Haines Junction, Yukon, is calling on local contractors and businesses to submit bids for the Dezadeash River Trail Boardwalk Replacement project. The village issued a Request for Proposals on June 8, 2026, aiming to improve a popular riverside path that residents and visitors use year-round for hiking, skiing, and wildlife viewing.
The project focuses on replacing boardwalk sections along the Dezadeash River Trail, a roughly 6-kilometre loop that winds through wetlands, meadows, and forest near the river bridge at the south end of town. The existing boardwalks provide dry passage over marshy terrain, and the upgrade will make the trail safer and more accessible.
Council’s move follows years of work to build a better-connected trail network. A 2023 Recreational Needs Assessment named trails and pathways as a key priority, building on a 2015 Community Recreation Plan that set a goal for a signed, multi-use network. In August 2025, Council voted to formally add the Dezadeash Trail to the municipal trail map and install a new trailhead sign, recommendations from a trail advisory committee that includes representation from Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
Mayor Diane Strand, elected in a January 2025 by-election, and the current council, which serves a term running from 2024 to 2028, have continued pushing outdoor recreation improvements. The boardwalk replacement is the latest step in a broader effort to enhance outdoor spaces for the community of just over 600 people, located about 155 kilometres west of Whitehorse along the Alaska Highway.
Proposal documents and details are available on the Village of Haines Junction website. The village encourages interested parties to review the requirements and submit their bids by the posted deadline.
