Hiking & Outdoors
Singletrack in the Wilderness: Why Carcross is a World-Class MTB Destination
6 min read
Singletrack in the Wilderness: Why Carcross is a World-Class MTB Destination
A trail network with a story
The trails are the work of the Single Track to Success program, which employed and trained Carcross/Tagish First Nation youth to design and build them. The result is more than recreation: it’s a source of pride, employment, and connection to the land, and it shows in the care and quality of the riding.
The riding
Montana Mountain offers everything from flowy, machine-smooth descents to technical alpine lines, with a shuttle road and climbing trails to access the top. Long, sustained descents drop through changing terrain — rock, root, and berm — with views over Bennett Lake and the surrounding peaks. There’s terrain for strong intermediates up to expert riders.
When to ride
The season runs through the snow-free months, roughly late spring to early autumn, with high-summer’s long daylight allowing marathon days in the saddle. Trails higher up melt out later, so early-season riders should check conditions.
Practicalities
Bring your own bike or arrange a rental in Whitehorse, an hour north. Carry water, tools, spare tube, layers, and bear spray — this is genuine backcountry, and wildlife is present. Ride within your limits, as help is not close at hand, and tell someone your plans.
Beyond the bike
Carcross itself rewards a stop, with its restored commons, First Nations carvings, the shore of Bennett Lake, and the nearby Carcross Desert. Combine a morning ride with an afternoon exploring the village and the Southern Lakes for a superb day out.
World-class trails, a genuinely inspiring backstory, and scenery few bike parks can match — Montana Mountain is proof that some of the best riding on the continent is hiding in a village of a few hundred people in the southern Yukon.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the mountain biking near Carcross?
On Montana Mountain, directly above the village of Carcross, about an hour south of Whitehorse, with 65+ km of hand-built singletrack.
Who built the trails?
Largely local Carcross/Tagish First Nation youth through the Single Track to Success program, which trained and employed them to design and build the network.
When is the riding season?
Roughly late spring to early autumn, once the snow melts. Higher trails clear later, so check conditions early in the season.
Where to stay
Rooms worth pairing with this guide.
Ready to plan this trip?
Real prices for the places this piece names.
