Preview: Yukon hosts Canadian XCM MTB Championships this September

By Geof Harries

Riding your mountain bike in the Yukon is for many cyclists, a bucket list item.

This September can be your chance to finally check that goal off your list or make a return: Cycling Association of Yukon is hosting the 2023 Canadian Cross-Country Marathon Mountain Bike Championships in Whitehorse. This will be the first time the Yukon hosts a national cycling event, making it a truly unique event.

The first person to cross the line will be awarded the coveted maple leaf jersey and become the new Canadian Champion. Race course options span from 20 km up to 90 km in distance. There are Elite, Masters, Open and Youth categories.

What’s it like to ride in the Yukon?

With over 1,200 km of trails spread across trail networks in Whitehorse, Carcross and Dawson City, the Yukon mountain bike experience is revered for its unique landscape, culture and history. Whitehorse itself is home to 900 km of trails.

As for the riding? Uncrowded singletrack, breathtaking panoramas, First Nations footpaths and historic gold and silver mining routes mix history in with the adrenaline of the Yukon mountain bike experience.

What’s the race course like?

The marathon course is 31.5 km with about 500 meters of elevation per lap, and is located on the traditional territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.

The course for 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships is already online on Trailforks. It ranges from fast green and blue trails to sections of black and even a technically challenging stretch of double black, all in the Mt. McIntyre network.

 

On course, you’ll ride a combination of fast, swoopy singletrack atop narrow, exposed ridges and rocky, rooty trails deep in the boreal forest. Look up and you’ll be treated to huge sweeping vistas of boundless mountains, winding creeks and forested valleys on each lap.

What’s there to do around Whitehorse?

The Yukon’s capital city is a small place – just under 35,000 people – and the Mt. McIntyre race course is about a 10-minute drive from downtown or 20 minutes by bike.

Locally-roasted coffee, microbreweries and a plethora of restaurants and cafes are all nearby, as is the famous Yukon River running through the Whitehorse city centre.

Cycling Association of Yukon and its partners know that for many people, making the trip to Whitehorse is a big deal. That’s why they’ve also organized Yukon Bike Fest: a week-long series of events that start on August 26 and conclude on September 4.

From a gravel race the weekend prior, to a lift-accessed downhill night at nearby Mount Sima and a shuttle night at a local mountain, Yukon Bike Fest runs the gamut of cycling disciplines. A trail bike is recommended for the evening gravity sessions.

They’ve also organized kids and youth activities, as well as the President’s Gravel Recovery Ride to Winterlong Brewing on Monday, September 4.

The world-renowned mountain bike trails of Carcross, Yukon are less than a one-hour drive from Whitehorse. The Midnight Dome trails of Dawson City are just a one-hour flight away. The Yukon is a remote place but once you’re there it’s surprisingly easy to get around.

The magic and the mystery of getting to the Yukon

Air North, “Yukon’s Airline” offers regular flights to Whitehorse from some of Canada’s biggest cities. That said, Air North can take a maximum of 10 bikes on each flight. Sometimes less, depending on other cargo.

Phone 1-867-668-2228 to check if the flight you’re on has space for your bike(s).

Bringing your bike to 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships

By truck (recommended)

Cycling Association of Yukon recommends shipping your bike via truck using Manitoulin Transport. Bikes will be delivered to a central Whitehorse depot from drop-off locations across Canada.

Phone 1-800-265-1485 to get a quote.

Your bike should be sent via Manitoulin at least 7 to 10 days before the date you arrive in Whitehorse. Bikes will be securely stored at Manitoulin until you pick up.

In your own vehicle. Road trip!

Got more time? Pack your bike and make it into a road trip.

There are five main ways to drive into the Yukon. Three head east from Alaska and two head north from British Columbia. Along the way are incredible trails to ride and communities to experience. Pack your bike and give yourself enough time to get to Whitehorse.

Learn more at Travel Yukon

Ride your bike

If you’re really hardcore, you can ride your bike here. We humbly suggest lots of bug spray, sunscreen and a camera to capture what will surely be the adventure of a lifetime.

You’ll need some bear spray too, as grizzly bears and other wild animals are often present along roadways.

Get more information and register

Early bird registration for the 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships closes on June 30. There are also limited accommodation options available, so act quickly.

Check out the event’s Race Book for all of the details, including how to get discount codes for local accommodations.

To learn more about Yukon Bike Fest and to register for the 2023 Canadian XCM MTB Championships, go to the Yukon Cycling event page.

Geof Harries is the President of Cycling Association of Yukon (CAY). He is part of a team of volunteers organizing the Yukon bike Fest and XCM nationals, the territory’s first national cycling championships event.