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Chilkoot Trail
Distance: 53 km Elevation Gain: 1070 m (3510 ft) Time: 30 hours |
Date Added: May 11, 2011
Last Update: May 11, 2011 |
Follow the stampeders' trail on the infamous Chilkoot Trail. The trail wanders through a diverse landscape - from wet coastal rain forest, up to rocky alpine and then to dry, lichen covered forest. There are campsites along the trail and facilities are provided at every site.
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You can either take a shuttle from Skagway, or drive to Dyea yourself. If you choose to drive, head out of Skagway and look for the sign for Dyea, about 1 km out of Skagway town center. Follow Dyea Road on your left for about 6.5 km to the Dyea Campground. You must park at the campground, as overnight parking at the trailhead is prohibited. Walk out of the campground and turn left. A couple hundred meters ahead is a bridge over the Taiya River. To the right of the bridge is the signed trailhead.
If you plan on camping, you must book ahead of time. Check the Parks Canada website for details.
The trail begins through coastal rain forest. It starts with a steep climb which quickly flattens out and then comes right back down to the altitude at which you started. After a few ups-and-downs, the trail stays quite flat with very minimal elevation gain.
The trail stays in the forest following along the Taiya River. Every so often the trail comes right to the Taiya River, offering a less obstructed view of the surroundings.
After 7.7 km, you will reach Finnegan's Point, the first campsite on the trail. Because this campsite is so close to the trailhead, it is mostly used by hikers starting later in the day.
From Finnegan's Point, the trail continues along the Taiya River and through the forest. There are a few glimpses of glaciers, high up in the mountain tops.
After another 4.4 km from Finnegan's Point (a total of 12.1 km), is Canyon City, the second campsite on the trail. The Canyon City campsite has the same ammendities as every other campsite (a cooking shelter, tent pads, outhouse, and food cache) as well as a small cabin with bunks and a table and chairs. A small suspension bridge leads to the remains of Canyon City as a quick side trip.
The trail after Canyon City starts to climb steadily upwards. There are a few more glacies that can be seen on the way to the next campsite, Pleasant Camp. Pleasant Camp is 4.7 kms from Canyon City (a total of 16.9 km from the trailhead).
From Pleasant Camp the trail gradually leads up through the forest (for 3.4 kms) and over a suspension bridge towards Sheep Camp (a total of 20.3 kms). Sheep Camp is a very popular camp as it is the last camp before climbing the Golden Stairs. It can be a full day to the next camp, so most people stay here before going over the Chilkoot Pass. The park ranger usually gives a talk in the evening about the route ahead.
Leaving Sheep Camp, you also start to leave the forest behind as you climb gradually up the valley. The terrain starts to turn rocky as you follow a stream up to the Scales (4.6 kms from Sheep Camp).
At the Scales you will find an assortment of rusted old relics from the goldrush. The Scales was a place to weigh the miners' loads and is your rest area before climbing the Golden Stairs.
It is only about 1.5 km from the Scales to the Canada/USA border, but it is almost straight up... the Golden Stairs. Don't sweat it, it's not that bad. You don't have to carry a ton of supplies up there. Take your time scrambling on the boulders up to the border.
At the border you will find a Canada customs official and an amazing view overlooking Crater Lake. Snap some photos and head down towards the lake - you will be following along the right side of it. Take a dip if it is a hot day, or continue along to Happy Camp, about 6.5 km from the border. The walk to Happy Camp has some slight up and downs and has a gorgeous landscape.
Happy Camp is nestled in a rocky subapline valley beside a nice river. From here, you will follow between and above the rocky cliffs that flank the river towards Long Lake and the Deep Lake campground. There is some elevation gain before you finally decend to Deep Lake (4 km from Happy Camp).
After Deep Lake you will enter back into the trees and dry landscape. You will follow lichen and rock covered ground as you walk to Lindeman Lake (4.8 km from Deep Lake) and Bare Loon Lake (4.9 km from Lindeman Lake).
About 500 m after Bare Loon Lake you will come to a slight fork in the trail. Going straight will lead you to Bennett Lake (6.4 km from Bare Loon Lake) where you can catch the White Pass & Yukon Route train back to Skagway. Going right will lead you to the railway tracks which you can follow to the Log Cabin parking lot. From the fork, it is just under 2 km to the railway tracks and then another 8.5 km to the Log Cabin parking lot.
Have these directions changed? We invite you to let us know.
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