Hiking
Hiking is a great way to get in touch with nature and to stay active. It’s also a good way to enjoy the beautiful sights that our area has to offer. Hikers that wish to explore can find many trails of varying lengths, with some as short as 10 minutes, and others as long as 3 hours. Regardless of how long you want your hike to be though, it is important to be prepared for your excursion.
The folks at TrailForks.com have built a fully interactive trail map of the area. Be sure to check out thier site and download some maps before heading out.
Leave the road, take the trails.
Explore
Browse
Hiking and Walking in Williams Lake & Area
More information about hiking and walking in the area and along Highway 20.
Close to town
Rating: Easy
This undeveloped trail system travels around a few small ponds south of town. The trail is little more than a cattle trail but is filled with natural beauty.
HOW TO GET THERE: Drive south to 150 Mile House, just past the village look for the pull-off on your right. Drive through the wire gate, and follow the wagon trail into the hiking area. Remember to close the gate to keep all the cows inside the fields.
Rating: Easy/Moderate
A scenic walk in the forest near Bonds Lake.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Highway 20 west to Dog Creek Road, turn left and follow to Bond Lake Road (across from Mountview Elementary School). The trailhead is located just after the Rod and Gun Club. It is a small pull out to the left hand side (park in front of the gate). You will see the lake to the left but beware of the gravel pit to your right where vehicles may be working.
There are several shorter trails on Scout Island, where you can see many different kinds of birds and other wildlife. This is a perfect place to explore if you are looking to fill an afternoon.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take a left at the main intersection onto Highway 20, and then another left at the lights at Mackenzie Ave. Follow Mackenzie Ave. until you get to Borland Road. Scout Island is the first right off of Borland.
Rating: Moderate
This trail has a little bit of everything, from steep inclines to gentle slopes. When using this trail please respect the private land boundaries, and watch for mountain bikers, as this is a popular bike trail
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Highway 97 North to Fox Mountain Road, drive 2km to Mason Road (not signed) and turn right. Park where the road widens, the trail begins just east of the rail fence.
Rating: Easy/Moderate
In the non-winter months this makes a great hiking spot. This wooded area has many trails that are marked and mapped, so there is something for everyone.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Highway 97 North, about 16km from Williams Lake and turn left on Bull Mountain Road. As you drive up the hill park in the parking area to the right.
Rating: Easy/Moderate
This 1.3km walk is also on Bull Mountain. The trail has thirteen different points of interest, but is not open to bikes.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Highway 97 North and turn left on Bull Mountain Road. There is a parking area to the right.
Rating: Easy/Moderate
This 3km walk is also an interpretative walk with thirteen points of interest located on Bull Mountain Road. Once again please refrain from bike use.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Highway 97 north and turn left on Bull Mountain Road. As you drive up the hill look for the first Forestry Access Road to your right, this is the trailhead.
Rating: Easy/Moderate
A short 1.4 km interpretative trail located south of Williams Lake. Along this trail there are signs for your enjoyment and at the trailhead is a picnic site.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Highway 97 south to Rodeo Drive and turn left. At the intersection of Rodeo Drive and a smaller unnamed access road you will see the picnic table and an outhouse.
Around Horsefly
This trail is approx. 1km to the top of the bluff where you will get a great view of Horsefly Lake.
HOW TO GET THERE: Go to Horsefly Lake provincial park and the trail starts at the public beach parking lot.
The trail is an easy 0.5km (0.3mile) hike from the road through a mixed forest to the Shore of Abbott Lake.
HOW TO GET THERE: Abbot Lake Trail about 7km west of the village of Horsefly on the north side of Horsefly Road. The trailhead is located off the access road found to the west of the lake.
The bowl is home to two scenic lakes and is quite interesting to visit, as there are remnants of an old mining camp and mining shafts to explore. The 14.5km one way trek to the Eureka Bowl gains 152 m (499 ft) in elevation and is easy to moderate in difficulty.
HOW TO GET THERE: Take the Black Creek Road from Horsefly, turn onto McKay River Road (6300 Road), follow to the trailhead.
The moderate trail continues by skirting around the summit and opens up fantastic views along the way.
HOW TO GET THERE: Look for the road off Horsefly Lake Road, called Lemon Lake Road, follow that approx. 2 km, shortly after the bridge turn right onto the 8500 Forest Road. The road is rough, 4WD and high clearance is recommended.
Wonderful views of Horsefly and Quesnel Lake on a maintained trail.
HOW TO GET THERE: Follow Horsefly Lake Road to the Provincial Park, between 122 and 123 boards take the road to the right. Travel approx. 2 km turn on Viewland Road, the trail head is marked. The trail goes to the top of Viewland Mountain and takes approximately 60 to 90 min. Hike is uphill, wear good shoes and pack water as view is amazing!
Rating: Moderate
A 5km or 88m elevation routes and 2-4 km at 550 elevation routes
HOW TO GET THERE: Off Blackcreek road turn onto 100 road then onto Bowldery creek road. A four wheel drive vehicle is needed to access this trail system
Around Likely
This is an excellent trail leading to the cliffs above the North Arm of Quesnel Lake. The trail is approximately 5km one way, at the end of the trail is a beautiful lookout that sits above the surrounding area.
HOW TO GET THERE:
From Likely take the Keithly Creek Rd up to the Barkerville turnoff (20km). Turn right and cross the bridge then turn left at the 8400 Rd, follow for 50km until Maeford Lake. Trail head is only 7km further and to your right.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE:
Likely is the last stop for food and gas.
This trail winds to Benny Lake, once there you can explore the trails linking Feshette and Annette lakes.
HOW TO GET THERE: From Likely, take the Rossette Lake Road to Spanish Lake Road, the trailhead is off of Spanish lake road.
At the summit, there are excellent views of the surrounding mountains as well as a small lake to the southeast near Badger Peak. The trek from the road (depending on where you park) is at least 4 km (2.5miles) in length and travels over difficult and remote terrain
HOW TO GET THERE: From the town of Likely, follow the Keithly Creek Road to the Cariboo Lake FSR (6400 Road). Once on the Cariboo Lake FSR look for the Browntop Mountain Trail Sign. The road to the trail is quite grown in.
Along Highway 20
- Take Highway 20 towards Riske Creek
- After 48 km, look for the Historic Chilcotin Lodge on your right-hand side.
- The 1st road on your right-hand side is Stack Valley Road.
- Turn onto Stack Valley Road and follow this road for approximately 13 km
- Then take a left on Badger Road (Unmarked)
- After 3 km you will come to a Y in the road, keep right
- After 1 km you come to another Y, keep right
NOTES: This trail is in a military reserve; therefore, be respectful of their space.
This is a moderate 5km hike that should take approx. 1.5 hours with a max elevation gain of 325m.
- Take Highway 20 towards Riske Creek
- Turn left onto Farwell Canyon
Road off Highway 20 - Travel 23 km down this gravel road
On your right-hand side you will see a black and red sign by a big monument rock. This is where you can pull off the gravel road and park your vehicle.
You should then see a walking/hiking trail on the right-hand side.
Follow that trail until you reach the sand dunes.
NOTES: Farwell Canyon is home to many California Bighorn Sheep and the sand dunes that are one of Canada’s largest.
- Take Highway 20 towards West from Williams Lake
- After 2.5 kilometres from the Fraser river bridge turn left onto Moon Road.
- Shortly after turning onto Moon road you will hit a cattle guard. Continue 3.1 km and pass a second cattle guard.
- After the second cattle guard, take your next left to the parking lot.
A short path leads to the trailhead at the far end of the parking lot.
NOTES: This trail loops around in a 2km roundtrip.
It leads to a great view of Fraser River, and a neat (if dangerous) small cave.