WikiClimateForecast

Williams Lake - city in British Columbia, Canada

Williams Lake is a town of about 11,000 people in the Cariboo region of British Columbia. With many lakes and ranches in the surrounding areas, it offers many possibilities to visitors. It is also the gateway to the Central Coast of British Columbia.

Understand

Tourism Discovery Centre The primary industries in Williams Lake are forestry, logging, sawmilling, mining and ranching.

History

Williams Lake is named in honour of Secwepemc (Shuswap) First Nation chief William, whose counsel prevented the Shuswap from joining the Tsilhqot'in in their uprising against the settler population in 1864.

Indigenous activity in Williams Lake (called T'exelc by local First Nations communities) began as much as 4000 years ago. Europeans came into the region in 1860 during the Cariboo Gold Rush when Gold Commissioner Philip Henry Nind and William Pinchbeck, a constable with the British Columbia Provincial Police, arrived from Victoria to organize a local government and maintain law and order.

At the time, two pack trails led to the goldfields, one from the Douglas Road and the other through the Fraser Canyon. They met at Williams Lake, which made it a good choice for settlers and merchants. By 1861, Commissioner Nind had built a government house and had requested the funds to build a jail. With the centre of local government being at Williams Lake, the miners and businessmen all had to travel there to conduct their business and soon the town had a post office, a courthouse, a roadhouse and the jail that Nind had requested. Meanwhile, William Pinchbeck had not been idle and had built his own roadhouse, saloon and store. Eventually he would own most of the valley.

In 1863, the construction of Cariboo Road was rerouted the original trail so that it bypassed Williams Lake and went through 150 Mile House instead. The by-pass doomed the city: Williams Lake was forgotten and wouldn't be reborn until 1919 with the construction of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, now part of the Canadian National Railway. River Valley Trail In July 2017, the province of British Columbia declared a state of emergency with more than 200 fires burning, mostly in the central region of the province. Residents from Williams Lake and other communities in central British Columbia such as Ashcroft and 100 Mile House were given evacuation orders.

Williams Lake is the hometown of Rick Hansen, a Canadian paraplegic athlete and activist for people with spinal cord injuries, who became well known during his fundraising Man in Motion world tour.

Climate

Williams Lake has a humid continental climate with warm summers. Spring is the driest time of year, and summer and winter are the wettest seasons respectively. Williams Lake receives about 2,000 hours of bright sunshine per year, which is more than most of the province. It is also in the rain shadow of the coastal mountains.

Get in

By car

Highway 97 passes through Williams Lake from Quesnel to Cache Creek. Williams Lake is at the junction of Highway 97 and Highway 20.

By bus

  • Ebus. Operates bus service three days per week per direction between Kamloops and Prince George with stops in Savona, Cache Creek, Clinton, 70 Mile House, 100 Mile House, Lac La Hache, Williams Lake, Quesnel, and Hixon. Travel time to Williams Lake from Kamloops is 3.25 hours, from Cache Creek is 2.5 hours, from 100 Mile House is 1 hour, from Quesnel is 1.25 hours, and from Prince George is 2.75 hours. Same day transfers at Kamloops to and from Vancouver are available. 2023-01-14

By plane

Airport

Williams Lake Regional Airport (IATA: YWL), 3000 Airport Rd (7.8 km northeast of Williams Lake), 52.1866°, -122.0664°, +1 250-989-0158. There are daily flights to Williams Lake from Vancouver (1.25 hours). 2022-04-29

Airlines

Canadian airlines operating to Williams Lake:

Get around

By public transit

By taxi

See

Do

  • Williams Lake Stampede, 800 Mackenzie Ave S, 52.12506°, -122.13320°, +1-250-392-6585. Takes place on the Canada Day (July 1) weekend and attracts top professional cowboys from across Canada and the United States. Events include bull riding, barrel racing, bareback riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping and chuckwagon races. The Williams Lake Stampede plays host to many top cowboys and international rodeo competitors from Canada and the United States, most of which continue on the circuit to the Calgary Stampede, the following weekend. The Stampede festivities also include a parade of floats from local organizations, such as 4-H groups, First Nations bands, community service groups, the stampede royalty and local merchants. There is also a carnival with rides and games located near the stampede grounds. 2023-03-26
  • Scout Island, 1305A Borland Road, 52.12023°, -122.12067°, +1 250-398-8532. A 9.7-ha (23.9-acre) park and nature area. It has of a beach, picnic area, boat launch and several trails through mainly natural environment. Scout Island is actually two islands that are connected to the west end of Williams Lake by a causeway. The Nature House provides a view of the marsh next to the island. It is run by the Williams Lake Field Naturalists and provides information, displays and programs dealing with the local environment. 2.5 km of trails following the marsh edge and lake. Some trails and the Nature House are wheelchair accessible. Dogs must be on leash. 2018-06-02
  • Williams Lake River Valley Trail, 52.13461°, -122.15077°. Lots to see and a good open trail with lots of small bridges that enable the creek crossing as it meanders back and forth down the valley. Access from the parking area at the foot of Comer St and Mackenzie Ave for 12 km each way, or from the Frizzy Road parking lot for only 5 km to Fraser River. 2018-06-02
  • Chances Casino Signal Point, 1640 Broadway Ave S, 52.12266°, -122.10072°, +1 250-398-5554. Su-Th 10:30AM-10:30PM; F Sa 10:30-12:30AM. 2022-07-25

Buy

Eat

Drink

Williams Lake being a small town doesn't have a great nightlife but on the weekend the drinking establishments do pick up. Best plan is to start at Oliver Street Bar and Grill and then move on to the Overlander pub for dancing after 9PM. Looking for a more laid back environment? Oliver Street has more of a sports bar atmosphere. While those looking for a casual evening out could try The Point located above Chances Casino or The Laughing Loon which was featured on HGTV's Timber Kings.

Sleep

Connect

Go next

Williams Lake

williamslake.ca
Postal code:V2GDate Time:Please wait...Timezone:America/VancouverPopulation:10,753Coordinates:52.14, -122.14

Cariboo Regional District

2nd-order administrative division

British Columbia

Primary administrative division

Canada

canada.ca
Population:37.1 MDial code:+1Currency:Dollar (CAD)Voltage:120 V, 240 V, 60 Hz
NEMA 14-30NEMA 14-50