some blue moon hikes - yukonviews.com · blue moon is a group of friends who enjoy hiking and we...

Some Blue Moon HikesBlue Moon is a group of friends who enjoy hiking and we are happy when others want to join us. Our hikes almost inevitably involve hills and some are long.

One basic tenet is that we stay together as a group — it’s bear country after all. While we do get a bit spread out along the trail, we generally don’t split up and when it’s time, we turn back together.

Our goal is for everyone to have a good hiking experience. If you are new, or are bringing a guest, it’s a good idea to start with a shorter hike so that your first experience will be positive and you can make good decisions for yourself about going on longer hikes in the future.

On the pages that follow, you’ll find a map, photo and elevation information for hikes that we have done and want to do again. You can use this information to give you a good idea of the degree of effort involved in each hike.

All photos were taken on the hike shown, but not necessarily on the same date. More group photos and Blue Moon Hiking pictures are on line at: http://www.yukonviews.com/blueMoon/index.html

Plant identification pictures are at: http://www.yukonviews.com/yukon/flowers/index.html

More hiking and walking information can be found at: whitehorsewalks.com page, a website to make Yukon walking and hiking even better!

The Google Earth elevation graph on the bottom of each page has a wealth of information. Here’s a guide using the Bonneville Lakes, page 7, as an example.

• Elevation: Left side of graph numbers. In this case, from 1121 m (above sea level) to 1567 m (above sea level) or 446 m from bottom to high point.

• Elev Gain/Loss: A dip in the trail means we have to go down then back up again. In this example, the elevation is 446 meters but the elevation gain/loss is 574. This means we climbed an extra 127 meters due to small ups and downs.

• Max Slope: Steepest part of trail.

• Avg Slope: The avg slope is a measure of how quickly the trail rises from the start to the highest point on the trail.

Red arrows and numbers: Haven’t found a way of deleting these. Ignore.

The table at right uses a simplified selection of numbers from the graphs to allow easier comparison of hikes.

10:42 pm, Solstice, 2014, Fish Lake and Mount McIntyre in background.

whitehorsewalks.com

Y U K O N

VIEWSCreated by Peter Long, June 23, 2014Contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Distance Time (hr:min) Elevation

page km start finish total time

min (m) max (m) elev gain (m)

max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

Long Lake – Hospital Trails September 2, 2012 2 8.4 1:00 3:50 2:50 641 682 78.7 9.2 1.7

Millennium Trail March 29, 2012 3 4.4 11:40 12:50 1:10 641 643 3.9 9.3 0.2

Hidden Lakes July 29, 2013 4 4.34 2:30 4:00 1:30 655 688 70.7 15.9 3

Chadburn Lake – Yukon River June 1, 2014 5 14.9 10:40 3:55 5:15 667 798 523 40.5 6.5

Grey (Canyon) Mountain June 16, 2013 6 5.1 11:30 3:30 4:00 1280 1471 260 43.8 9.5

Airport Perimeter Trail June 2, 2012 7 7.9 9:05 10:30 1:25 654 746 146 20.8 4.2

Porcupine Ridge–Copper Ridge — 8 8.6 — — 2:00 727 772 90 11.8 1.9

Porcupine Ridge – Hawk Ridge May 31, 2014 9 6.2 1:20 3:00 1:40 756 807 92 15 2.7

Bonneville Lakes August 18, 2013 10 12.8 11:30 5:10 5:40 1121 1567 573 31.7 8.6

Franklin Lake – Mount Sumanik July 29, 2012 11 11.5 10:55 3:10 4:15 1017 1414 616 37.2 9.9

Franklin Lake – Mount Sumanik valley June 15, 2014 12 12.7 10:55 3:15 4:20 1017 1390 484 24.2 7.1

Haeckel Hill – Mount Sumanik July 23, 2013 13 12.4 11:30 6:40 7:10 1312 1608 475 32.1 7.2

Stony Creek June 13, 2012 14 17.4 11:25 6:05 6:30 714 1593 1042 44.9 11.4

Minto Hill September 16, 2012 15 12.2 11:50 4:45 4:55 827 1502 689 31.3 10.9

Sam McGee June 30, 2013 16 10.2 11:00 2:36 3:36 677 1474 858 47.6 16.2

Fraser Lake, B.C. July 8, 2012 17 9.5 11:26 4:40 5:04 865 1270 560 51.2 10.7

International Falls August 11, 2013 18 8.82 10:15 4:50 6:35 950 1243 366 26.3 7.5

BlueMoon

http://www.whitehorsewalks.com

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Long Lake – Hospital Trails

You’d do well to think of the Long Lake hike as an urban hike. Downtown Whitehorse is visible a lot of the time and yet you are in the woods, following marked trails with mountain, river and lake views at various spots.

Long Lake

Kishwoot Island

Long Lake road

Wickstrom Road

Hospital

suggested pedestrian bridge

Main Street


km start finish total time


max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

8.4 1:00 3:50 2:50 641 682 78.7 9.2 1.7 Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Millennium Trail

The Millennium Trail (yellow arrow) is the perfect trail to introduce newcomers to hiking in Whitehorse. It’s the most urban trail in the city and is accessible for everyone. Watch for the occasional beaver at work alongside this paved route.

Ball diamond descent. Let’s put stairs here!

Bert Law Park

Robert Service Campground

Yukon Energy

Rotary Centennial

Bridge

S.S. Klondike

Fish hatchery

F.H .Collins

Nisutlin Drive

Fish ladder

South Access

Airport

Airport Perimeter Trail

Riverdale




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

4.4 11:40 12:50 1:10 641 643 3.9 9.3 0.2

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Hidden Lakes

This hike behind Riverdale takes you up, down and around several (hidden) lakes. It’s a very open hike, with views of the various mountain ranges around the city.

Chadburn Lake Road

Riverdale

Hidden Lakes

Schwatka Lake/ Yukon River

Heartbreak Hill

Chadden Lake

Grey Mountain Road

Peewee Hill




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

4.34 2:30 4:00 1:30 655 688 70.7 15.9 3

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Chadburn Lake – Yukon River

This circular trail takes you around Chadburn Lake and out to a great lunch spot overlooking the Yukon River, across from Wolf Creek. Though it seems like there is a lot of up and down hiking, it is not too strenuous, at least not until you get to the last big hill leading to the trail above the lake. But even here, you get two choices for routes (the pink line shows the easier way up)!

Chadburn Lake

Yukon River

Chadden Lake Grey

Mountain

Grey Mountain

RoadHidden Lakes

Wolf CreekWolf Creek Campground

Mount Sima

Chadburn Lake Road




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

14.9 10:40 3:55 5:15 667 798 523 40.5 6.5

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Grey (Canyon) Mountain

This top-of-the-mountain hike gives wonderful views of the Yukon River valley, south to Marsh Lake and north to Lake Lebarge. The trail is well marked and the flowers abundant. The road up is rough. The last piece of road to get to the communication towers is not for the faint of heart, or big

vehicles. Parking lower down and walking up the last part of the road is a good choice.

Cantlie Lake

Communication towers

Grey Mountain

Road




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

5.1 11:30 3:30 4:00 1280 1471 260 43.8 9.5

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Airport Perimeter Trail

This trail (yelloe arrow) goes all around the outside of the airport, allowing the hiker to have a variety of views of downtown Whitehorse, the Yukon River, the

dam and the mountains in the distance. A small part of it is paved, with most of the rest being a dirt trail, although sandy in places.

Watch for planes passing overhead.

Yukon River

Downtown

Riverdale

Bert Law Park

Millennium Trail

Robert Service CampgroundYukon

Energy

Airport

Hillcrest

Ice Lake

Rotary Centennial

Bridge

S.S.

Fish hatchery

Black Street Staircase




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

7.9 9:05 10:30 1:25 654 746 146 20.8 4.2

Ball diamond descent. Let’s put stairs here or make some other sort of way down!

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Porcupine Ridge – Copper Ridge

This circular route only became possible when bridge crossings at either end were recently completed. The

route provides views of the Arkell Wetlands and is easily accessed from any of the above-the-

airport neighbourhoods.

Arkell

Ingram

McIntyre

Logan

Granger Elijah Smith School

École Émilie-Tremblay

Copper Ridge Copper Ridge Place

snow dump

Harvey’s Hut

Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Trails and City Trails

ArkellPorcupine Ridge Trail

Copper Ridge Trail

Wetlands

McIntyre

Creek




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

8.6 — — 2:00 727 772 90 11.8 1.9

A boardwalk and some trail construction would completely change walking opportunities for people living in this area. It would make a 6.5 km loop and a 3.7 km loop, and it would allow easy access to McIntyre Creek.

Copper Ridge connector

new foot bridge

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Porcupine Ridge – Hawk Ridge

This route begins behind Copper Ridge with the descent into the wetlands along the new connector trail, then it makes a sharp left at the top on the other side to follow the ridge south. You’ll cross the Copper ski trail to get to the newly built Hawk Ridge trail. Watch for old cabins and remains of early mining in the area. The trail crosses the Copper ski trail again on the way back to the connector trail.

Copper Haul Road

Copper Ridge

snow dump

Best Chance Corner

old mining cabins

Here’s another community walking opportunity: scout out a simple route to reconnect the old mining road, allowing access to the Copper Haul Road, and to the trails on Mount McIntyre.

Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Trails and City Trails

Porcupine Ridge TrailHawk Ridge Trail

Copper Ridge connector

Wetlands

Arkell

McIntyre

Creek




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

6.2 1:20 3:00 1:40 756 807 92 15 2.7

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Bonneville Lakes

If you do this hike in early September on a sunny day, you will be rewarded with spectacular fall colours in all directions. Another good time is in the winter when the snow is hard packed. Once

at the top of the first ridge, there are several choices of directions to take, each leading

to yet more great hiking spots. This is an all season hike.

Fish Lake

Mount McIntyre Mount Granger

Bonneville Peak

Bonneville Lakes




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

12.8 11:30 5:10 5:40 1121 1567 573 31.7 8.6

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Franklin Lake – Mount Sumanik

This trail (yellow arrows) is a good one for snowshoeing in the winter or walking in the summer. The views of the Ibex Valley are worth the uphill climb!

Jackson Lake

Haeckel Hill

Mount Sumanik

Mount Ingram

Ibex Valley

Franklin Lake




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

11.5 10:55 3:10 4:15 1017 1414 616 37.2 9.9

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Franklin Lake – Mount Sumanik valley

Jackson Lake

Mount Sumanik

Franklin Lake

Ibex River

Jackson Creek

Ibex RiverScout Lake

Mount Ingram

It takes a fair bit of uphill hiking but eventually when you start to look around, you’ll be rewarded with a wonderful view of Fish Lake and the mountains that surround it. On the way, watch for clusters of butterflies that don’t fly off when you come near. On our next hike our goal is to come around the end of the hill (pink line) for a new view.




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

12.7 10:55 3:15 4:20 1017 1390 484 24.2 7.1

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Haeckel Hill – Mount Sumanik

With a good 4-wheel drive vehicle, you can get almost to the top of Haeckel Hill, by the wind towers, to start the hike (yellow

arrow points to this hike). It begins with a moderately steep downhill to the valley below before

a fairly steep uphill to access the top of Sumanik. From there, you can see south to

Marsh Lake and north to Lake Laberge and beyond.

Wind towers

Yukon River

Lake Laberge

Whistle Bend

Takhini River

Scout Lake

Jackson Lake

Fish Lake Road

Copper Haul Road

McIntyre Creek

Franklin Lake




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

12.4 11:30 6:40 7:10 1312 1608 475 32.1 7.2

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Stony Creek

This steady uphill trail rewards the hiker with stunning views in all directions. The last part of the trail is the steepest but since you know the peak is in sight, it is very manageable. Going down is a good workout for the legs!

Alaska Hwy

Takhini River




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

17.4 11:25 6:05 6:30 714 1593 1042 44.9 11.4

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Minto Hill

A great time to do this hike is in the fall. when the colours are at their peak. Once you get above the trees, the view is spectacular. A great hike for anyone looking to work their legs!

Marsh Lake

Mount LansdowneMinto

Hill

Mount Lorne




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

12.2 11:50 4:45 4:55 827 1502 689 31.3 10.9

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Sam McGee

Another hidden gem of a hike, this time south of Carcross on Montana Mountain. As you hike up and up, and start to get glimpses of the view between the trees, you know it’s only going to get better. On a clear day, the view of the Southern

Lakes and the mountains surrounding them is spectacular. From various resting spots near the top, you can head

out in several different directions to check out what’s on the other side.

Top tower

Carcross

Bove Island

Tagish Lake

Windy Arm

Narrows

Escarpment Mountain




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

10.2 11:00 2:36 3:36 677 1474 858 47.6 16.2

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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Fraser Lake, B.C.

This hike is accessible from behind the Canada Customs station at Fraser. It’s a steady uphill to get access to the lake. The berries along the way make it worth the effort. The elevation profile is not quite symmetrical since we came back on a different part of the slope.

South Klondike

Hwy

Fraser Lake

Canada Customs

Bernard Lake

Chilkoot Trail

Canada – USA border




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

9.5 11:26 4:40 5:04 865 1270 560 51.2 10.7

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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International Falls

This hike begins with a tricky descent through the shrubs and bushes at the side of the South Klondike Highway to a potential stream crossing

(depending on the weather). From there, it’s a gentle uphill for as long as you want to keep going.

You stay quite close to the descending river with its many waterfalls. If you

get high enough up the mountain, you’ll find yourself looking

down on the Chilkoot Trail.

Chilkoot Trail

Klondike Hwy

Canada – USA border




max slope (m)

avg slope (%)

8.82 10:15 4:50 6:35 950 1243 366 26.3 7.5

Y U K O N

VIEWS

whitehorsewalks.com

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some blue moon hikes - yukonviews.com · blue moon is a group of friends who enjoy hiking and we...

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