Finding trail and ultrarunning hidden gems in plain sight - Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Sometimes the best trail to run is the one right outside your door. On my recent trip to the Yukon Territory in Canada I found myself with an extra day in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada because wildfires were blocking the road to another town I’d planned to stay in, Mayo, Yukon, Canada. After a few days in Dawson City, Yukon, Canada, where I had an amazing run to Grizzly Lake in the Tombstone Territorial Park, I drove back to Whitehorse. I looked at runs on Montana Mountain, and also one of the most famous, the Chilkoot Trail, but decided they were too far or required too much advanced planning. The Chilkoot requires a permit, and the United States side of it was also closed when I was there.

While searching for runs, I kept coming across Miles Canyon and the Yukon River Loop, just a short drive from where I was staying in downtown Whitehorse. Given they were so close to the city, I didn’t have very high expectations for them. However, I was very wrong!

My run started at the Miles Canyon Suspension Bridge which has a small parking lot, so plan to get there early on a weekend. The canyon itself is a beautiful spot to take some pictures of the steep canyon walls and fast moving, emerald green water. Cross the bridge, and take the lower trail if you are comfortable running along a trail that is almost directly on the edge of a sheer cliff face. The trail continues on in a southeast direction, gaining elevation, and for the most part, is always right on the edge of a steep drop off. After about 4 miles, the trail turns east into the forest and is a lovely single track, made up of soft ground and pine needles. This type of trail makes up most of the return trip through the woods. The last stretch is back along the canyon edge with a steep drop to the water below.

Just because a trail is right outside your door, don’t discount it too fast. The Miles Canyon and Yukon River Loop trails in Whitehorse, Canada offer a very remote and challenging course that’s just minutes from the downtown. 

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