Williams Ridge Trail Hike

Williams Ridge Trail is located off Chilliwack Lake Road not far from Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park. This trail is easy for the first 370 meters, but then rises steeply until about the 3 km mark, where there is a junction with a connecting trail to Ford Mountain on the left side, while Williams Ridge Trail (now much easier, though still with an occasional brief steep stretch) carries on for another 3.5 km on the right side, with mountain glimpses here and there, to a knoll with panoramic views of Williams Peak, Chilliwack Lake, and a whole bunch of surrounding mountains.

Thus, it is possible for the hikers with iron legs to do a Ford Mountain - Williams Ridge loop hike, especially if they have a second vehicle for a shuttle run. Ford Mountain Trail access road (4x4 only) is located 4 km closer to Chilliwack than Williams Ridge trailhead. That said, Williams Ridge is quite a challenge to hike up, but also down, with our knees protesting the downhill travel like on few other trails we have hiked, and Ford Mountain is unlikely to be much easier. Thus, iron legs are definitely in order for anyone contemplating to do both trails in one go.

Once you are on that fine knoll with pikas running around and all those good views, Williams Ridge Trail ends, and Williams Peak Route begins. Williams Peak is quite challenging, so plan for at least a 12 hour round trip hike from the Chilliwack Lake Road trailhead, if you want to tackle the peak as well.

* All hiking distances are based on a GPS odometer and are approximate.

31. Williams Ridge Trail at 4.61 km from the trailhead by Chilliwack Lake Road.

Williams Ridge Trail

32-33. The next viewpoint arrives at 5.20 km, and this time we can see the North end (Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park end) of Chilliwack Lake. Plain and zoomed.

34. At 5.41 km of the hike.

Hiking Williams Ridge Trail

35-36. The next viewpoint is at 5.58 km of Williams Ridge Trail. Plain and zoomed.

Williams Ridge Trail View

37. At 5.65 km.

Chilliwack Hiking - Williams Ridge Trail

38-39. At the 5.91 km mark, we get the first view of Williams Peak. Plain and zoomed.

Williams Peak near Chilliwack BC Canada

40. The last fine viewpoint is just 100 meters before the end of the trail. There are a bunch of interesting stones straight ahead...

Williams Ridge Hike near Chilliwack BC

41...and a neat view to the right.

View from Williams Ridge Trail near Chilliwack BC

42. Just past the stones in photo #40, an awesome view of Williams Peak.

Williams Peak British Columbia Canada

43. With a zoom.

Williams Peak British Columbia

44-49. Also just past the stones there is a trail split. To the right is about 70 meters until a knoll with panoramic views of Williams Peak, Chilliwack Lake, and the surrounding mountains. To the left is an unknown trail, but, chances are, it is Williams Peak loop trail. We turned right, reached the knoll, and here are the views left-to-right, followed by a panorama. Coordinates: N 49⁰07.490' W 121⁰31.178'. Elevation: 1,620 meters.

Here is Our Video of the Views From This Location:

50-55. Here are zoomed views of the mountain peaks to the right of Chilliwack Lake.

56. Chilliwack Lake zoomed.

Chilliwack Lake

57. There were also several pikas running around that area.

Pika

Here is Our Video of the Pika (the same or another one):

More ihikebc videos are on our YouTube Channel.

58-59. Finally, if you decide to climb Williams Peak, you would need to descent first, and then start what looks like a very steep climb.

Chilliwack Lake view from Williams Ridge Peak

Williams Ridge Hike near Chilliwack BC Canada

Williams Ridge Trail is very steep at the beginning (and at the end, on the way back), but leads to impressive views. Recommended.