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.
A
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 camping.
| Accommodation/Adventure
Providers |
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. (71.6 F).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.
Accommodations:
Williams Lake offers a variety of hotels, motels, and bed
& breakfasts.
