NWT asks for input on Canol Trail cleanup

The NWT government is asking for the public’s input on the cleanup of a portion of the Canol Trail.

In a Thursday news release, the territory said it is considering the best approach to remediate the roughly 13 km of the 355 km trail it is responsible for.

The NWT government has opened a survey for the public to provide their opinions on what should be prioritized in the cleanup of miles zero to eight of the Canol Trail.

The survey is open until November 21.

“Your feedback will help us make informed, responsible decisions to keep the land and communities safe,” the press release states.

The short survey asks respondents to identify their top three remediation priorities. It also allows people to submit comments on what the NWT government should consider during remediation to balance environmental protection, heritage preservation and land use.

Contamination of miles 0-8

The NWT government said studies have been conducted of miles zero to eight of the Canol Trail in recent years including sampling soil, surface water and groundwater as well as examining contamination and physical hazards. The territory said findings from that research were shared at public information sessions in Tulita and Norman Wells in June 2025.

A report on the remediation project indicates environmental assessments have found metal and petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at several locations throughout miles zero to eight. The assessments also found surface debris including drums, abandoned vehicles and scrap metal as well as asbestos and lead paint in some building materials.

A human health risk assessment concluded the health risks from contaminants are low, the report says, except for four areas of soil contaminated with lead at mile eight.

The NWT government has said the trail is safe to use as long as hikers follow posted guidance to not disturb the soil, drink surface water or enter buildings.

History of the Canol Trail

The Canol Trail was originally used as part of a project during the Second World War that linked oil fields in Norman Wells to a refinery in Whitehorse.

Sahtu Dene played an important role in building the Canol pipeline and trail.

The federal government transferred responsibility for the first eight miles of the Canol Trail to the NWT government in 1973.

In 1990, what remained of the service road was designated as a National Historic Site. Today, the Canol Heritage Trail, which winds through the Mackenzie Mountains to the Yukon border, is considered one of the longest and toughest hiking trails in North America. 

Federal remediation of miles eight to 222 of the trail began in 2018 and finished in 2019 including demolishing and boarding up buildings as well as removing contaminated soil. The Canadian government is currently carrying out a long-term monitoring program.