Mackenzie

History

The town of Mackenzie was named after the great Scottish explorer, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who traveled through this area in 1793 on his voyage to discover the Northwest Passage. Sir Alexander drove himself and his men relentlessly by canoe and portage across the uncharted rivers, valleys, and mountains of North America. He was the first explorer to cross the continent, opening it to trade and exploration.

In 1966, the District of Mackenzie was formally incorporated as a municipality. The township is a small, modern community of approximately 5,200 people nestled in the heart of the forest. Mackenzie is the gateway to Williston Lake, which is known as the "Biggest Dammed Lake in North America," created by W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River.

Location

Mackenzie is located on Highway 39, 29 km (18 mi) from Highway 97 North, placed at the base of the beautiful Omineca Mountain Range and positioned within the Rocky Mountain Trench at an elevation of 701 meters. Mackenzie is 185 km (120 mi) north of Prince George.

Places to See

• World’s Largest Tree Crusher
  Mackenzie is renowned for housing the World's Largest Tree Crusher. During the 1960’s, the tree crusher was used to remove non-merchantable timber, from the Rocky Mountain Trench, during the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam. This massive 175-ton machine can be seen today standing at the entrance of Mackenzie to remind people of the town’s logging roots.

• Mackenzie Museum
  Located on Centennial Drive, the Mackenzie Museum is an excellent place to learn more about the history of Mackenzie, such as the construction of Williston Lake. The Mackenzie Arts Centre and Chamber of Commerce are situated in the same building. Visit the Arts Centre for a selection of local handcrafted gifts and souvenirs and the Chamber of Commerce provides visitors with a range of detailed information about places of interest and things to do in around the Mackenzie area.

• Williston Lake
  The nearby Williston Lake is a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts, with an excellent beach for swimming, camping areas, picnic tables and fishing opportunities. There is a boat launch and a natural amphitheatre as well as a monument of Sir Alexander Mackenzie.

• Morfee Lake
  Situated only five minutes from Mackenzie is the scenic Morfee Lake. Morfee Lake is a fabulous place for swimming, boating, waterskiing and fishing, and during the winter month’s ice fishing is popular here.

• Morfee Mountain
  Morfee Mountain, accessible from a gravel road, offers awe-inspiring views of Williston Lake and beyond to the Rocky Mountains in the north. This is a popular place, during the summer months, for local mountain bikers and during the winter months the abundance of powder snow provides excellent conditions for snowmobiling.

• John Dahl Regional Park
  The John Dahl Regional Park offers over 4 km (2.5 mi) of trails ideal for cycling, hiking, jogging and cross-country skiing. This park is situated behind the Mackenzie Recreation Centre; enjoy a picnic lunch at one of the scenic picnic tables overlooking breathtaking mountain vistas and Morfee Lake.

Things To Do

• Fishing
  Mackenzie boasts many lakes, rivers, streams and creeks for anyone looking to relax and catch their limit. One can take advantage of Morfee Lake, a beautiful lake situated right in Mackenzie. Morfee Lake hosts plenty of Rainbow Trout, Grayling and even Char! As far as 76 km (47.5 mi) north along the shores of Williston Lake, one can find fishing at every bend. Lake Trout, Rainbow, White Fish, Kokanee, Arctic Grayling, Brook and Bull Trout, are all along Williston Lake. Make a weekend trip and stay at any one of the numerous wilderness campsites. Take a Jet Boat Tour with a local company and experience BC fishing at its finest; this experienced crew will take you along Williston Lake for Bull Trout, Spring and Coho Salmon, and much more.

• Mackenzie Golf and Country Club
  Enjoy 9 glorious holes of golf on a pristine course; only 5 minutes drive from downtown Mackenzie! Whether you like the challenge of the game or just want to drive a few balls around, the Mackenzie Golf & Country Club has it. The Golf & Country Club is a popular place for wildlife, so have your camera ready. No clubs? No problem! The club will rent you a set of clubs for a round of golf at a reasonable rate. Make a day of it with two rounds and a meal at Mosquito's Bar and Grill.

• Adventure Recreation
  Mackenzie boasts a wide range of adventure and outdoor activities including, hiking, camping, boating, canoeing and wildlife viewing. Visitors are invited to check out all of the surrounding area, visit the Mackenzie Chamber of Commerce for more detailed information. Lookout points are situated all over the Mackenzie area for great opportunities to see a bear, moose, eagle, or anything you can imagine that represents the Great White North. With 4x4 capabilities, one can take a tour up Morfee Mountain and gaze over Williston Lake, Mackenzie town site. The possibilities are endless for the adventurer at heart, whether you've been doing it for years or are a beginner.

• Mackenzie Leisure Services Centre
  Mackenzie has a full-service recreation centre for people of all ages. The weight room has a huge selection of equipment for all levels of activity including treadmills, cross-trainers, weight machines, free weights and much more. The full-size swimming pool is a popular spot for people of all ages. The pool area has a hot tub, sauna and children's pool, as well as a diving board and Tarzan rope! Swimming schedules run from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with convenient times for everyone. After all this exercise, take a break in the Mackenzie Public Library where you can read a book, magazine or even check your e-mail, the friendly staff is there to welcome you. The Leisure Services Centre is also the place to be for hockey, lacrosse, curling, broomball, karate and dancing. The skateboard park directly outside is a wonderful place for rollerblading, BMX's and of course skateboarding; this portable park is converted every winter into an outdoor skating rink.

• Shopping and Dinning
  Mackenzie is a full-service community with amenities to suit any lifestyle. With three shopping malls, one can find just about anything. The Mackenzie Centre Mall has two clothing stores, hairdressers, a drug store, souvenir and gift shop, and a grocery store. Across the street, only a short walk from downtown is the Town Centre Mall with a video store, a Dollar Store, fabric/quilting store, and a Fields Department Store. The Four Seasons Mall is a one-stop shop for flowers, local crafts, and a Sears’s pick-up centre. Mackenzie has a wide array of Chinese, Western, Greek, and Italian cuisine. With six restaurants to choose from, the possibilities are endless for great food.

• Winter Sports
  During the winter months there are many activities for visitors to enjoy such a ice fishing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and nearly 40 km (25 mi) of groomed cross-country ski trails are all available within the town limits. Mackenzie is a popular spot for snowmobiling with many scenic trails through nearby pine forests. Power King Mountain Resort, close to Mackenzie, has excellent downhill ski runs as well as a great beginner ski hill.

Events

For an updated list of community events in Mackenzie please see the Chamber of Commerce website listed below.

Contact Information

Mackenzie Chamber of Commerce
88 Centennial Drive
Mackenzie, BC VOJ 2CD
Fax: 1-250-997-6117
Telephone: 1-250-997-5459
Toll Free: 1-877-622-5360
Email: mackcoc@mackbc.com
Website: http://www.mackenziechamber.bc.ca