Canol Road (Canol Heritage Trail)
WWII pipeline road through absolute nowhere
The Canol Road follows the abandoned WWII oil pipeline from Norman Wells, NWT to Johnson’s Crossing, Yukon — 372 miles of history frozen in time. You’ll pass rusted pumping stations, twisted pipeline sections, and machinery left to rot when the project was scrapped in 1945. The road climbs over Macmillan Pass at 4,127 feet, where weather can turn deadly fast even in summer.
This is expert-level wilderness travel requiring full expedition prep, satellite communication, and multiple spare tires. The road is impassable when wet, with creek crossings that can strand you for days. Best tackled July through early September with convoy support. You’ll need fuel caches or extreme range — nearest services are hundreds of miles apart. What you get is pure isolation and some of the most haunting industrial archaeology in North America.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 372 mi / 599 km |
| Duration | 7-10 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 4127 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified 4WD expedition vehicle |
| Nearest town | Norman Wells, NWT |
| Land manager | Government of Northwest Territories |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.