Chilkoot Trail hiking guide: route map, stages & where to stay

The Chilkoot Trail is the gold-rush route over the Coast Mountains from tidewater in Alaska to the headwaters of the Yukon River in Canada. It runs 53 km (33 miles) from the old townsite of Dyea, 16 km (10 miles) from Skagway, over Chilkoot Pass (1,067 m, 3,500 ft) to Bennett on Bennett Lake in British Columbia. In 1897–98 tens of thousands of stampeders hauled a ton of supplies each up the "Golden Stairs" to reach the Klondike. Today it is a backcountry trail with nine campgrounds, managed by the US National Park Service (Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park) and Parks Canada (Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site). Most hikers take 3 to 5 days.

The border is closed in 2026

Read this first. In 2026 it is illegal to cross the US–Canada border at Chilkoot Pass in either direction. The pass is not a port of entry, and both governments have kept it closed to hikers since 2020. You can still hike the trail, but only as an out-and-back on one side:

• US side: Dyea to the pass and back, about 53 km (33 miles) return, camping at Finnegan's Point, Canyon City, Pleasant Camp and Sheep Camp. Permit from Recreation.gov.
• Canadian side: Bennett to the pass and back, 26 km each way with about 450 m of gain, camping at Bare Loon Lake, Lindeman City, Deep Lake and Happy Camp. Permit from Parks Canada. Bennett has no road: take the White Pass & Yukon Route train from Carcross or Skagway, or a floatplane.

Check the NPS and Parks Canada pages before you book; if the border reopens, the classic through-hike below applies again.

The route

This guide follows the historic through-route from Dyea to Bennett as mapped on OpenStreetMap and splits it into 5 stages, about 10.0 km each. The first two days follow the Taiya River north through coastal rainforest of spruce, hemlock and devil's club, past Finnegan's Point to Canyon City and on through Pleasant Camp to Sheep Camp. The pass day is the hard one: above the treeline the trail climbs past the Scales to the foot of the Golden Stairs, a steep slope of boulders and talus, often with snow, up to the border. On the Canadian side the land changes fast: snowfields and alpine lakes past Crater Lake to Happy Camp, then a gentle descent past Long Lake and Deep Lake into dry boreal forest, the tent city site at Lindeman Lake, Bare Loon Lake and finally the sandy trail to Bennett and its 1899 log church.

The whole trail is an outdoor museum: rusted stoves, boots, cans and collapsed tramway towers lie where the stampeders left them. Take photos, not artifacts.

When to go

The summer season is 1 June to 12 September, when permits are needed and rangers patrol. Early June is still winter on the pass, with deep snow and snow camping. From mid-June to early July snow lies high up and the avalanche hazard on the pass lasts until mid-July, so leave Sheep Camp very early. Mid-July to early August is mostly snow-free and the busiest time. From mid-August the weather turns wetter, foggier and colder. Fog, rain and snow are possible on the pass in any month. Outside the season there are no patrols and the route is unmarked.

How hard is it?

The trail is strenuous. The distances are modest, but the pass day climbs about 800 m over rough rock, and Parks Canada describes the section above Deep Lake as "more route than trail". From Sheep Camp to Happy Camp often takes 8 to 12 hours: start before dawn, wear boots with good grip, and turn back in poor visibility. There are fords and slippery boardwalks, and you carry a tent, stove and food for the whole trip.

Permits and booking

• US side: reserve a campground for every night on Recreation.gov ($20 permit fee per trip). Print the permit and validate it at the Chilkoot Trail Center in Skagway, where everyone in the group attends the mandatory safety orientation.
• Canadian side: reserve campgrounds and buy the overnight permit from Parks Canada: CAD 47 for adults and CAD 23.75 for youth in 2026, plus a reservation fee per group. Buy the permit before you book the train.
• Camp only in the designated campgrounds, two people per tent site. Campfires are banned: carry a stove.

Getting there and away

Skagway is reached by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, by small planes from Juneau, or by road on the Klondike Highway from Whitehorse (about 180 km). Taxis and shuttles run from Skagway to the Dyea trailhead. For the Canadian side, the White Pass & Yukon Route train links Carcross and Skagway with Bennett from late May to mid-September; floatplanes fly from Whitehorse. Book all transport, including your pickup from Bennett, before you start. Walking along the railway tracks is illegal.

Money and phone signal

Alaska uses US dollars and Canada uses Canadian dollars. Skagway has shops, banks and outfitters; there is nothing to buy on the trail. There is no cell service anywhere on the trail, including Bennett. Carry a satellite messenger or PLB, both to call for help and to contact your train or plane.

What to pack

Waterproof jacket and trousers, warm layers, hat and gloves even in August, sturdy boots, trekking poles, a tent that copes with wind and rain, a backpacking stove and fuel, a water filter, bear spray, insect repellent, toilet paper and food for every day plus a spare day. Bring your passport if you take the train.

Safety

Black and brown bears are common: store all food and scented items in the bear lockers at each campground. Treat all water. The Taiya River is cold and fast. In an emergency use your satellite device; 911 works only where there is a signal, which means not on the trail. NPS rangers are based at Sheep Camp in summer and Parks Canada has a cabin at Lindeman City, but neither is staffed every day. Leave your plan with someone at home.