Trail Conditions 06/22/23 : Trail Cleared of down trees
Please share any trail updates in the Comment section below
Length: 2.5-miles (one-way)
Trailhead Facilities: Campground facilities
Short Trail Summary: This hike description is to junction with the Continental Divide Trail No. 813.
To reach the Williams Lake Fork Trail hikers must first reach the junction of the trail located approximately 7.4-miles up the Williams Creek Trail No. 587. Turning northeast at the junction, the trail meanders to the east climbing steep switchbacks before crossing the outflow of the lake and winding north to the 11,695-foot basin of the Williams Lakes. Another .7-miles to the Continental Divide Trail No. 813.
Directions: Drive North on Piedra Road (CR 600/FS 631) 22-miles to the intersection with the FS 640 (Williams Creek Road). Turn north and drive an additional 4.9-miles to the trailhead located at the end of the road and next to the Palisades Horse Campground.
July 29, 2020: We rode our 2 horses all the way from the Williams Creek trailhead (by Palisades Campground) all the way to the Lake Fork, and from there all the way up to Williams Lake… and then all of the way back down.
The trail is open and the first part is as described under the Williams Creek Trail section. Very beautiful and with nice vistas of the gorge. Further on we saw several marmots, and a single cow moose browsing in bog pond below.
The way is clear of fallen trees going all the way up the Lake Fork, but the trail itself is very rocky and deteriorated in places, and not well marked. Some forest service signs either completely missing or vandalized. Once you get closer to Williams Lake itself there are considerable willow thickets to push through, especially on horseback. There are two approaches to the Lake, depending on which trail fork you take. The left fork is very rocky with many loose rocks, and is steep… but is the most direct way to the few campsites up top and near the shore. The right fork looks to be an older established trail that veers to the east, then circles around the far side of the lake itself, allowing some cut-paths down to the shore. We followed this route as it is more open, somewhat level, less rocky, and not too wet. Although longer it seems to go faster and more easily traversed by both hikers and riders alike. The Continental Divide also looms above if you decide to hike northward from the lake in that direction.
Take your time doing this trail. Stop often. Drink lots of water. Take rests. Don’t rush. We went about 20+ miles roundtrip in about 7.5 hours on horseback. Only saw a pair of campers beyond the gorge viewpoints, no one else. A path not often taken, it seems.
Happy Trails!
TD
Tucson, AZ.
Thank you Southwest Conservation Corps for your work clearing the trail! Much appreciated!
We hiked and camped on the Williams Lake Fork Trail on June 26 to June 28. The trail is clear of snow and fallen trees for its entire length to the Continental Divide Trail. The trail is somewhat difficult to follow through the swampy area South of Williams Lake due to vegetation growth.