MacKenzie Falls
Trail Distance: 2 km
Trail Difficuly: Easy
Trail Location: Thunder Bay, ON
This is a popular hike that follows the MacKenzie River up to a small waterfall. About halfway up the trail is a popular swimming hole where you will often see people jumping off the rocks into the water. In the winter you might be able to walk up the river on the ice. If you feel like a longer hike you can follow the river past the falls along the rocks.
From Thunder Bay drive east on Hwy 11/17 to the MacKenzie Inn and turn left into the parking area that is just past the Inn parking lot but before the river. The trail begins at this parking area and follows the river.
“Do not follow where the path may lead, rather go where there is no path and leave a trail…”
We used to walk in to the falls thru the path from the sand pit on the east side of the river. Although private property, the owner was kind enough to allow access to the river for many years, until drinking parties became intolerable and finally fenced it off.
One summer, when I was staying at nearby Thunder Bay Inter’l hostel, I decided to carve a trail through the thick underbrush into the falls following the river on the west bank, joining to the path already started by Lloyd of Longhouse.
I declared it Jeff’s Path in honour of my dearly departed friend with whom I used to jump the falls, during the long summer days of our youth.
Returning to that place to make a trail was a healing labour of love and I’m glad it has become a popular hike today.
It is indeed a magical place to enjoy!
Thanks for your comment Greg! I’m not sure how this trail will end up after all of the highway construction has completed.
Just an update… I went out to Mackenzie today and the entire parking area is now blocked with concrete barricades. I imagine this is due to the highway construction going right behind the Inn. I decided not to head in, though I suppose you could still park at the Inn and walk over.