Greater Prescott is, among other things, an escape hatch for residents of the Sonoran Desert desperate to get away from the brutal heat that descends upon them for months (it feels like years) at a time. It’s closer than Flagstaff and the beaches of Rocky Point and San Diego, so it gets more than its share of visitors from the aptly named Valley of the Sun.
But we don’t get off scot-free in the summer, either. If our temps tend to lag about 20 degrees behind what Phoenix sees, if they’re at 110 degrees that puts us at around 90 degrees, which is not fun for anyone who’s accustomed to the diverse yet mild four-season climate we’ve been gifted. Particularly in July, which tends to be the hottest month, we’re looking for our own escape.
Where do we go? A quick survey of a few outdoorsy retailers in our community yielded a few answers.
Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River Recreation Area
This recreational area a couple of hours east of town is a beloved oasis in the midst of Arizona’s high desert that’s hard to reach physically and regulatorily, though a couple of changes this year are going to make it a bit easier. This 10-mile stretch of the creek beckons with clear, flowing water colored an enticing blue from the travertine deposits from the highly calcified water from the springs that are its primary source.
Its 72-degree flow reaches from the desert through a deep canyon that shades its shores and creates a dense riparian environment, complete with a waterfall and stands of cottonwood and willow. It forms deep pools that are home to native species and are ideal for swimming, a rare natural body of water suitable for it in Arizona. It can get warm while driving in from the west via Camp Verde or hiking in from the town of Strawberry in the east, but the payoff is worth it.
Fossil Creek is restricted to permit holders from April 1 to Oct. 1, but the good news for 2026 is availability is being expanded from Friday-Sunday to Monday-Sunday. Everyone still needs to get the timing right, as 40% of the permits will be released one month before the day you’ll use them and the other 60% two days before. For more information or to make a reservation visit www.recreation.gov/permits/4251919.
Flagstaff
This city is generally a good 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Prescott and a hub for numerous outdoor summer activities anyone can enjoy, from hiking Mt. Elden to Segway tours through the historic downtown.
The 90-minute drive makes it perfect for day trips or overnight stays in the many hotels, motels, Airbnbs and campsites in the area. Whatever you decide to do, you’re going to have some refreshingly good times in some of the state’s coolest country.
The Arboretum of Flagstaff has gorgeous display gardens featuring species native to the Colorado Plateau and walks featuring wildflowers, birds and many more natural wonders. Three national monuments within about 30 miles are there for the exploring: Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater and Wupatki offer prehistoric geology, ancient ruins and the flora and fauna that have spread across the landscape since then.
The Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course gives you the chance to swing higher in the cool pines, 15 to 60 feet off the ground, on Tarzan ropes, wobbly bridges, swinging logs and more insane-sounding acrobatics (with safety harnesses). Flag also is a popular starting point for daylong tours that head off to the Grand Canyon, Sedona and the mesas of Hopi land.
Goldwater Lakes
Barely a trip at all, these mountain reservoirs are managed by the City of Prescott and are a 10-minute drive south of downtown. They sit a few hundred feet higher and are surrounded by ponderosas, oaks and alligator junipers that provide plenty of shade on the trail that connects the two.
Upper Goldwater Lake is much better-known and has parking, restrooms, ramadas and picnic areas, fishing, a public boat launch (electric boats only), a sand volleyball court and kayaks and paddleboards available to rent. All these amenities attract plenty of visitors.
Lower Goldwater Lake was opened to the public in 2022 and is kept quieter, though it does offer restrooms and ramadas. Fishing is catch-and-release only with no live bait, and no boating, kayaking or paddleboarding is permitted. Float tubes for fly fishing are the only waterborne craft allowed. It’s calm and contained and a terrific place to relax.
Both are encircled by the Goldwater Lakes Trail (No. 396), which connects to other trails taking hikers deep into Prescott National Forest. Bald eagles are often spotted there, but the lakes are not considered a nesting site so they are not subject to seasonal closures to protect them. Summer hours at the recreation area are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and parking is $5.
Greer
Considered Arizona’s highest community at 8,400 feet above sea level, Greer has about 100 year-round residents and is a wonderland for summer outdoor recreation with lakes, lodges, cabins and campgrounds scattered along AZ-373, the 4.5-mile road that runs through the valley near the New Mexico border and connects it to AZ-260.
The town’s high elevation and lack of commercial development means it has some of the darkest, starriest skies you’ll find anywhere.
The open-air activities you have to choose from here are endless, from hiking and biking to fishing and birdwatching, wildlife viewing (especially the thriving elk population), picnicking, ATV trails and nearly anything else you can think of. The state’s longest zipline is nearby at Sunrise Park Resort along with a mountain coaster, downhill mountain biking and more summer thrills at what’s better known as a winter ski resort.
There is no grocery store in the village of Greer but there are a few restaurants ready to serve visitors and residents, including the Molly Butler Restaurant and Bar, the Rendezvous Diner and the Eidelweiss Resort and Restaurant. But the essence of the valley is found in the Greer Valley Meadow where the east and west forks of the Little Colorado River converge and in the forests of the mountains surrounding it.
