Williams Lake

The Stampede City — where the Cariboo cowboy spirit runs wild.

Williams Lake is the commercial hub of the Cariboo, a city of 12,000 that serves the vast ranching, logging, and mining country of central BC. Known as the Stampede City, Williams Lake hosts one of the finest rodeos in Canada every July — the Williams Lake Stampede, a three-day celebration of cowboy culture that has been running since 1919 and draws competitors and spectators from across western Canada. The city sits on the edge of a dramatic canyon above Williams Lake, with the Fraser River just to the west and the Cariboo plateau stretching in every direction. The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin preserves the ranching, Indigenous, and pioneer heritage of the region with excellent collections and exhibits. The surrounding country is extraordinary — the Chilcotin plateau to the west is one of the wildest and most beautiful landscapes in BC, with vast grasslands, remote lakes, and the dramatic Chilcotin River canyon. The Cariboo lakes offer world-class rainbow trout fishing, and the area is renowned for its hunting. The Scout Island Nature Centre on Williams Lake is an excellent birdwatching destination, particularly during spring and fall migration.