Hiking Williams Peak
near Chilliwack
Contents
Williams Peak Hike Information
Difficulty: Very Difficult
Distance: 17Km
Elevation Gain: 1,725m
Highest Elevation: 2,123m
Average Gradient: 20.29%
Effort/Reward Ratio: Very High / Very High
Time Needed:
– Slow: 10 – 13 Hours
– Moderate: 8 – 10 Hours
– Fast: 6 – 8 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: Yes
Season: Year-Round
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Williams Peak Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°06’07.6″N 121°32’53.9″W
Williams Peak Overview
Williams Peak is an eye-catching mountain in the Chilliwack River Valley, known for its pointed summit that can be seen throughout Chilliwack Lake Provincial Park.
A hike to Williams Peak is a strenuous affair with a significant elevation gain over a short distance. It’s well regarded as one of the physically toughest hikes in the Chilliwack River Valley due to a few factors. Obviously the stats speak for themselves and this is a big hike no matter how you look at it. A large portion of the hike is also exposed to the sun with zero shade, and combined with the fact you can only really hike Williams Peak in summer, temperatures are often high when people choose to hike it. Next, there is little to no water anywhere along the trail, so hikers are advised to bring at least 3 – 4L of water to ensure they have enough to make it back, so a heavy pack is a given. Finally, while the trail up to and along the ridge is easy to navigate, once in the boulder field many hikers veer off course and end up wasting time and energy, often in the searing heat. All in all, Williams Peak should not be underestimated, but with the right preparation and timing there’s no reason Williams Peak should be any different to any other challenging hike.
Due to the steep terrain to the summit of Williams Peak this is really a summer only hike, and even then you’ll likely want to time it so the snow has fully melted out of the gully up to the peak. This usually means a shorter window, perhaps mid-July to mid-October depending on the season.
Thankfully Williams Peak benefits from its excellent accessibility, any car can reach the trailhead off of Chilliwack Lake Road. Off-road vehicles can also optionally drive up the Ford Mountain FSR to the very end, which reduces the elevation gain of this hike by around 700m. That being said there is no official trail from the end of Ford Mountain FSR, with hikers instead having to bushwhack and self-navigate to the ridge where they can join up with the official trail.
Camping is also a possibility on Williams ridge, just before the drop down into the boulder field, however water sources will be nonexistent so this might not be very feasible for most parties looking to summit. The views from the camp spot would still be excellent though. Williams Peak is pet friendly, though there is extensive travel along a boulder field, which most dogs likely won’t be fond of.
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Is Williams Peak worthwhile?
Williams Peak is a grueling hike that lives up to its reputation, but with some preparation and good timing, many of the limiting factors can be avoided. The views from the boulder field and the summit are exceptional and a lot of the hike is actually quite fun. This is absolutely worth the effort and is not doubt up there with many of the other incredible hikes in the Chilliwack River Valley.
How difficult is the hike to Williams Peak?
A 20.29% average gradient is steep for any hike, but that doesn’t even tell the full story of how challenging Williams Peak is. The first 3km of the hike climbs 900m to the ridge for an average gradient of 30%. That’s essentially a Grouse Grind just to get up to the ridge. The final 1km climbs another 400m for a 40% average gradient. So a full 1,300m of the gain on this hike comes over just 4km. The remaining hike is mostly a mellow plod along a ridge and a significant amount of boulder hopping. The hardest part of the hike for many is simply descending back down the ridge to the trailhead, which will no doubt leave your legs sore for days afterwards.
Technically this hike has some challenges as well. The trail to the boulder field is simple to navigate. After a short, steep drop to the boulder field, hikers will need to navigate through it without any trail of note to follow. An offline map will be essential here. There will be a steep, slippery ramp to climb up that will require the use of hands for balance, before the final climb up a very steep heather gully to the summit. Over the years steps have been kicked into this heather gully that has significantly aided in climbing it. In dry conditions it’s quite straightforward, albeit very steep. It’s mostly hiking with the occasional use of hands for balance, and the exposure is really just a very steep heather gully. You’d very likely stop quite quickly if you fell, so I would be hard pressed to say there is much exposure, but if you are particularly nervous with heights you may be challenged on the final ascent. This is the section you want to avoid having any snow in as if the gully is snow filled it will be significantly riskier and will absolutely require crampons and an ice axe.
Williams Peak Route Information
The trailhead for Williams Peak is off a small pull out from Chilliwack Lake Road (see coordinates). Any car can reach this just fine. The alternative route from Ford Mountain FSR involves driving up the FSR to the very end at around 1,150m. From here hikers will need to self-navigate (bushwhack) up and across to the official trail. This FSR likely requires a 4×4, though conditions of course change. This route is also popular since it reduces elevation gain by around 700m, though in terms of time it might be quite similar due to the slower bushwhacking travel to the ridge.
Assuming you’re starting from the official trailhead off Chilliwack Lake Road, the hike will begin by following an obvious trail through an opening in the forest with some dense foliage at the base of the ridge climb. Once you enter the forest the ridge climb begins and doesn’t cease until you’ve made it all the way up. There’s not a lot to note about this section of the hike other than to get it out of the way as fast as possible to enable a slower, more meaningful pace once you reach the technical section of the hike.
The first few hundred of elevation gain will be through some dense forest on rugged terrain. After this the forest thins out and actually becomes a lot more scenic and a little more mellow. Still, the climb is relentless and there’s not a lot to enjoy about it, so don’t dilly dally too much. Eventually you’ll reach the top and gain the ridge where you will note a trail going both left and right along the ridge. Left will go to Ford Mountain, so you’ll want to go right towards Williams Peak.
You very well might want a break once you gain the ridge but I wouldn’t take too long as the key to the day is avoiding the heat in the boulder field, so the sooner you get there the better. The trail along the ridge is again easy to follow. The gradient eases off entirely and now becomes a very mellow ridge walk. You’re still in the forest for now so there’s still not a lot to see, but you do get a very nice viewpoint looking out towards Mount Slesse & Rexford at around the 1,420m elevation mark.
Continuing along the ridge it remains fairly straightforward and easy to navigate, though there are quite a few ups and downs along the way. The trail may be overgrown in spots but it shouldn’t be too challenging to navigate even without markers. At around the 1,500m mark you’ll break out of the forest and into some scenic meadows. Behind you will be a nice view of Welch and Foley Peak as you continue to climb.
Shortly ahead, at around 1,670m elevation, you will reach the notch above the boulder field that you’ll have to drop into and the imposing Williams Peak will be in full view. This is where some people choose to camp as the views of Chilliwack Lake open up here and it’s a great vantage point before the boulders. The trail here splits and you will want to make sure you do not begin hiking up Williams Ridge, which is very easy to do if you don’t pay attention. Instead, you will want to head towards the enormous boulder field and drop down into it via a heather/dirt slope. This can be a bit slippery at times but if you take your time it’s fine.
After dropping into the boulder field it’s time to really pay attention to navigation as this is where people often go wrong. They end up descending into the boulder field unnecessarily and have to reclimb out of it looking for the correct route. There is no trail to follow here as it’s all boulders, but the key is do not descend into the boulder field. As soon as you have reached the boulders below the notch you want to maintain your elevation and traverse across the boulder field in an arc. If in doubt look at your map and make sure you’re on course, if you’re not then make the necessary corrections to get back on route.
The route through the boulder field is actually quite well marked with cairns if you are on the right path. Every time you reach one cairn, look up for the next one and work over towards that. Continue repeating this process through the boulder field, and if you can’t see a cairn just look at your map for general direction. While the boulder field looks huge it’s actually only 1km or so to traverse across it, and it shouldn’t take all that long if you go the right way.
As you reach the other end of the boulder field you should notice a steep ramp up with obvious tracks of people who have climbed before you. This climb will be a combination of smaller rocks and dirt and it can be quite slippery. You’ll likely need to use your hands for balance as you work up around 100 vertical meters. At the top of this ramp you’ll work your way around to the south face of Williams Peak.
Once on the south face you’ll now find yourself in a heather gully looking up towards the summit. The heather slope is steep, probably touching on a 50% gradient at times, but there is a literal staircase of tracks in the heather, with huge placements for your feet, making the whole climb technically very simple. Most of the final accent is simple, albeit steep, hiking. At times you will want to use your hands for balance as the heather can be slippery in spots, but really it’s quite straightforward and a push to even call it much of a scramble. While a fall obviously wouldn’t be great, I’m fairly confident you’d stop fairly soon even if you slipped.
This heather slope is around 100 vertical meters, just take your time and focus on getting good placements for your feet (and hands) where needed. I found keeping climbers right in the gully to be the easiest but there’s a number of options to pick from.
Soon enough you’ll reach the summit of Williams Peak where the views will now be 360 degrees. You’ll have stunning views of Chilliwack Lake, Goetz Peak, Mount Northgraves, Welch and Foley Peak, Mount Webb & MacDonald, Mount Slesse, Mount Rexford, Goat Mountain, Mount Pierce and countless more on the horizon. The summit is quite spacious with plenty of great spots to get a summit selfie.
After recovering from your ascent you retrace your steps back down the heather gully (taking your time as descending it can be just as slow as ascending), before returning back along the boulder field and regaining the notch. Following the ridge from here is quick and easy, but the descent down from the ridge to the trailhead can be extremely tiring on the legs, particularly the quads and knees. I’ve no doubt your legs will be sore for a few days after Williams Peak.
When should I hike Williams Peak?
Williams Peak is a summer only hike and should be timed for snow free conditions. Snow in the heather gully, or even dropping down from the notch into the boulder field, could very well stop you dead in your tracks. With that said, mid-July to mid-October is usually your best bet. I would also want to avoid damp conditions as the boulders and heather gully could be very slippery with moisture around.
Top Tip
Begin your hike as early as possible, preferably at sunrise (or prior). Some people take 12+ hours for Williams Peak and suffer greatly once they reach the boulder field, only to spend hours in the full afternoon sun. Obviously take plenty of sun protection.
Take plenty of water, at least 3L but likely more, particularly if you expect to be a slower party. There is no water anywhere along the trail.
Once you reach the boulder field make sure to check your map to ensure you remain on course. Do not get sucked down into the boulder field only to find yourself climbing back out of it.
