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Mackenzie
Mackenzie is located 185 km (115 miles) north of Prince
George and 179 km (112 miles) south of Chetwynd
on Hwy 39.
Hwy
97 North
If you are coming from Prince George,
take Hwy 97 north for 157 km (98 miles), then look for the Hwy 39
junction north of McLeod Lake. You have to travel this highway for
29 km (18 miles) before you reach Mackenzie.
Sir
Alexander Mackenzie
Mackenzie is named after the legendary Scottish explorer, Sir Alexander
Mackenzie, who explored the region searching for the Northwest Passage
in 1793.
Williston
Lake
Mackenzie is situated on the shores of Williston Lake, a man-made
lake that was formed by the electric utility, BC Hydro, during the
1960's. With approximately 1,200 km (750 miles) of shoreline, Williston
Lake is North America's 2nd largest reservoir.
Mackenzie's
economy
Mackenzie's economy is based on the forest industry. Several sawmills
operate in the area utilizing the major stands of timber located
on the shores of Williston Lake.
Attractions
Make sure you check out the 'World's Largest Tree Crusher,'
a 178-ton relic located in town. There is also a museum that contains
a display of wildlife that inhabits the forests in the area.
Bijoux
Falls Provincial Park
To see an outdoor attraction, make a trip to Bijoux Falls, a provincial
park located on Hwy 97 towards the Pine Pass. Here you can witness
a 40 m (131 foot) high waterfall, plus view a large population of
Stellar Jays, British Columbia's official bird.
Events
and Festivals
If you enjoy fishing, try your luck at the annual fishing derby
held on Williston Lake every June. For music lovers, check out the
Bluegrass Festival that happens in each year in August. In February,
the Cabin Fever Winter Carnival will cheer you up with lots of friendly
events for the whole family. Make sure you enter the polar bear
swim!
Boating
and Fishing
The boating and fishing around Mackenzie is very good. There is
Williston Lake, Carp Lake Park and McLeod Lake to the south and
Morfee Lake just 2 km (1.25 miles) to the east of town. Enjoy the
thrill of catching Kokanee, Rainbow or Lake trout.
Morfee
Lake
Morfee Lake also has good swimming, and water-skiing as well. Complete
with sandy beach, Morfee Lake makes a great spot for the family.
Recreation
If you enjoy walking, there are some hiking trails located in John
Dahl Park. For golfers, try the 9-hole course at the Mackenzie Golf
Club.
Winter
During the winter season, enjoy cross-country skiing, snowmobiling
and downhill skiing at Powder King. Noted for its excellent powder
snow, Powder King is located on Hwy 97, the Pine Pass that crosses
the Northern Rocky Mountains.
RV
Camping
For RV camping, try the full-service Mackenzie RV Park or Alexander
Mackenzie's Landing a BC Hydro Recreation Site 8 km (5 miles) from
town located on Williston Lake a short distance from town.
Pulp
Mill Revitalization
Positive economic news for Mackenzie was announced in April 2010
with the revitalization of the pulp mill by Netherlands based Paper
Excellence B.V. a business unit of the much larger Indonesian owned
Sinar Mas Group. Paper Excellence B.V. hires local companies such
as Duz Cho Logging, a forestry business operated by the First Nations
McLeod Lake Indian Band.
Information
on Mackenzie
Accommodation
Recreation
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