About Us

I essentially took control of the operation from my father Ed who died suddenly in December 1994. For 10 years before that I was a partner with my parents and a couple of brothers, and from the time I was a youngster, I served as a guide for the company.

The business was formally started by my father and mother, Ed and Milly McKenzie in the 1960’s. Prior to that my father Ed guided clients for many of the original, old time outfitters in the area, for 2 decades. . My grandfather Tom McKenzie packed freight and supplies to the mine in Nordegg from Red Deer, Alberta before that, and my great uncle Gilbert headed up the sawmill operations in Nordegg, and was a personal friend and acquaintance of founder Martin Nordegg. So as you can see our family history in this area goes back a good long way.

I am the oldest of 9 children, all of whom have worked for, or still do work for the family business.  I am very proud to make mention of the fact that my son, and numerous nephews and nieces are involved in the business and some of them are learning the trade at a fairly young age. For their age they are very competent with the horses, life in the wilderness, and have increasingly good people skills. At this time, my sister Shelly serves as barn boss and operations manager, with plenty of help from her husband Kelly Schenk, and their 4 children. Niece Kristin McKenzie is employed for the entire season as trail guide and gift store manager, and nephew Clay McKenzie is also employed for the summer as a trail guide. Throughout the season there is opportunity to meet many other of my numerous brothers, sisters, nephews nieces, and various other family members, including, from time to time, co-founder of the company; my mother Milly, all of whom show up periodically, to help out, and keep in touch with their western heritage, and the family traditions.

I sincerely hope that you will be able to come out and enjoy some time with us, in the McKenzie tradition.

 

Ron McKenzie.

 

 

 

Howdy friends:

 

My name is Ron McKenzie and I am the owner, operator of McKenzies’ Trails West Ltd., a second generation, tourism oriented, full service, family operated outfitting business.

I have spent over 30 years in the Cline River area guiding clients from all around the globe, through what many consider to be some of the most beautiful and pristine wilderness in the entire world.

Owner, Operator -  Ron McKenzie

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