A collection of loop walking trails
A true Whitehorse tour: over 100 circular walks, hundreds of km of walks. Those marked with an * have a restriction for use by time of year such as: a wetland needing to be frozen; ski tracks that you shouldn't step in; or a trail that crosses a ski trail and isn't to be used during ski season.
Time to walk trails varies depending on fitness, season, footwear (snowshoes or boots), snow depth, frequency of trail use: think 2-3 km/hr for snowshoeing, while 4-5 km/hr is more realistic for summer walking. Winter walking times are slower in soft snow, or when a snowmobile has passed.
This collection of loop walking maps is for discussion, not to claim safe trails. Improvements will come as people proof them, by walking them, describing them and waymarking them!
Themed walks
Jan 7, 2020. New loop: Views over downtown, 4.6. a nice walk right from the hospital. Awesome views!
Short Loop Walks The healing power of being in nature — go for a walk! Bored with your walks? No time to walk? Think lunch hour or after supper, a walk with a friend, kids, or if hosting guests and want to dazzle them! Here's some 1-3-km loop walks around town that are easily accessible, with some parking, and provide a treat: a pond, a spot by a river, a cliff, a view, an unusual hike, or maybe a nice neighbourhood walk...?
Elder Active Walking Group: scenic hikes with hills, mostly without steep, slippery, scary pieces — for those worried about falling and breaking fragile bones, have joint issues, small kids, ...
There's people who have very limited walking abilities. They too want to get outside and into a peaceful, awesome place. As I start to explore this I've a short list at More places to walk, guides
A set of longer walks starting at the Visitor Reception Center, all over 10 km. This is a draft idea still.
Whitehorse north, Whitehorse south
Takhini River –
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Whistle Bend –
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South-west side of Yukon River
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downtown, airport and above-the-airport
Airport Flats – Downtown
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Paddy's Pond – Ice Lake
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Mount McIntyre
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Yukon River, east side
Longer or special
Reckless Raven Yukon 50 Mile Ultra.Web: recklessraven.runforlife.ca: Route; Trail description; Cheer on the Ravens, 12.4
Or the Yukon River Trail Marathon: Yukon River Trail Marathon*, 43.2; Yukon River Trail Marathon*, Legs 1, 4, 21.0; Yukon River Trail Marathon*, Legs 2, 3, 22.2
Knuckle Ridge Trail an all-season hike along the north ridge of Mount MacIntyre.
The broader picture
Whitehorse, the wilderness city. A collection of walking ideas explains this loop walking trails project.
This builds on my Yukon Walking Strategy which looks at how we could become a more walkable community and the Yukon could become a walking tourism destination. See my Walking communities for walks outside Whitehorse. A goal is to make a set of pages of loops walks for the rest of the Yukon.
As you look at this initial collection of trails, think about a group promoting walking like Walk Richmond, or a group organizing a walking festival like Walk Scily or Haltwhistle Walking Festival. Or look at walkAlberta. perhaps we might have a Yukon chapter of the Canadian Volkssport Federation (which needs an updated version of their suggested Northern Director's Walk.)