Acklen Ditch Loop route

A nice, challenging hiking route, that gives you an introduction to many of our trails, without requiring the challenge that hiking the Dome entails.

Route starts on the historic Ninth Avenue trail at Mary Mcleod, and heads North up the Moosehide Slide Trail. Trail narrows and climbs through this area until you reach the expansive area just South of the Moosehide Slide. This view offers you great lines up and down river, as well as a bird's eye perspective of Dawson City.

Route continues towards the Moosehide Slide, but then veers right onto Nankak Zhu (The Han word for the Slide) a multi-use trail which zig-zags up the face of the mountain. Watch for downhill bikers through this area. As you climb using these switchbacks, you are offer higher and higher scenes of the townsite and surrounding rolling hills.

Nankak Zhu eventually joins the historic Acklen Ditch trail, which follows the path of the aquaduct that at one time brought water to the gold dredge (Go see Parks Canada Dredge No. 4 or Bear Creek Tour for more information). The Acklen Ditch trail is a multi-use trail, which is very flat and follows the ridge for a short time, before ending near the TV Towers.

From here you join the Buried Treasure trail, which switches back downwards through poplar and birch trees towards Mary Mcleod Road, watch for downhill bikers in this area, and keep your eyes peeled for old artefacts as well.

Eventually you'll reach Mary Mcleod Road and cross over to the Crocus Bluff Recreation Site. There is an outhouse near the parking lot, and the Crocus Bluff Recreation Site features interpretive signage, as well as a disc golf course. You'll meander downward on the Crocus Bluff lookout trail, which brings you to the platform above the Bluff, which overlooks the confluence and offers view in three directions. The route then switches back following Crocus Ridge for a short stint, and then hanging a left down the Crocus Connector, which brings you down back to the Ninth Avenue trail, near Mission St.

Approximate hiking time 1h30-2h