 Williams
Lake
The Stampede City
Home to the famous Williams
Lake Stampede, this former "cowtown"has grown into a vibrant city
that offers a comfortable blend of urban living and easy going western charm.
Situated in the center
of this vast region, Williams Lake has earned it's nickname "The
Hub of the Cariboo". Bringing thousands of travellers north and south
each year, Highway 97 is interior BC's major route for tourism and commerce.Highway
20 travels three hundred miles west from Williams Lake, through BC's 'last
frontier', the sprawling ranch land and forests of the Chilcotin, then
makes a breathtaking descent to the BellaCoola Valley and the Pacific
Ocean.
 An
few miles south of Williams Lake is 150 Mile House, the turnoff to the
historic communities of Likely and Horsefly. Follow the original Gold
Rush Trail into the foothills of the Cariboo mountians. There you will
enjoy some of the regions finest fishing and
Population:
10,500 city and 19,720 surroundingregion. Total service area of 30,220.
Main
Industries: Forestry, agriculture, mining; tourism, transportation,
government offices.
Elevation:
599 metres (1,965 ft.)
Climate:
July avg. temp is 22 C. (71F). January avg. temp is -10 C (14 F)
Rainfall:
40 cm/yr (15.75") Snowfall: 145 cm/yr (57")
Frost Free Days: 120
Growing
Season:
Late May to late September
Access:
Located 25 km (16 mi) north of 150 Mile House on Hwy 97. 540 km (348 mi)
north of Vancouver. 238 km (148 mi) south of Prince George. The major
north-south route is Highway 97. Highway 20 connects with Bella Coola
on the coast.
 Williams
Lake is readily accessible by road, rail and air. Passenger service is
available on both BC Rail and Greyhound Bus Lines.The airport is located
13 kilometers north of the city. Scheduled airlines include Air BC to
Vancouver and Aviair which services Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton. Charter
Services are available from: Canadian Helicopters Ltd.; Sharp Wings Ltd.;
Northern Mountain Helicopters; Lawrence Aviation; Highland Helicopters
Ltd.
Annual
Events: Williams Lake Stampede & Parade (First weekend
in July); Cariboo Fall Fair (late Aug); 4H Show & Sale (Aug); Oktoberfest;
Medieval Market (Nov); Home Show (Mar); Indoor Rodeo (Apr); High School
Rodeo (May);
Recreation
Facilities: Golf courses, swimming pool, tennis, Mini-Golf,
curling & skating arenas, parks, hiking trails,auto racing oval, bowling
alley, playing fields.
Local
Attractions:
Museum of the CaribooChilcotin; Station House Gift Shop & Gallery;
Scout Island Nature Centre; Williams Lake River Valley Trails.
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