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Shared itinerary · Chilkoot Trail, Alaska and British Columbia

Chilkoot Trail in 5 days

The Chilkoot Trail in five days, from Dyea in Alaska over the pass to Bennett in British Columbia, the route of the 1898 Klondike stampede: Canyon City’s ruins, Sheep Camp, the Scales and the Golden Stairs to the summit, then Happy Camp, Lindeman City and the church at Bennett. 13 stops with times and notes. Parks Canada lets 50 hikers a day over the pass, so book the permit early, and carry a passport: the border is at the summit.

Updated

Distance

65.7 km

Skagway → Bennett Station

Days

5

Stops

13

Each day of Chilkoot Trail in 5 days: route, stops and distance
DayRouteStopsDistance
Day 1Skagway to Canyon City322.6 km
Day 2Pleasant Camp to Sheep Camp28.6 km
Day 3The Scales to Happy Camp313.2 km
Day 4Deep Lake to Lindeman City210.0 km
Day 5Bare Loon Lake to Bennett Station311.3 km

Day 1: Skagway to Canyon City

22.6 km

Permits in Skagway, a short drive to Dyea, then up the Taiya River valley to Canyon City, 12.5 km.

  1. 08:30

    Skagway

    Sight

    Pick up the permit and the ranger briefing at the Chilkoot Trail Center on Broadway. The trailhead at Dyea is 15 km away.

    8.7 km · 20m drive to next

  2. 10:00

    Dyea

    Sight

    The trailhead, by the tidal flats where the stampeders landed a year of supplies each.

    13.9 km · 5h walk to next

  3. 15:15

    Canyon City

    Stay

    The campground at km 12.5, and a short walk over a suspension bridge to the ruins of the gold rush town, boiler and all.

Day 2: Pleasant Camp to Sheep Camp

8.6 km

A short day to the last camp before the pass, 6.5 km. Rest for tomorrow.

  1. 11:00

    Pleasant Camp

    Park & nature

    A small campground at km 16.9, a lunch stop on a short day.

    3.6 km · 1h walk to next

  2. 12:30

    Sheep Camp

    Stay

    The last camp before the pass, at km 18.8. Go to the ranger’s evening talk: it sets the time you leave in the morning.

Day 3: The Scales to Happy Camp

13.2 km

The pass day, the longest: 12 km and about 750 m up, much of it on boulders. Leave Sheep Camp before dawn.

  1. 09:00

    The Scales

    Park & nature

    Where the stampeders reweighed their loads before the last climb. What they left behind still lies on the ground.

    1.3 km · 1h 30m walk to next

  2. 11:00

    Chilkoot Pass

    Park & nature

    The summit at 1,067 m and the Canadian border, after the Golden Stairs, an hour of scrambling up the rock. A warming shelter is just beyond.

    7.4 km · 4h walk to next

  3. 16:00

    Happy Camp

    Stay

    The first camp in Canada, at km 33.8, named by stampeders glad to be over the top.

Day 4: Deep Lake to Lindeman City

10.0 km

Down into the trees and the lakes, 7.6 km to Lindeman City.

  1. 10:30

    Deep Lake

    Park & nature

    A lake and campground at km 37.9, where the trail drops toward the forest.

    5.2 km · 1h 45m walk to next

  2. 13:00

    Lindeman City

    Stay

    The tent city of 1898 where stampeders built boats for the Yukon River. A museum tent at the camp tells the story.

Day 5: Bare Loon Lake to Bennett Station

11.3 km

The last 11.6 km, through sand and pine to Bennett Lake and the train.

  1. 10:00

    Bare Loon Lake

    Park & nature

    The last campground, at km 44.6, on a lake with a small island.

    7.7 km · 2h 30m walk to next

  2. 13:00

    Bennett

    Sight

    The end, at km 53, on Bennett Lake, where thousands of stampeders waited for the ice to break in 1898. St. Andrew’s church is the one building left from the rush.

    16 m · 5m walk to next

  3. 15:00

    Bennett Station

    Activity

    The White Pass and Yukon Route train back over White Pass to Skagway, on set days in summer. Book a seat when you book the permit.