Williams Lake Trail #62

July 2019 - the new entrance to the trail is now open!From the hiker parking lot at the trailhead on Kachina Road follow the signs leading to the trail, hiking past the Bavarian Restaurant, Lift 4 and the Phoenix Lodge. Continue to follow the signage uphill to the new re-routed trail which follows Lake Fork Creek. The new route crosses the bottom of the El Funko ski run and merges with the old trail after crossing into the Wheeler Peak Wilderness just beyond the Peace Chute avalanche path.The route begins in Engelmann spruce stands, crosses a series of open avalanche path runouts and near the upper end opens up into meadows and scattered rock fields before reaching a saddle above the lake at the junction with the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail #67.Williams Lake is a natural glacial lake which does not have fish because it freezes during winter. Camping and campfires are not permitted along the lake's shore to prevent damage to soil and water quality, per wilderness area protocol select a campsite at least 300 feet from streams, springs, and lakes. There are some good sites along the forest on the southwest side of the lake, and a primitive trail leading to a waterfall.

During the late 1800's prospectors discovered gold and copper in this area, William Frazer began mining in Twining which produced modest amounts of sulfide ores into the early 1900's. A small mine is found on the east side of the lake, longtime locals say that Frazer worked this mine by hand until the gold was played out. Although there is no documentation of this prospect site, the earliest references to Williams Lake were from this time. There is debate among local historians about whether the lake is named for Frazer, or for Bill Williams who was most likely a fictional character attributed to stories throughout the Rocky Mountains of an early 1800's trapper.