About Boréale › Team

“It’s no wonder that people are finally looking beyond the trails of Vancouver, to a place further north, under the midnight sun, where you can ride around 24/7…”
Outer Edge Magazine

“I came home from the Yukon having experienced a mountain biking adventure that was right up there with my best ever.”
nsmb.com

“A vast wilderness landscape, with summer temperatures hitting the mid-20s and daylight lasting well into the night, Yukon is emerging as a top adventure travel destination. ”
Globe & Mail

“Everyone came up to me during the trip to say how unbelievable it was. Food was AMAZING, accommodations were AMAZING, hosts were MOST AMAZING.”
Tom, Seattle, WA

“Thanks again for an incredible time, you've got a great setup there and we all really enjoyed the trip.”
Chris, Vancouver, BC

“Thanks so much for the great weekend of mountain biking and hanging out in yurtville.”
Chris, Kelowna, BC

“Thanks again for a fabulous week with Ryan Leech! We wouldn't have changed a thing!”
Wendy, Saskatoon, SK

“I had a wonderful stay. Truly the best trip I've had in many years. I'm bound and determined to bring my mountain biking posse back to Boreal ready to ride Carcross the national park and what ever else you can throw at us. ”
Chris, Denver, CO

“You guys pretty much ruined all future mtb vacations for us by making this one impossible to live up to / repeat.”
Ken, Springs, IA

“We had such a fabulous time and came back to the stresses of our lives much better equipped to deal with them.”
Maureen, Vancouver, BC

“We had a great time and Ryan really is the nicest guy in the bike business. Everyone we've talked to since we've been back now wants to do the same trip with their wives/girlfriends.”
Joylin, Salt Lake City, UT

What kinds of trails should we expect? What skill levels are required?

With approximately 700 kms/500 miles of trails surrounding Whitehorse, there are trails for every skill level, from beginner to advanced. If you are interested in seeing the local landscape on a scenic cycle trip or are an avid mountain bike rider looking for the ‘next’ destination to ride, we can satisfy any group!

I am a beginner. Will I enjoy a tour with Boréale?

You bet! All of our guides are certified International Mountain Bike Instructors and love showing new riders a few tips and tricks to increase the enjoyment of their ride! True beginners can benefit from a short lesson and then feedback on the trails, all the while experiencing first hand the amazing networks that we have to play on!

What equipment should I bring?

We recommend you bring your usual biking gear: a helmet, a hydration pack, gloves, cycling shorts, etc. If you are renting or packing light, we do provide helmets and water bottles. We rent Norco Fluid full suspension mountain bikes as well.

What sort of weather should we expect?

You can expect all kinds of weather from 10°C/50°F to 30°C/85°F and it's likely to be sunny. It never usually rains for long if it does happen to get wet. The nights and mornings are usually cooler and the days are pretty warm around 20°C/68°F, perfect exploring temperatures.

What is the group size of the weekender package?

Maximum group size is 6 people per weekend. We try our best to match skill levels. If there is an obvious difference in skill level between two groups we will offer separate guides. If you have more than 6 in your group, let us know, we are flexible folks. Our custom packages are yours to fill with as many as you would like.

What’s the best time of year to come?

We are open from mid-May to mid-September. Our busiest times are June, July and August. In September the riding is still great, but you also get the bonus of fall colours in the mountains and potential northern lights. During September our yurtville is no longer open, but we are able to offer our packages as we have a special arrangement with our local hotels.

What makes Yukon riding unique?

The sheer amount of cross country trails we have and the distance that they cover. You can ride one trail for an hour, or make an 8 hour trip without doing the same trail twice. It is a little ridiculous (in a good way of course!) – there are so many trails around Whitehorse due to First Nation traditional trails, animal trails, Gold Rush days stampeders... and of course fat tire enthusiasts! We are lucky to have 3 different paid trail crews working hard to maintain and create our trail networks around Whitehorse and Carcross. It is extremely rare for local mountain bikers to bike on anything other than super fun singletrack!

What sort of weather should we expect?

You can expect all kind of weather from 10°C to 30°C and it's likely to be sunny. It never usually rains for long if it does happen to get wet. The nights and mornings are usually cooler and the days are pretty warm around 20°C, perfect riding temperature.

What type of gear would you recommend both in the saddle and for apres riding?

I usually ride in shorts and a short sleeve jersey but depending on weather I will carry a long sleeve jersey in my pack. For the après-riding I would bring a hoodie and pants, as the temperature will drop a bit at night.

Where do we stay over night when doing a multi day package?

Our base camp is in Whitehorse and we use yurts as buildings. We will be doing day trips from there since most trails are accessible from our door step. Our yurts are gorgeous, boutique style accommodations. Queen beds, hard wood floors, down duvets, heaters. It really is the best place to stay in town. Made by riders for riders..

What sort of wildlife might we encounter?

It is possible to encounter black or grizzly bears, coyote, wolf, lynx, caribou, moose… But chances are slim we will see anything. We are lucky to live in a place where animals have freedom to avoid human contact. The Yukon is a huge place – why would they hang out around us?

How are the bugs/mosquitoes?

The rumours of northern bugs are highly exaggerated, especially in the areas that we will be riding. However, you will likely see mosquitoes but mostly at night between 9-11pm.

What might a typical day of meals be like?

We have fantastic chefs in our midst! Vegetarian food is available and meat options will be local – caribou, moose, elk. Fish will be halibut or Arctic Charr. All food is gourmet and prepared just for you. If you have any other allergies or food preferences, please let us know and we will accommodate. You will have a large delicious breakfast, lots of snacks, a big lunch, snacks, big dinner, and more snacks. We promise you won’t go hungry!

Are there other things we should try and experience when we aren't in the saddle?

There are lots of things to do in the Whitehorse area. We recommend a Yukon Brewing tour, visit to the Midnight Sun coffee roasters, check out some local businesses on Main Street, the Thursday night farmer’s market to name a few options. Some of the best things to do here involve scenery and just taking in the vastness that is the Yukon. Lots of alpine hikes, canoeing, kayaking, swimming in lakes, walking by the river: Remember, the days are long!

Bring a bathing suit for a dip in the Yukon River?

Sure, and if it really hot, there is a lake nearby the yurts where the locals go for a dip.

Should I bring my own bike or rent?

We recommend riders to bring their own bikes. It will make your riding vacation that much more enjoyable when you are on a bike you know well! That being said, we do have Norco Fluid full suspension bikes for rent.

What kind of bike is best to bring?

We ride Norco Fluids, light bikes with 5 and 5 inches of travel and it’s the perfect bike for around Whitehorse. That being said, you could easily ride a hardtail on most of the trails.