The City of Yellowknife is working on a project to guide improvements to the Niven Lake Ravine Trail. This project will help shape how the trail functions, including how it supports year‑round use, connects to nearby areas such as the highway, ski club trails, Niven neighbourhood, and Back Bay; and responds to natural constraints and weather conditions.

The Niven Lake Ravine Trail —also known as the Fire Cutline Path or Niven Firebreak Trail—, runs from Highway 4/ 48th Street to Back Bay on Great Slave Lake, as shown in the map below.

Background

The Niven Lake Ravine Trail is an important community connection, linking neighbourhoods and providing access for year‑round recreation such as walking, cycling, skiing, and snowmobiling.

In 2023, the trail corridor was cleared to support wildfire preparedness. The City is now reviewing how the corridor can continue to support both recreational trail use and emergency preparedness, while considering safety, accessibility, and environmental conditions.

What We Already Heard
Recent engagement for the Community Plan update and the Transportation Plan (Let’s Move YK) highlighted strong community interest in better trail connectivity, year‑round use, network expansion, improved safety (such as lighting), and clearer wayfinding. Building on this feedback, this project will help define a clear future for the Niven Lake Ravine Trail using both technical analysis and community input.

Why Your Input Matters

This survey asks how you use the trail today, what works well, and where improvements are needed. Specifically, we’re looking for input on: maintenance, safety, and user experience.

Your input will help set clear priorities that will be reviewed alongside technical studies, environmental factors, site conditions, and City standards. Together, these insights will guide practical, well-informed trail design options that support the needs of the community.

🕒 Estimated time to complete: 7 minutes
📅 Survey closes: July 26

Start the survey!