How do I Walk the Yukon Trail?
Retrace the steps of the Klondike Gold Rush by walking the Yukon Trail--also known as the Chilkoot Trail. Unlike other trails, the Yukon Trail has fewer people due to limit of fifty hikers permitted to begin each day. The Yukon Trail is also an international trail, which begins in the United States and ends in Canada. Be prepared for a variety of weather conditions, as the trail starts at sea level, climbs to over 3,500 feet in elevation at Chilkoot Pass, and then remains above 2,000 feet for the remainder of the trip. (ref 4) This guide presents the hike from South to North as it was hiked during the gold rush.
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Things You'll Need
- Map of the Chilkoot Trail
- Permit
- Backpack
- Tent
- Sleeping bag
- Clothing
- Cooking gear
- First aid kit
- Camping equipment
Instructions
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Secure a hiking permit from the National Parks Service. Permits are required by all hikers between June 1 and September 5. According to the National Parks Service, the $50.80 CDN fee (as of 2010) is used to offset trail maintenance costs. You can physically pick up your permit before you hike at the Skagway Trail Center.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
P.O. Box 517
Skagway, Alaska 99840
867-667-3910
www.nps.gov/klgo
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Plan your itinerary. BestHike.com recommends hiking the trail in five days, four nights during the summer months. Sheep Pass is the climax of the trip, in terms of difficulty; most campers stay at Sheep and Happy Camps, located on either side of the pass, on nights two and three.
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Fly or ferry from Juneau, Alaska or Seattle, Washington to Skagway, Alaska. This step may be the most expensive part of your trip.
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Hike from the trailhead at Dyea Road to Canyon City or Finnegan's Point campgrounds on day one. You will be able to hike late, thanks to the long summer days in Canada and Alaska.
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Camp at Sheep Camp on day two to prepare for the climb up Chilkoot Pass on day three. Some hikers plan an extra day at Sheep Camp in case of bad weather.
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Climb Chilkoot Pass, weather permitting, to the highest point along the Yukon Trail. As you descend toward Happy Camp, notice how the weather has become drier since leaving the coastal rain forest.
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Camp among white granite slabs and dark green trees as you spend your final evening on the shore of Bare Loon Lake. Reinvigorate yourself with a swim in the icy Bare Loon Lake before hiking out the next morning.
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Tips & Warnings
Read "Hiking With Ghosts: The Chilkoot Trail, Then and Now," by Adrian Dorst, to beef up your knowledge of Klondike history before you go.
Bears may be encountered along the Yukon Trail. Carry bear spray and take other necessary precautions whenever traveling in bear country.
Although the supplies provided here are essential, the list is far from exhaustive. Carefully consider what supplies you'll need for your trip and plan accordingly.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wild lupine flowers image by Joy Prescott from Fotolia.com
