A brand new bike skills park is set to officially open today, August 6, 2026, in Haines Junction, Yukon, after years of volunteer effort and a large community grant. The Pedal Junction Yukon Bike Skills Park will give local riders, especially youth, a safe and central spot to develop their mountain biking skills.
The $175,000 project was made possible by a $137,001 grant from the Yukon Lottery Commission. The rest of the costs were covered through volunteer work and community support. The park sits on a two‑acre parcel behind the school on Willow Acres Road, a location picked for its easy and safe access for children without crossing the highway.
Pedal Junction, the volunteer-led group behind the park, got its start from informal bike nights held back in 2023. That grassroots idea grew into a permanent recreational space for the whole community. Two local youth were hired this summer to help with construction and learn trail-building skills, helping to ensure the park can be maintained locally for years to come.
The opening day celebration on August 6 will include a community gathering and possibly a barbecue. Organizers say the event is a celebration of the new park and the many volunteers who turned the idea into reality. The project received overwhelming community backing, including 91 letters of support and public endorsements from the Village of Haines Junction mayor at two council meetings.
The park is located within the traditional territory of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Southern Tutchone people who have lived in the area for thousands of years.
