Leafy area featuring a lake stocked with fish, plus a playground, horseshoe pits & charcoal BBQs.
Cataract Lake County Park is a quiet, locals-loved stop just outside downtown Williams — the kind of place you pull off for twenty minutes and end up staying an hour. A small lake stocked with fish sits backed by a ponderosa pine forest, with a paved walking path circling the water, a playground, horseshoe pits, and charcoal grills scattered under the trees. It's run by Coconino County and stays open around the clock, so there's no gate schedule to plan around.
Reviewers consistently point to the same things: a well-kept playground for kids, a boat/kayak launch, shaded picnic pavilions, clean restrooms, and plenty of parking even on weekdays. Locals walk dogs along the lakeside path, and the ponderosa backdrop makes it a nice photo stop, especially under overcast skies when the water and trees stand out. Rating: 4.6 stars from 57 Google reviews.
It's not a destination unto itself, but as a break for kids to burn off energy or a shaded picnic stop on the way to or from Williams, it earns its reputation as a well-kept neighborhood park.
58 reviews
4 years ago
Great county park near the just before the golf course. Has walking paths and many locals take their dogs for walks here. It has a launch area for boats or kayaks. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables and playground for kids. Restrooms available and also plenty of parking. The maintenance is kept neat on this park.
6 years ago
Nice little park by a lake with a small playground, walking path, 2 pavilions, and boat launch. It's a little out of the way, but not very far from downtown Williams, and was a great place for our kiddo to let off steam. Loved the "spinny thing" and the "spider web". This park has restrooms, as well, which is a plus. Nice place to relax for a bit while kids play.
8 months ago
Great place for family fun with playground and walking trails next to a lake.
a year ago
Super clean, beautiful view, as soon as I pull in to read the billboard for the rules and regulations, I was quickly approached by the (host), The first words were (daily use is free if you’re gonna go fishing, there is a fee, I said OK I am just looking around for a future trip and then she said (there is an employee from AzGf,)??down there and pointed )??? i’m like OK I’m not doing nothing wrong, And then she said I’m just telling you to me she made it seem like I was gonna do some damage or break the rules, I get it the locals clearly messed that up for everyone, but there’s no reason to approach someone in that kind of manner , assuming the worst,maybe because there was somewhat of a little bit of a language barrier, But yes, very nice place
4 years ago
Very beautiful stop off on the way to Flagstaff from the west. Went through during the week and parking was ample. A large amazing lake with ducks and geese not to mention the stunningly lovely ponderosa forest in the back drop. Catch it on an overcast day....what a view! Restrooms clean and a playground for kids. Really great park to stop and see.