Miles Canyon Hikes | Yukon Conservation Society

Guided Hikes & Created at the Canyon

Through our free guided hikes and other programming at Miles Canyon/Kwanlin, we help visitors and locals alike learn about conservation by exploring nature. We also offer a glimpse into the First Nations history of the area and the Klondike Gold Rush. See human and natural history come to life before your eyes as you explore and learn with our trail guide interpreters.

Free Guided Nature Hikes: Miles Canyon to Canyon City

Two-hour nature and history hikes leaving daily from Miles Canyon/Kwanlin in the summer months.
Hikes will run TUESDAY JUNE 8th to SATURDAY AUGUST 14th, 2021

When: 10 am & 2 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays

Where: Meet at the Robert Lowe Suspension Bridge below the Miles Canyon parking lot

COVID-19 Restrictions

(Effective May 25, 2021) - Outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people. Seated outdoor events with 200 people, such as weddings, will also be allowed.

Please practice the Safe Six.

Our two-hour, easy walking hikes are fun for avid nature enthusiasts, hikers and families alike. Learn about the Gold Rush, First Nations history, geology, plants, animals and so much more! Hikes leave from the bridge during the summer, rain or shine. Wear sturdy footwear, dress for the weather, and bring your own water and snacks – Miles Canyon has no facilities except an outhouse. We practice Leave No Trace principles on the trail. Special themed hikes with guest leaders will take place periodically throughout the summer.

No registration is required for any of our hikes - just show up on time at Miles Canyon Bridge! Well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome to attend.

No transportation is provided to the Canyon. The Canyon is not serviced by public transit. It is a long walk (7.3 km or approx. one and a half hours) from downtown.

For information about hikes, please call 867-668-5678 or email hikes@yukonconservation.org.

Our regular hikes are great for people of all ages, including children, who are capable of walking 5km over mostly gentle terrain.

Our trail guiding team this year (2021) is:

Trail Guide Coordinator: Lorijane Émond-Quéméré

Trail Guides: Vincent Boisclair, Anna Tölgyesi, Annie Li

A list of former guide team members can be found here.

Special Events & Themed Hikes 2021

Yukon River Fish Species - Wednesdays in June and July at 2pm - with the Whitehorse Rapids Fishway

Bear Awareness - Thursday, June 17th at 10 am - with WildWise Yukon (Madison Hurst)

Randonnées guidées en français - tous les jeudis à 14h

A Walk Through History - Saturday, June 19th at 2 pm - with Long Ago Yukon Co-convener Michael Dougherty

Wild Edibles - Saturday, July 10th at 10 am

McIntyre Creek - (with CPAWS Yukon) Saturday, July 24th (in lieu of hikes at Kwanlin/Miles Canyon) at 11 am and 2 pm (meet at the pumphouse parking lot near the University)

Geology of the Canyon - with Yukon Geological Survey, Friday, July 30th at 2 pm

Wild Edibles - 2nd Edition - Friday, August 6th at 10 am

Kid-Friendly Hike - Saturday, August 7th at 10 am

Bear Awareness - Wednesday, August 11th at 2 pm

Both 'Created at the Canyon' and our Specialty Hikes Program in 2021 is sponsored in part by Yukon Energy.

Created at the Canyon - 10th Anniversary

Created at the Canyon is an outdoors art event celebrating artistic perspectives on nature and history in the Yukon, hosted by the Yukon Conservation Society (YCS). YCS has hosted an “art on the trails” event at Miles Canyon since 2012. These events give local artists an opportunity to reflect on and create art outdoors while sharing their process and inspiration with the public.

Being the 10th Anniversary, we wish to make this year's event even better. We will be joined in the Canyon on the Friday by WildWise Yukon, and there will be an opening ceremony on Friday, July 2nd at 2 pm. We will also be running a Photo Contest this year during the two-day event (more information below).

2021 Featured Artists:

* Horst Berlow - watercolour painter * Amna Bhatti - photographer * Tom Connor - musician * Marian Geary - potter * Brent Liddle - watercolour painter * Claire Lockett - sculptor * Annie Maheux - food art performer * Janet Patterson - multi-media artist * Sadie Segriff - dancer * Jane Fergusson Storey - landscape painter *

Photo Contest

Yukon Conservation Society (YCS) will be running a photo contest to take place during the two days of 'Created at the Canyon'. There will be two categories: artist(s) in action, and nature in the Canyon. The photos must be taken during the two days of the event and submitted electronically to outreach@yukonconservation.org by Monday, July 5, 2021 at 5 pm. Staff of YCS are exempt from participating.

There will be prizes from sponsored donations offered for the winner and runner-up in each category.

Overall Prize:

The overall winning photograph will be displayed at the Yukon Arts Centre, along with the works created by the participants of 'Created at the Canyon', the photo will be featured on the front cover of the YCS quarterly journal Walk Softly, they will also receive a hoodie from Hook and Antler, and a one-year individual membership to YCS.

Winning photo of artist Annie Maheux by Taya Fraser.

Category Prizes:

Artist(s) in Action - Winner: An artist print from North End Gallery

- Runner-up: Bean North Gift Package and a T-shirt from Hook and Antler

Nature in the Canyon - Winner: Coast Mountain Gift Package & $50 gift certificate from Save On Foods

- Runner-up: $50 Gift Certificate from Save On Foods and a T-shirt from Hook and Antler

Other contest winners' photos can be found here.

All winning photos may be used in YCS social media, on our website or in our eNewsletter Tread Lightly or our publication Walk Softly.

Sponsors of the Photo Contest include: Save-On-Foods, Bean North, Coast Mountain Sports, North End Gallery, Hook and Antler, and Alpine Bakery.

The winning photos were announced in the July 8th, 2021 edition of our eNewsletter Tread Lightly.

Winners can arrange to pick up their prizes at the YCS Office (302 Hawkins Street) by contacting outreach@yukonconservation.org.

Exhibit: Friday, July 16th at the Yukon Arts Centre - Yukon Energy Community Gallery. The exhibit will run until August 28, 2021.

There will be no Exhibit Launch this year due to COVID restrictions.

Call for Artists

The artists create original works of art outdoors, inspired by the culturally and ecologically significant landscape of Miles Canyon/Kwanlin and the Yukon River.

For more information see the document here. For the application click here.

Application Deadline: Saturday, June 12th, 2021

YCS wishes to thank all the artists who applied!

Thank You

This project is made possible through the assistance of Arts Fund, Department of Tourism and Culture, Ranj Pillai, Minister.

Thank you also to these sponsors of Created at the Canyon and the Yukon Conservation Society Summer Interpretative Program:

Government of Canada

Government of Yukon

Great Yukon Summer 2021

City of Whitehorse Recreation Grant

Yukon Arts Centre