Life in the Knife

Mountain Biking the Yellowknife Sand Pits

Posted on 23. Aug, 2009 by Shane in Mountain Biking Trips, Nature, Sports & Recreation

The next Yellowknife Mountain Biking trip was  to the Yellowknife sand pits located west of town on Highway 3, just past the airport. You can park anywhere after the turn off at the shooting range sign on the highway. The sand pits are shared by quad enthusiasts, dirt bike riders, 4-wheel drive trucks, mountain bikers, dog walkers and the Yellowknife Shooting Club. NOTE: the Yellowknife Shooting Club is outdoors here so expect to hear loud gun fire.

The Yellowknife sand pits are challenging to ride a bike on. We got stuck quite a few times when our bike wheels would sink into the sand. But once we rode beyond the sand pits into the back roads and trails the riding was smoother. We switched back and forth from navigating taiga shield rock stunted with jack pine trees to dirt roads lined with black spruce, mare’s -tail and rusty woodsia. We encountered a few bogs and ponds the further we pushed into the bush. There was plenty of bog rush, cloudberry, cotton grass and water-arum around these areas.

The Yellowknife sand pit trails did not offer a long mountain bike ride (approx 1 hour) because many of the back roads and trails are off limits (as indicated by shooting range signs). However, it was still worth exploring and it gave us a good workout. Check out my photos below and please feel free to leave a comment or ask a question.

Turn left just past the airport.

You know you are in the right place when you see this sign.

Matthew and David gearing up for tonights ride at the Yellowknife sand pits. Troy was away.

Here is someone running with their dog at the Yellowknife sand pits.

David and Matthew riding ahead through the Yellowknife sand pits.

More of David and Matthew riding ahead through the Yellowknife sand pits.

David deciding the best route.

David leading the way through.

Riding over taiga shied rock into trails lined with black spruce.

As we rode further in we found roads like these.

A common sight to see are old vehicle wrecks hidden in the bushes.

David taking a closer look at one of the rusted vehicle wrecks.

David pushing forward to find more trails.

David and Matthew riding along the forest line along the edge of the Yellowknife sand pits.

Some people flying model airplanes at the Yellowknife sand pits.

Pushing through taiga shield rock and jack pine trees – making our own trail.

David riding over taiga shield rock.

We decided not to ride through the muskeg and bog this time. Too many mosquitos.

David deciding which direction to ride next.

Speeding along a back road.

Tags: Black Spruce, bog, bog rush, cloudberry, cotton grass, David Mahon, Jack Pine, mare's -tail, Matthew Smillie, mountain biking, muskeg, rusty woodsia, sand pit, taiga shield rock, vehicle wreck, water-arum, Yellowknife, Yellowknife mountain biking, Yellowknife sand pit