While hiking trails in and around Williams Lake are not numerous, they offer magnificent scenery, and the selection ranges from short easy strolls to strong cardio workouts.
Scout Island and Williams Lake River Valley Trails
Within the city there are two excellent choices: Scout Island Nature Trails which offer short, easy walks through a lakeside park, and the Williams Lake River Valley Trail. The River Valley Trail, which is 12km/7.5m long, meanders along the Williams Lake River to the confluence with the Fraser River. This well-maintained, gentle and scenic valley course is a multi-use trail, great for walking, jogging, hiking, biking, skiing and snowshoeing.
The Fox Mountain Ridge Walk is located on the hillsides overlooking the valley and is also known as the Jimmy Fox Trail. This trail has a bit of everything for a good cardio workout, from steep inclines to gentle slopes.
Bull Mountain and Knife Creek
Bull Mountain cross-country ski trails can be used for hiking during the non-winter months and trails are marked and mapped. Alternately, Minton Cree Interpretive Trail and the Inland Timber Interpretative trail (both on Bull Mountain) offer easy walks and range from 1.3km/0.8mi to 3km/1.8mi in length with interpretive points along the route. These two particular trails are not for bikers. Knife Creek Mule Deer Trail is a short, 1.4km/.8mi interpretative trail located just south of Williams Lake and has a picnic area at the beginning of the trail.
De Sous and Hiking in Likely and Horsefly
De Sous Mountain, South Syde and West Syde all have extensive trails that, though designed for mountain biking, are great hiking trails as well. The more adventuresome can check out the Forest Walk at Bonds Lake, although trails are unmarked so it's best to go with a local or take very specific directions and carry a compass or GPS. As well, wild animals live here, so be on guard and exercise caution. There are also a number of interesting hiking trails in the Likely and Horsefly areas north east of Williams Lake. Of particular note is the Shelterwood Silviculture Trail, which has a Douglas Fir regeneration forest and where five plots demonstrate different forestry practices.
For maps and directions to all the hiking trails, drop in at the Tourism Discovery Centre/ Visitor Centre.