Park overview
Sir Alexander Mackenzie Park is a small coastal park near Elcho Harbour on Dean Channel. The park is located at the westernmost point in the journey of Alexander Mackenzie where, in reddish paint made of vermilion and bear grease, he wrote on a rock: “Alex Mackenzie from Canada by land 22nd July 1793.”
The rock near the water’s edge still bears his words, which were permanently inscribed in the rock later by surveyors.
Recreational use of the park is limited to one-day excursions by air or boat. The park may also mark the end of an extensive backcountry hiking or horseback riding journey along the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage (Grease) Trail, which travels through Kluskoil Lake and Tweedsmuir (South) Parks.
In order to reach the park, hikers must still travel the last segment of the journey by boat, as did Sir Alexander Mackenzie. Anchorage at the historical rock is poor and exposed to high winds. Temporary anchorage is possible in the cove immediately to the west of the point; again, it is shallow and exposed, and suitable only in settled weather. Better protection is found at the head of Elcho Harbour, 3.2 km farther west. There are campsites a short distance northeast of the point (not in the park).
Advisories
Activities
There are kayaking opportunities at this park. However, access is lengthy and requires experience.
There are fishing opportunities at this park. Anyone fishing or angling in British Columbia must have an appropriate license.
The entire north coast area is closed to bivalve harvest due to red tide and the possibility of paralytic shellfish poisoning.
This park is open to hunting. Please refer to the British Columbia Hunting Regulations for more information.
The park is located near Elcho Harbour, approximately 65 km northwest of Bella Coola, on Dean Channel. Use is limited to day-excursions by air, or boat charter from Bella Coola or Bella Bella. Please refer to the BC Marine Parks Guide for more information. The Canadian Hydrographic Chart is number 3729. The closest communities to the park are Bella Coola and Ocean Falls.
Learn more about this park
Park details
- Date established: February 10, 1926
- Size: 5.2 hectares
Nature and culture
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
BC Parks honours Indigenous Peoples’ connection to the land and respects the importance of their diverse teachings, traditions, and practices within these territories. This park webpage may not adequately represent the full history of this park and the connection of Indigenous Peoples to this land. We are working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to update our websites so that they better reflect the history and cultures of these special places.