a path freshly laid out just for you.

The Goldwater Lake Trail traverses in a northwest/southwest direction just south of Goldwater Lake, under the cooling shade of a forest filled with Ponderosa Pine. This well marked trail murandors easily through the forest along the smooth topographical mountain contours of this wooded forest.

Along the way there are at least three-marked trailheads that lead to the Upper Goldwater Lake shore. From the trail cut off you can traverse down to the lakeshore and pick a nice spot for a picnic or cast a line to lure an elusive trout onto the shore. It is worth taking the side trails and visit the picturict shoreline. Witness the wildlife residence of the lake, such as ducks, and overhead, osprey soaring for their next meal.

After returning to the main trail (# 396), it climbs and descends easily through a dense mix of scrub oak, mountain mahogany, juniper, pinon pine and gamble oak. Soon vistas open up to views of Granite Mountain and Little Granite. As you continue along trail, views of Lower Goldwater Lake will come into view. All of this, with out hardly working up a sweat.

Along the way the trail will bring you to a summit which offers a panoramic vista of the Prescott National forest, including Thumb Butte. A good spot for a picnic and more pictures to add to the ones you would have taken along the way. From here the trail starts to descend.

Soon the trail is following the contours of a perennial stream in which during the spring season you will encounter a variety of wild flowers and other water loving plants that congregate near deep pools and small waterfalls.

After climbing one more ridge and dropping down to the other side, your first views of the White Spar Campground come into view. From here it is a hop, skip and a jump to the trails end at the White Spar Trailhead of the New Goldwater Lake Trail. Four point six miles and afterwards you feel good because it was a good hike, for sure – for sure.

Sometimes looking for an adventure can lead you to the wrong places, but this trail is not one of them. It’s like taking a wilderness stroll through a 3D Imax theater. Leave your phone and ipod at home. Leave your troubles behind, lost in the clutches of Mother Natures Southwest Wonderland