Slim's River West

Distance: 46 km
Elevation Gain: 115 m (377 ft)
Time: 16 hours

Date Added: August 24, 2011
Last Update: August 24, 2011

This trail follows along the west side of the Slim's River and ends up at a campsite about 2 kms from the toe of the Kaskawulsh glacier. You are hiking into the heart of Kluane, so the mountains around you never cease to impress. Plan on camping at least 2 nights if you want to get a better view of the glacier. The trail along the river is long but relatively flat with a few damp sections and a couple of creek crossings. Parks Canada can close this trail at a moments notice due to grizzly bear activity, so always check with them first to see if it is open.

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Driving Directions

From Haines Junction, continue on the Alaska Highway for about 70 km until you cross a bridge and see the Kluane National Park visitor's center. Immediately after the visitor's center, make a left onto Sheep Creek road. Follow this gravel road for about 2.5 km until you reach the parking spot.

Trail Description

The Slim's River West trail takes two days to complete; one day in, and one day out. But if you are going through all the trouble of walking all the way to the toe of the Kaskawulsh glacier, you might as well spend at least one more day exploring near it. You can hike to the toe of the glacier, or up Observation Mountain to an expansive view overlooking the glacier. Or both! You will have to decide ahead of time how many days you are going to be camping, and then register with Park Canada. Overnight registration is mandatory in the park and so are bear-resistant food canisters, which you can rent from the park. For more information, visit the Parks Canada Kluane registration page.

Hiking up Observation Mountain makes for a long day, but is worth the effort. Expect 8-10 hours for the 22 km day hike, and 840 m of elevation gain. To hike to the toe of the Kaskawulsh glacier instead, expect about 3-4 hours, which allows for time to explore.

The trail passes through a gate and follows an old road which is wide and easy to follow. After 2 kms you will come to your first creek crossing, Sheep Creek. Try crossing towards your right, near the cliffs. You may even find a log across the creek and may not even need to take your boots off. Otherwise, take off your boots and socks, roll up your pants, unbuckle your backpack, put your pole straps around your wrists and cross slowly.

Continue following the old road past the Bullion Plateau information plaque. A newly built boardwalk will then lead you across a marshy area. Unfortunately, the boardwalk stops quite short of the end of the marsh, so you will get your boots wet regardless. The next landmark is Bullion Creek at about the 6 km mark. Bullion Creek is a little larger than Sheep Creek and can be crossed towards your right, where the remains of cemented logs posts can be seen on the other side of the creek.

After Bullion Creek, the trail disappears for a few hundred meters, but if you stay roughly in the center of the open area, you should come across it eventually. 2.3 kms after Bullion Creek you will come across some sand dunes. Camping is prohibited before Bullion Creek and is not recommended at the sand dunes either (it is a special preservation area).

Your route for the next 7 kms will depend on how wet the ground is. If the mud flats are fairly dry, then this is the easiest route to take. Otherwise, you may have to take detours in the trees towards the mountainside, but this will add up to 2 extra hours. Try the mud flats, and if you sink to your knees, turn around and detour.

Around kilometer 16 you will come to an alluvial fan (a wide delta of rocks and boulders). Follow the cairns (piles of rocks used as markers) to pick your way across the fan. Afterwards, you will encounter more marshy areas which you will again have to decide if you can walk through them or if you have to detour up into the trees. The detours always take longer, so if the marshes are not too wet, try and walk through them.

After 20 kms you will leave the side of the river and follow a path into the trees. The path meanders up and down and will also climb steeply for a bit. The views will start to open up after a while and you can see the toe of the glacier is getting much closer. It is 2.5 kms through the trees to the campsite.

At the campsite, there is a fire-pit with benches, an outhouse, and tenting areas. There is a nice clear stream near the campsite where you can get fresh water (not the little stream a couple meters from the fire-pit, but a little further down the path). This area is well known for the amount of grizzly bears around, so keep your food and smelly items in a bear-resistant food canister away from tent, such as down by the fire-pit.

Have these directions changed? We invite you to let us know.

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