Chilkoot Trail Backpacking

The Chilkoot Trail is one of the great historic hikes in North America. It follows the route that tens of thousands of gold seekers walked in 1897 and 1898, from tidewater at Dyea over the 3,500-foot Chilkoot Pass and down to Bennett Lake, where they built boats for the journey to Dawson City. The trail is about 33 miles long and typically takes three to five days. It climbs from coastal rainforest through alpine terrain and then descends into the drier boreal country of British Columbia, so the landscape changes dramatically along the way. Along the trail hikers pass rusted stoves, boots, cable, sleds and other relics left by the stampeders, preserved where they were dropped. The most famous section is the pass itself. Stampeders had to haul about a ton of supplies up the steep snowfield known as the Golden Stairs, in relays, before they were allowed to cross the border. Modern hikers climb the same steep, rocky slope in a few hours, scrambling over boulders with a pack. The effort is rewarded by a sweeping view and a sense of what the stampeders endured. After the pass, the trail descends past lakes and campsites to Bennett, where the White Pass and Yukon Route railway offers a way home, linking the hike to the railway story.

This is a serious backcountry trip, not a day walk. It needs fitness, appropriate gear and careful planning. Overnight camping requires permits on both the U.S. and Canadian sides, with a limited number available each season, so reserve early. In the United States, permits are handled through the national park's reservation system and hikers must check in and attend a safety briefing at the Skagway trail center before they set out.

On the Canadian side, Parks Canada manages its own permits and fees. The trail is typically hiked from Dyea to Bennett in summer, and the border at the pass is not a through crossing point, so check current rules for returning and exiting.

Preparation matters. Weather can turn quickly, and snow can linger on the pass well into summer. Bring waterproof layers, good boots, a stove, a bear-safe food storage plan and a repair kit. Many hikers carry trekking poles to ease the descents. Bear sightings are common, and the trail has specific food storage requirements. The railway offers a hiker service from Bennett back to Skagway, which makes logistics simpler; the schedule is seasonal, so check it when you plan your dates.

If a multi-day trek is more than you want, there are easier ways to touch the trail: the first few miles along the Taiya River from Dyea are an excellent day hike, and guided hike-and-float tours give a taste of the route in a shorter outing. For those who do commit to the whole trail, it is among the most rewarding history walks on the continent, and the sense of following in the stampeders' footsteps is hard to match. Allow extra days around the hike for travel and a hot meal in Skagway afterward.

Consider a guided or outfitted version if you lack backcountry experience; several outfitters run supported itineraries, and the park service can point you to current options.