Named after Chief William, a Secwepemc (shi-huep-muh-k) chief from the area, the city is located at the junction of Highways 97 and 20. The area was a meeting place for the Secwepemc First Nation.  The city hosts the Williams Lake Stampede during the Canada Day long weekend (July 1) and retains a distinctive western-frontier personality. Professional rodeo stars from around the globe compete traditional rodeo and unique home-grown events.

Williams Lake also boasts excellent wildlife-viewing opportunities. Birders make a beeline for Scout Island, a nature sanctuary at the west end of the lake offers good birding. In addition to a beach area, nature house, picnic ground, and boat launch, this nature sanctuary for birds and small wildlife is laced with trails. 

The area is popular for mountain biking and offers the best wilderness biking in British Columbia.