Mackenzie Grease Trail
Follow the footsteps of Alexander Mackenzie, the first European to make his now-famous 1793 trek across North America in search of the elusive Northwest Passage. This trail is known as the ‘Grease Trail’, in reference to the Eulachon grease carried inland by early aboriginals of the area.
The trail traces one of British Columbia’s historically significant trade and travel routes, with Mackenzie’s explorations predating the Lewis and Clark expeditions by some twelve years. Now designated as a heritage trail under the Heritage Conservation Act, and as a forest recreation trail under BC’s Forest Act, the full route extends some 279 miles (450 km). The trailhead starts just west of Quesnel and stretches all the way to the Sir Alexander Mackenzie Provincial Park in the Dean Channel.