Scout Island Park

Scout Island Park in Williams Lake, Central Cariboo-Chilcotin Region, British Columbia, Canada is an interpretive nature centre situated on two islands with a community beach park and a hiking trail located on the west end of Williams Lake. The park is connected to the community of Williams Lake by a paved road bridge surrounded by low lying wetlands covered in tall grass, water reeds and lilies.

In total the park covers 9.69 hectares and centres around a Nature House and a small sandy beach. Scout Island Park is a popular location for naturalists, hikers, swimmers, boaters and birdwatchers. Some arrive in the park for sightseeing opportunities while others arrive for activity and some arrive for educational purposes attending a class at the Nature House.

The marsh and wetland park is a mecca for wildlife, especially birds. The setting is ideal for birds because of the marsh environment, the numerous bird houses and the tall perching posts. Some of the birds to look out for include the red-necked grebe, hummingbirds, common loon, wood duck, osprey, yellow headed black bird, flycatchers,, woodpeckers, yellow warbler and blue heron.

Some of the wildlife in the park, not bird like, to keep an eye out for include the river otter, red fox, muskrat, western painted turtles, mink and beaver.

The hiking trail in the park is made of short loop routes exploring the lake shore. The trails, on the right side of the sandy beach, located near the Nature House are more interpretive with many of the shrubs tagged with plant identification signs. The trails on the left side of the sandy beach lead into the trees to a viewpoint overlooking Williams Lake. It is in this section of the park to look up in the trees for birdhouses. How many do you count?

The trail system takes hikers to many different viewing areas. The Bulrush and Butterfly Trails near the Nature House lead hikers through an arboretum and then, eventually, out to Otter Point. The Island and Willow Trail loop together and meet at a wooden footbridge near a beaver dam, only to continue a bit further to an elevated lookout point with viewing benches.

From the main parking lot in the park the small sandy beach area is just a short walk away. It is here at the beach, there is a good section of picnic tables and few sitting benches. If all else fails then there is some grass lawn and sandy beach to spread out on. Onsite is also a boat launch, change rooms and some washrooms.

Explore Scout Island Park in Williams Lake, Central Cariboo-Chilcotin Region, British Columbia, Canada