The Niven Lake Ravine Trail—also known as the Fire Cutline Path or Niven Firebreak Trail—is an important year-round route that connects neighbourhoods and supports walking, cycling, skiing, snowmobiling, and access to nature. It is a valued community space that helps people from across Yellowknife move through the City and enjoy the outdoors.

The Project 

This initiative aims to bring improvements to the existing trail corridor connecting Highway 4/48th Street to Back Bay. The project builds on a long-term vision for the Niven Lake neighbourhood. The trail connection was first identified in the City's 2005 Integrated Parks, Trails and Open Space Development Study and incorporated into the Niven Lake development plans. With the subdivision now nearing completion, the City is moving forward with this planned trail connection.

Niven Trail Ravine Lake Drone Footage

Our Vision

Key Focus Areas:

  • Safety: Evaluate current trail conditions and identify opportunities to improve user safety.
  • Accessibility: Assess how the trail serves people of all ages, abilities, and mobility needs.
  • Environmental Conditions: Consider natural features, environmental constraints, and long-term sustainability.
  • User Experience: Gather input from trail users and the broader community to understand needs, priorities, and concerns.
  • Future Improvements: Explore potential design concepts and enhancements to guide future trail development.

The outcome of this project will be a community-informed vision that helps shape future planning, design, and investment decisions for the trail.

Recent engagement through the Community Plan update and the Transportation Plan (Let's Move YK) highlighted strong community interest in better city-wide trail connectivity, year-round use, network expansion, improved safety (such as lighting), and clearer wayfinding. Building on this feedback, the project will help define a clear future for the trail through technical analysis and community input. 

Get Involved

Take our short online survey! 

Tell us how you use the trail and what matters most. Whether you walk, bike, ski, snowmobile, commute, explore nature, or simply value local trails, the City wants to hear from you. This first round of engagement will gather input on how the trail is used today, what people appreciate about it, and what improvements could make it safer, more accessible, and more enjoyable in the future.

  • Survey expires on July 26, 2026
Start Survey

Join us at the Project Pop-ups:

  • Pop-up Event #1 
    Drop by the ATCO Aquatic Centre to meet the project team, learn more about the project, and share feedback on improvements you would like to see.

    •  Location: ATCO Aquatic Centre, 6000 50 Ave
    •  Date: Monday, June 29th
    •  Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

  • Pop-up Event #2 
    Stop by to enjoy a coffee, chat with the project team, and share your feedback. We’ll be stationed along the trailhead to raise awareness about the project and hear from trail users

  • Pop-up Event #3 
    Stop by the trailhead to chat with the project team, ask questions, and share your ideas. Participants are encouraged to take a self-directed walk along the trail to reflect on current conditions, opportunities, and areas that may need improvement.

Project Timelines

Phase 1: Engagement Round 1 June-July 2026

  •  Share the project’s background and invite public input• Gather feedback to help plan the trail’s design

Phase 2: Preliminary Design and Engagement Round 2 Fall 2026

  •  Share what was learned in Phase 1 with a summary report• Create a first draft of the trail design and gather feedback to improve and finalize the design

Phase 3: Detailed Design of Final Concept Winter 2027

  •  Finalize trail design per City standards and feedback from engagement rounds 1 and 2

Phase 4: Trail Construction Summer 2027

  •  Implement updates to the trail based on the final design concept

For general inquiries about the Niven Lake Ravine Trail Project, contact us at @email