Route Editor
Route Scout
 This trail provides visitors a pleasant route for a stroll around the lake. Another purpose for the trail is to prevent trampling damage to the immediate lake shore. The trail is maintained by the Williams Rotary Club. Layout The trail follows an old road on the south shore, then goes around a cove, back through the fence and across the west end of the lake. Length 1.8 miles Hiking Time 0.5 hour Rating Easy. Trail is fairly flat. Location Trailhead at 7100 feet. Trail starts just west of the picnic area at Dogtown Lake. Recommended Early spring to early winter. Restrictions No motorized vehicles. Horses are not permitted in Dogtown Campground. USGS Map Bill Williams Mountain Check out the Official Route and Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Dogtown Lake Trail
After bagging Bill I decided to stroll around the lake. Despite the map calling it a reservoir, the FS and all signs call it a lake.
Technically the trail follows an old road in the woods on the south side of the lake before crossing Dogtown Wash and swinging around to the north side. I hiked on the very well worn use trail along the shore instead. The roadbed has no view of the lake, so what's the point?
I was surprised by the length you had to go up Dogtown Wash to cross over.
On the north side, you will find a very well worn use trail along the shore, but here you can opt for the actual trail which sits just a few feet higher up and is well cairned despite clearly receiving a tiny fraction of the foot traffic. The FS description says the trail is intended to minimize impact to the shoreline. That seems a bit ill-conceived for a small fishing lake that is stocked and has picnic tables and benches along the shore!
In any case, I found it to be a reasonably nice stroll. There are no maps or trail signs anywhere around the campground or lake parking areas indicating the trail exists.
Technically the trail follows an old road in the woods on the south side of the lake before crossing Dogtown Wash and swinging around to the north side. I hiked on the very well worn use trail along the shore instead. The roadbed has no view of the lake, so what's the point?
I was surprised by the length you had to go up Dogtown Wash to cross over.
On the north side, you will find a very well worn use trail along the shore, but here you can opt for the actual trail which sits just a few feet higher up and is well cairned despite clearly receiving a tiny fraction of the foot traffic. The FS description says the trail is intended to minimize impact to the shoreline. That seems a bit ill-conceived for a small fishing lake that is stocked and has picnic tables and benches along the shore!
In any case, I found it to be a reasonably nice stroll. There are no maps or trail signs anywhere around the campground or lake parking areas indicating the trail exists.
2017-08-13 chumley
Dogtown Lake Trail
Summer HAZFest 2017
Better Late than Never I guess... 
I did 9 Hikes on this Trip, but I decided to just do the one Photoset with the Camping, Driving and Highlights from 8 Short Hikes and a longer one, that turned just a Tad Epic in the last 4 Miles... I went up on Thursday, and hit a couple of Areas in Flag before getting to Camp after Dark.... I headed for the Barn on Sunday, although from Camp, I think it took me about 3 1/2 Hours to get to Flag because of some pretty Sweet Storm and Sunset Action along the Way....
Chumley always puts on a Great Event and his Attention to Detail is Unrivaled. Nonot's Fires with Chumley's Wood Contributions did not Disappoint. It was Great to see Old Friends again and Meet some of the Newer HAZ Faces out there... Thanks for Organizing this Todd...
Awesome Weekend with Good People and Sweet Hikes and some Amazing Wildlife along the Way... What did the Fox say? "Na Na, Nana Na! You didn't get a Photo of me!"](./dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
I did 9 Hikes on this Trip, but I decided to just do the one Photoset with the Camping, Driving and Highlights from 8 Short Hikes and a longer one, that turned just a Tad Epic in the last 4 Miles... I went up on Thursday, and hit a couple of Areas in Flag before getting to Camp after Dark.... I headed for the Barn on Sunday, although from Camp, I think it took me about 3 1/2 Hours to get to Flag because of some pretty Sweet Storm and Sunset Action along the Way....
Chumley always puts on a Great Event and his Attention to Detail is Unrivaled. Nonot's Fires with Chumley's Wood Contributions did not Disappoint. It was Great to see Old Friends again and Meet some of the Newer HAZ Faces out there... Thanks for Organizing this Todd...
Awesome Weekend with Good People and Sweet Hikes and some Amazing Wildlife along the Way... What did the Fox say? "Na Na, Nana Na! You didn't get a Photo of me!"
2017-08-10 outdoor_lover
Dogtown Lake Trail
This wasn't really a hike, but I did make a couple of loops of Dogtown Lake in my brand new Necky Eliza touring kayak! The wind came up but that wasn't much of a problem. The boat handles very well. I stopped to adjust the foot pegs which control the rudder, and also the seat back. The boat is designed specifically for women. Once I had adjusted the fit then it was like I was "wearing the boat," similar to how you'd fit a whitewater boat.
I saw a bald eagle, an osprey with a fish in its talons, some ducks, some cormorants and a lot of fisherpeople. The lake has more water in it than it did this time last year, but it's not completely full. On the drive out I passed Bearizona, so I walked over and took a photo of the bison.
Specs on the boat if you're interested: Necky Eliza, 15'3", 49 pounds, polyethylene, with rudder & two watertight hatches. Enough room in hatches and on deck for a two-week trip if you pack light. (I use my backpacking gear.) I'll be doing a two week trip in it, in November. Hoover Dam to Mexico, or thereabouts.
I saw a bald eagle, an osprey with a fish in its talons, some ducks, some cormorants and a lot of fisherpeople. The lake has more water in it than it did this time last year, but it's not completely full. On the drive out I passed Bearizona, so I walked over and took a photo of the bison.
Specs on the boat if you're interested: Necky Eliza, 15'3", 49 pounds, polyethylene, with rudder & two watertight hatches. Enough room in hatches and on deck for a two-week trip if you pack light. (I use my backpacking gear.) I'll be doing a two week trip in it, in November. Hoover Dam to Mexico, or thereabouts.
2016-07-17 azbackpackr
Dogtown Lake Trail
Dogtown Lake Paddling
It was a work day--I was on call. I had about 4 hours to kill, and my kayak was already on top of my car, so I headed for this nearby lake to paddle. I had to paddle up and down the lake twice to get even two miles!
This is the interesting part: When I got to the far end I noticed a couple of big white dogs there, which seemed unattended. Then I noticed another one, and another. Then, suddenly, from up around a bend in the creekbed came a big flock of sheep! Must have been at least a couple hundred of them! All told I saw 5 of those big white dogs, and two border collies. On my second pass down the lake I finally did see the shepherd (sheep herder person) as well, sitting under a tree. I saw lots of osprey and ducks as well.
If you look at my GPS route it looks like I started IN the lake. But of course, I didn't. The lake is pretty low.
I kind of like this area. The campground is very nice. I think I will bring my RV over there on a couple of my days off.
Wildflowers
Yellow flowers lined the shore.
This is the interesting part: When I got to the far end I noticed a couple of big white dogs there, which seemed unattended. Then I noticed another one, and another. Then, suddenly, from up around a bend in the creekbed came a big flock of sheep! Must have been at least a couple hundred of them! All told I saw 5 of those big white dogs, and two border collies. On my second pass down the lake I finally did see the shepherd (sheep herder person) as well, sitting under a tree. I saw lots of osprey and ducks as well.
If you look at my GPS route it looks like I started IN the lake. But of course, I didn't. The lake is pretty low.
I kind of like this area. The campground is very nice. I think I will bring my RV over there on a couple of my days off.
Wildflowers
Yellow flowers lined the shore.
2014-07-25 azbackpackr
