CHILKOOT TRAIL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE HIKER PREPARATION GUIDE Hiking towards Happy Camp Credit: Christine Aikens The information in this guide supplements and updates the information on the accompanying map A Hiker’s Guide to the Chilkoot Trail. Prior to planning your trip, assess your skills and physical fitness level. Do not over estimate your abilities on this challenging hike. The United States and Canada officially recognized the Chilkoot Trail as part of the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park in 1998. The trail is cooperatively managed by the United States National Parks Service and Parks Canada. www.parkscanada.gc.ca/chilkoot WHAT TO EXPECT View from the Chilkoot Pass overlooking Crater Lake WHO SHOULD HIKE THE TRAIL The Chilkoot Trail is isolated, strenuous, The Chilkoot should only be attempted by physically challenging and potentially persons who are physically fit and hazardous. The trail is also extremely experienced in hiking and backpacking. It rewarding, providing hikers with spectacular should not be attempted by novice hikers. scenery within a unique historical setting. Individuals who have previously injured their ankles, knees or back, or who have chronic The Chilkoot Trail traverses rocky, very pain frequently experience flare-ups while steep and sometimes snow covered terrain. hiking the Chilkoot. To avoid unnecessary The trail can be rough with deep mud, problems test your strength and endurance on standing water, unstable boulders, slick rocks shorter, less demanding overnight trips prior and roots making footing difficult. The to hiking the Chilkoot. Hiking with a partner portion of the hike from the Scales over or small group is preferable. Chilkoot Pass is a route not a trail. While the Families: This hike is not recommended for route is marked, extreme weather conditions young children. Children tend to speed ahead can complicate route finding. “Crossing the of their parents and frequently end up coping Pass” is the most demanding day. It often with hazards on their own. Parents should be takes 12 hours to travel from Sheep Camp to particularly observant and watch for the onset Happy Camp, a distance of only 12.1 km (7.5 of hypothermia in their children as well as in miles). Some hikers are challenged by vertigo themselves. Practise good leadership and or by balancing on unstable slippery snow teach your family the importance of low and rocks, as they carry a heavy pack and impact camping. body weight up to and down from the Pass. Snowfields between the Scales and Happy Custodial Groups: A “custodial group” Camp persist throughout the summer months. means a group affiliated with an institution, Be prepared to camp on snow at Happy Camp where at least one person is a minor and not until late June/early July. in the company of his/her parent. Guidelines specific to custodial groups hiking the Mountain weather is highly unpredictable Chilkoot Trail will be provided by Parks and can change quickly. Regardless of Canada. season, hikers can expect wet, cold, windy and/or white-out conditions; severe rain or Pets: We recommend you do not take your snow storms are possible even in the middle pets on the trail; however, if you choose to do of summer. Avalanche hazard persists until so pets must be kept on a leash at all times. mid-July. www.parkscanada.gc.ca/chilkoot HIKING SEASON HIKING TRIP LOGISTICS Parks Canada and United States National Plan time to relax and enjoy this historical Parks Service staff patrols the trail from early setting as well as to deal with unforeseen June, when the route over Chilkoot Pass is difficulties and delays. Allow ample time first marked, until early September. USNPS before and after your hike to avoid Rangers are stationed at Sheep Camp and unnecessary conflicts with other travel Parks Canada staff are stationed at Lindeman arrangements. City and Chilkoot Pass. This however does not guarantee that someone will be at these Most backpackers spend between three locations at all times should you require and five nights on the Trail. Almost all assistance. begin their trek in Dyea and hike north towards Bennett. This option retraces the When to hike journey of the stampeders en route to the Klondike goldfields and as most weather Early June: Winter like conditions persist. systems blow in from the coast, driving rain Travel may be very difficult. Avalanche or heavy winds will tend to be at your back. hazard exists. During this time you will want It is desirable, especially in the early season to cross Chilkoot Pass early in the day to when avalanche hazard is a concern, to stay reduce your exposure in avalanche terrain. in Sheep Camp the night before crossing There will be few other hikers on the trail. Chilkoot Pass. Check with the Trail Center for seasonal conditions. Hiking north to south you will be moving against the predominant flow of hikers and Mid-June - early July: Early season will encounter many more hikers along the backpacking: significant amounts of snow, Trail. Descending the steep incline from the variable travel conditions. Avalanche hazard Pass to the Scales, while easier on the persists until mid-July. During this time you respiratory system, places greater stress on will want to cross Chilkoot Pass early in the knee and ankle joints and puts you at greater day to reduce your exposure in avalanche risk of losing your footing, falling and terrain. possibly injuring yourself. Mid-July - mid-August: Peak Season: Trail is generally snow free though some snow patches persist. Travel conditions are highly variable and dependant on weather. Peak visitor use occurs during this period. Mid-August - late September: Fall Backpacking: Trail is generally snow free though some snow patches still persist. Weather is wetter; daylight hours are shorter, nights are colder (often below freezing). The route over Chilkoot Pass is not marked after patrol staff leaves the trail in early September. Descending the Pass www.parkscanada.gc.ca/chilkoot ACCESS BORDER CROSSING INFORMATION The Chilkoot Trail is accessed from the town The Chilkoot Trail crosses the international of Skagway, Alaska. Skagway is accessible boundary between the United States and by road from Whitehorse, Yukon, via the Canada. Full compliance with the Western South Klondike Highway. During the Hemisphere Travel Initiative went into effect summer visitor season, there is a bus service June 1st, 2009 and requires U.S. and Canadian between Whitehorse and Skagway. Vehicle citizens to present one of the following rentals are also available in Whitehorse. documents for entry into the United States by There is both ferry and commuter air service land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the to Skagway from Juneau, Alaska. Caribbean, or Bermuda. Dyea Trailhead US/Canadian Citizens: US Passport Card, Enhanced Driver’s License, US or Canadian The Dyea trailhead is a distance of 16 km / 10 passport, or a Trusted Traveler Program card miles from Skagway. Access is by all weather issued by US Customs and Border Protection. dirt road. Overnight parking is available in Dyea at the National Parks Service Landed Immigrants: Passport from their campground located 1 km / ½ mile from the native country with U.S. Visa, if required. trailhead. There are a number of private shuttles that provide transport from Skagway Resident Aliens: Permanent Resident Card to the trailhead at Dyea. While these services are reliably available, individual operators Other Nationalities: Passport (and Canadian vary from season to season and specific and/or U.S. Visas, if required) contact information is not available until the onset of the summer hiking season. Contact information for these services is available at the Trail Centre. Children: US and Canadian citizens Bennett Trailhead under the age of 16, or under the age of 19 if traveling with a school, religious, or There is a primitive campground at Bennett, other youth group, may present a birth but there are no other tourist services. There certificate, Consular Report of Birth is no road access to Bennett. Your exit Abroad, Canadian Citizenship Card, or a options are train, or for those returning to naturalization certificate. Birth certificates Whitehorse, floatplane. There is no phone or can be an original, photocopy, or certified cell phone service at Bennett. All post-hike copy. travel arrangements must be made prior to starting the trail. Contact carriers if accompanied by both parents: birth directly: certificate White Pass & Yukon Route if accompanied by one parent: birth www.wpyr.com certificate and notarized letter of 1-800-343-7373 authorization from absent parent Alpine Aviation if neither parent is present: birth www.alpineaviationyukon.com certificate and letter of authorization from 1-867-668-7725 parent/legal guardian www.parkscanada.gc.ca/chilkoot Northbound Hikers PARK MANAGEMENT All hikers traveling from the US into Canada Quota must register at the Trail Center prior to In order to maintain a high quality hiking starting their hike. All hikers must be present experience and to minimize the impact of and have proper documentation for crossing hikers on Park resources, a maximum of 50 the border. Hikers must report to Canada hikers per day will be Permitted to enter Border Services after completing their hike: Canada over Chilkoot Pass. Fraser Port of Entry Group Size Km 36 – South Klondike Highway Large groups tend to have a negative effect Tel: 867-821-4111 - Hours: 24 hours a day upon the experience of other hikers, as well as placing greater demands upon park CBSA Whitehorse Office facilities and greater stress on the park Suite 110 – 300 Main Street environment. In order to minimize the Tel: 867-667-3943 impacts of large groups, group size is limited Hours: Monday to Friday to a maximum of 12; only one large group 8:00 am – 4:30 pm ( 9 - 12) is permitted to cross Chilkoot Pass on any given day.