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Mackenzie is a recreational hub with natural and man-made trail systems in place that increase accessibility to the area's outdoor recreation potential. Mackenzie's wilderness setting brings residents and visitors alike into contact with the area's diverse wildlife population.
There are many wonderful places to hike in and around Mackenzie, beginning in John Dahl Regional Park, located within the District of Mackenzie. Here visitors can stroll along trails with memorable viewpoints overlooking Morfee Lake. Located just minutes from town, Gantahaz Lake offers a walking trail around the lake. At Whiskers Point Provincial Park, an interpretive trail posts information on the plants, animals, geology and history of the area.
Those hikers seeking a challenge will find it at Mount Murray, in the Pine Pass. The demanding, 7-km (4.3 mi) trail opens to a stunning alpine meadow with several small lakes. The summit –above the meadow– offers an outstanding view of the Murray Range to the southeast and Mt. Solitude to the northeast.
Enjoy nine scenic holes of golf on a pristine course located just minutes from the main road. Mackenzie Golf & Country Club also has a driving range, pro shop, grill and bar. Biking enthusiasts will appreciate the bike park located right in town at Little Mac Ski Hill.
Mackenzie is home to the World’s Largest Tree Crusher, located on Mackenzie Boulevard. Created in Louisiana in approximately 1960, where it was tested and cleared 1,943 ac (4,800 ac), it is the only self-powered, tree-crushing machine of this size. It is a massive 17 m (56 ft) in length, 6.4 m (21 ft) tall and weighs and astonishing 159 tonnes (175 tons). The Tree Crusher is designed to clear large tracts of land in a minimum amount of time for a minimal cost.
Explore the town’s history at the Mackenzie & District Museum. Exhibits include Mackenzie’s first hospital, the creation of Williston Lake (one of the largest man-made lakes in North America) as well as an ichthyosaurus fossil (a 100-million-year-old sea reptile) found along Williston Lake. Vist Mountain Gifts 'n Gallery next door, where you can purchase local arts and crafts.
There are numerous camping facilities available for visitors. Mackenzie Municipal RV Park is located in town and close to all ammenities. Alexander Mackenzie Landing, located on Williston Lake, includes a campground, day-use picnic area, concrete boat launch, walking trails and a sandy beach. Whiskers Point Provincial Park provides camping in a peaceful, forested park located on a peninsula that juts into historic McLeod Lake. Spend time exploring Tudyah and Heather-Dina provincial parks. Rustic camping spots include Burden Lake, Gataiga Lake, Six Mile Bay and Tutu Bay.
Observe a wide variety of wildlife species at the Mackenzie Nature Observatory located at Mugaha Marsh. Bird migration monitoring takes place from late July until late September. Be on the lookout when exploring Mackenzie and area for moose, elk, black bears, beavers, deer, and wolves.
Surrounded by a variety of lakes, rivers and streams, this area is a fisherman's paradise. The catch of the day could be rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, whitefish, Dolly Varden, lake char, lake trout or northern pike. Some popular cast-off spots include the Parsnip River as well as Tudyah, Morfee, Williston and McLeod lakes. Guided fishing tours are also available.
Canoeists and kayakers will find endless opportunities to paddle in the numerous lakes surrounding Mackenzie. Spend the day or stay a couple of nights at Heather-Dina Lakes Provincial Park and explore the Dina Lake canoe circuit, which consists of five small lakes connected by portage trails. Alexander Mackenzie Landing, Morfee Lake, Whiskers Point Provincial Park and Tudyah Lake all offer boat launches for the boating enthusiast. Guided jet-boating tours are also available.
Avid snowmobilers will enjoy enviable snow conditions, porch to powder experience and a diverse trail system. With average snowfalls in town of three metres (10 ft) or more snowmobilers are roaming area mountaintops well into May. Guided tours are also available. Winter fun continues with skiing at Little Mac Ski Hill, located right in town. Check out the 32 km (20 mi) of groomed and partially lit cross-country ski trails that are accessible from town. You will also find three warm-up cabins along various trail networks.
Powder King Mountain Resort, just a 40-minute drive from Mackenzie at Pine Pass on Highway 97, offers 640 m (2,100 ft) of vertical and 24 marked trails in the pristine Rocky Mountains. Ski runs range from breathtaking, black-diamond drops to gently groomed beginner slopes.
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