The Canol Road was part of the
Canol Project
The Canol Project was constructed during World War II to ensure a supply of oil for the defense of Alaska and the North American west coast. The project was completed in two years at an astronomical cost and was abandoned less than a year later.
...
and was built to construct a pipeline from
Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
Norman Wells (Slavey language: ''Tłegǫ́hłı̨'' "where there is oil") is a town located in the Sahtu Region, Northwest Territories, Canada, settled about 140 km (87 mi) south of the Arctic Circle. The town, which hosts the Sahtu Regional of ...
, to
Whitehorse, Yukon, during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
. The pipeline no longer exists, but the long
Yukon
Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...
portion of the road is maintained by the Yukon Government during summer months. The portion of the road that still exists in the NWT is called the
Canol Heritage Trail
The Canol Heritage Trail is a trail running from Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, through the Mackenzie Mountains, to the Yukon border. Because of its remoteness, length and river crossings it is considered one of the most challenging trails ...
. Both road and trail are incorporated into the
Trans-Canada Trail.
The Canol Road starts at
Johnson's Crossing
Johnsons Crossing or Johnson's Crossing is a settlement in Yukon, Canada. It is located at historical mile 836 of the Alaska Highway, at the junction of the Canol Road where the highway crosses the Teslin River.
Geography Climate
Demograp ...
on the