Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail

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Inscription at the end of the Alexander Mackenzie's Canada crossing located at 52°22′43″N, 127°28′14″W [1].

The Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail (also Nuxalk-Carrier Route or Blackwater Trail) is a 420km historical overland route between Quesnel, British Columbia and Bella Coola.

The trail was originally used by the Nuxálk and Carrier people for communication, transport and trade, in particular, trade in Eulachon grease from the Pacific coast.

During his trek from Montreal to the Pacific ocean in the late 1700s, Alexander MacKenzie made use of the overland trail when natural obstacles in the Fraser River prevented his continued water route. He reached the ocean on July 20, 1793, completing the first recorded transcontinental crossing north of Mexico. The route was designated as an official heritage trail by the Heritage Conservation Act in 1987.

From East to West, the modern day trail begins at the West Road River (Blackwater River), passes Kluskus Lake, Eliguk Lake, then crosses through what is now Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, then follows the Bella Coola River to the North Bentinck Arm inlet.

Because of its length and difficulty, experienced hikers can expect the route to take abou 18 days, whereas intermediate hikers may require at least 24 days. Also, hikers may choose to hike only sections of the trail, such as the route through Tweedsmuir Provincial Park which passes the Rainbow Range of extinct volcanoes.