Chilkoot

Park: Chilkook Trail

Map

Skagway B-1, Skagway C-1 (USGS) and White Pass 104M/11 East and Homan Lake 104M/14 East (Cdn Map Office)

53.1 km one way.

Terrain: Very rough

Elevations (in meters)
Start:	0	End:	640
Minimum:	0	Maximum:	1081
Net Gain:	1081	Cumulative Gain:	1081

Trailheads

Transportation is required at both ends.

Dyea Trailhead: Access Skagway either via air and ferry from Juneau or via a series of ferries from Prince Rupert. Dyea is about 14.5 km north of Skagway via a gravel road.

Facilities available at the trailhead include:

Campsite

Lake Bennet Trailhead: The return journey to Skagway is made via the "White Pass & Yukon Railroad", a narrow guage railway. Tickets must be purchased in Skagway (the office is beside the Skagway Visitor"s Center) before the journey as they are not available at Lake Bennett. Trains depart the lake at 11:10am from June 1 through September 14.

Uses

Backpack

Moderate to strenuous (backcountry permit required, fee charged).

4 days one way.

Best from mid June thru mid September.

Description

One prospecter hiking the trail described the "Golden Staircase" (an elevation gain of 300m in .8 km) as "it was almost perpendicular. It was like climbing an icy stairway to hell". Other recorded comments include "Hell can"t be worse than this trail".

A quota of 50 hikers per day has been imposed on the Canadian side of the trail.

Features

This trail features glacial views, lakes, mountains, rivers and historical artifacts.

Hazards

Some streams/rivers must be forded (if near the beach wait for low tide; undo your hip belt when crossing; wear running shoes or sandals)
route-finding skills are required
some scrambling is required

Major storms are possible at any time of year. The trail is often snow covered in early June. The final .8km to the pass is very steep, often requiring some scrambling. It can be difficult to spot the correct route so exercise caution! Avalanche dangers exist, especially early in the season.

Comments

This is not a trail to do for those seeking solitude.

Bring 15m of nylon cord for hanging food.

Parks Canada is recovering the cost of helicopter rescues on this trail. Make sure you have sufficient insurance as the rescue costs can easily top $2000.00.

Campsites along the trail

Dyea	0.0 km	0 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.
	Elevation: ~Sea level
Finnegan's Point	7.9 km		Bear cache/wire Pit toilet	Water is unknown.
Canyon City	12.5 km	120 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.
	Warming shelter
Pleasant Camp	16.9 km	275 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.
Sheep Camp	20.9 km	305 meters	Bear cache/wire Ranger station	Water is unknown.
Happy Camp	33.0 km	885 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.
Deep Lake	37.0 km	840 meters	Bear cache/wire Pit toilet	Water is unknown.
Lindeman City	41.8 km	640 meters	Bear cache/wire Ranger station	Water is unknown.
	Warming shelters
Dan Johnson Lake	45.8 km	640 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.
Bare Loon Lake	46.7 km	640 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.
Lake Bennett	53.1 km	640 meters	Bear cache/wire	Water is unknown.

For additional information see:

Parks Canada Guide to the Chilkoot.
"Chilkoot Trail: Heritage Route to the Klondike" by .

Trail-conditions

View trail condition reports for this trail.