Williamson Lake

Williamson Lake in Chilliwack is one of those short, steep grinds that makes you earn every metre of gain. On paper it’s a 4 km out-and-back with about 531 m of elevation to a high point around 1655 m, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Between the rough access road and the exposed sections, this is a very difficult hike that feels much bigger than the stats suggest.

The trail climbs hard right out of the trees, with a bushy, narrow first kilometre that has you dodging branches and watching your footing. As you gain elevation, views open up to surrounding peaks and you’ll pass wildflowers, a small pond, and finally the clear waters of Williamson Lake tucked below the Cheam range. Many hikers wander around the right side of the lake to a small waterfall, and strong scramblers sometimes push higher toward the saddle between Welsh and Foley for bigger views and more exposure.

Current reports for Williamson Lake say the FSR is rough, deeply rutted, and truly high-clearance 4x4 only; lots of people end up adding 4–6 km of steep road walking because their vehicle can’t reach the trailhead. Expect overgrown sections, deadfall, some very narrow sidehill traverses on loose dirt and rock, and in early season, lingering snow and a semi-frozen lake. There’s hogweed and devil’s club along the trail, active bears in the area, and limited flagging in the lower half, so bring poles, long sleeves, GPS or a map, and a solid head for heights. Best season is late July through September when the snow is gone, flowers are out, and the lake is actually inviting instead of iced over.