Mackenzie's group "took the Parsnip River, crossed the continental divide, and eventually canoed down the Fraser River to Alexandria just south of Quesnel. On the advice of local First Nations people, who guided Mackenzie and his party to the Pacific Ocean, they gave up the river route for an overland one.
Mackenzie's expedition traveled along the Parsnip River, crossed the continental divide, and eventually canoed down the Fraser River to Alexandria, a town south of Quesnel.  Local First Nations people advised Mackenzie and his team to abandon the river route in favor of an overland journey after reaching the Pacific Ocean.