Kluane National Park and Reserve of Canada
Summary of Trails and Routes
Hiking in the Alsek Valley© Parks Canada / D Delahaye / 08/96 / 6261 3021 3472 41One of the best ways to enjoy the beauty of Kluane National Park and Reserve is to explore the area on foot. Whether you are looking for a short, easy day hike or an extended expedition in the ice-fields, Kluane has something for everyone.
Below you will find a brief summary of popular park trails and routes. Additional information may be available from the Park Visitor Reception Centres.
Trails are well defined with signs, posts, trailheads and obvious walking surfaces.
Routes typically follow no formal trail and are not maintained by the Park. Visitors will need strong hiking and orienteering skills to travel on any routes. Times given refer to total trip. All routes should be considered advanced.
A classification system has been assigned to the trails and routes to indicate the level of difficulty.
Easy
- Well defined, easy to follow with good walking surface and low elevation gain.
Moderate
- Well defined with good walking surface, some elevation gain.
Difficult
- Sections may be strenuous, but generally well defined with some possible route finding.
Advanced
- Not recommended for the inexperienced hiker. Route finding, map reading and compass skills may all be required. Sizable elevation gains are often encountered.
Note: Kluane trails may close to backcountry travel due to bear activity. It is advisable to have a backup plan for an alternate trail.
Detailed descriptions of trails and routes may be found by clicking the highlighted trail and route name links in the table below:
Trails
St. Elias Lake
Old recreation road that leads up to a small lake. Primitive campground at lake. Exciting ski trail.
Distance: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) one way
Trailhead: 60 km (37.5 mi) south of Haines Junction on Haines Highway
Time/Difficulty: 2-4 hours / Easy
Elevation Gain: 120 m (400')
Maximum Elevation: 880 m (2900')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Yes
Learn more about St. Elias Lake...
Mush Lake Road
4-wheel drive access road to Mush Lake. One large creek (Alder) to cross with no bridge. Two-wheel drive vehicles with clearance can drive in the first 5 km to Alder Creek when conditions are good. Good mountain biking trail. Shorty Creek Trail and the Cottonwood Trail branch off the road.
Distance: 22 km (14 mi) one way
Trailhead: 55 km (34 mi) south of Haines Junction on Haines Road
Time/Difficulty: 1-2 days / Easy
Elevation Gain: 34 m (100')
Maximum Elevation: 760 m (2500')
Mountain Bike/Ski: Yes/No
Learn more about Mush Lake Road...
Shorty Creek
First 5.5 km follow Mush Lake Road. Follows Alder Creek upstream to Shorty Creek climbing up to sub-alpine. Trail is old mining road which provides access to creeks flowing from the alpine.
Distance: 12 km (7.5mi) one way
Trailhead: 55 km (34 mi) south of Haines Junction on Haines Road
Time/Difficulty: 6 - 9 hours / Moderate
Elevation Gain: 270 m (900')
Maximum Elevation: 1000 m (3300')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Yes
Learn more about Shorty Creek...
Cottonwood
Use of bear resistant food canisters is mandatory for all overnight trips on this trail. Can start at either Kathleen Lake or the south end of Dezadeash Lake. The longest true trail in Kluane, which travels old mining roads and a trail through two alpine passes. 17 km of the trail follows the Mush Lake road which is open to 4-wheel drive access and mountain bikes. 25 km of the trail is above tree-line. The start of the trail is 30 km away from the end of the trail on the Haines Road.
Distance: 85 km (53 mi) loop
Trailhead: 27 or 55 km (17 or 34 mi) south of Haines Junction on Haines Highway
Time/Difficulty: 4 - 6 days / Difficult
Elevation Gain: 520 m (1700')
Maximum Elevation: 1310 m (4300')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Yes
Learn more about Cottonwood...
Rock Glacier
Self-guiding interpretive trail which is well maintained with sections of board walk or arranged rocks.
Distance: 0.6 km (0.4 mi) one way
Trailhead: 50 km (31 mi) south of Haines Junction on Haines Road
Time/Difficulty: 0.5 - 2 hours / Easy
Elevation Gain: 90 m (300')
Maximum Elevation: 790 m (2600')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Learn more about Rock Glacier...
King's Throne to cirque
First 1.5 km follow old mining road on a section of the Cottonwood Trail. The trail then leads off the road at the base of the mountain and up through the forest to tree-line. It then switchbacks up a steep, rocky slope to an alpine cirque.
Distance: 5 km (3 mi)one way
Trailhead: Kathleen Lake day-use area 27 km (17 mi) south of Haines Junction on Haines Hwy.
Time/Difficulty: 4 - 6 hours / Difficult
Elevation Gain: 548 m (1800')
Maximum Elevation: 1280 m (4200')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Learn more about King's Throne...
Kokanee
Wheel chair accessible board walk trail along the shore of Kathleen Lake.
Distance: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) one way
Trailhead: Kathleen Lake Day Use Area
Time/Difficulty: 10 - 30 min / Easy
Elevation Gain: 3 m (10')
Maximum Elevation: 730 m (2400')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Auriol
One of Kluane's cut trails. Starts in spruce and aspen forest, branches into a loop after 2 km, and climbs up to the sub-alpine above Haines Junction. Some bridges over creeks. Access route to alpine and peaks of the Auriol Range. Primitive campground at top. Popular ski trail.
Distance: 15 km (4.5 mi) loop
Trailhead: 7 km south of Haines Junction on Haines Road
Time/Difficulty: 4-6 hours or overnight / Moderate
Elevation Gain: 400 m (1300')
Maximum Elevation: 1160 m (3800')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Yes
Learn more about Auriol...
Dezadeash River Trail
First 1 km is boardwalk or wood chip surface which joins old trail from R.V. park. Bird and wildlife observation platform and benches are situated along trail. 2 km loop splits the trail at the 1.4 km point.
Distance: 6.5km (4 mi) round trip
Trailhead: South end of Haines Jct. near bridge over Dezadeash River
Time/Difficulty: 1 - 2 hours / Easy
Elevation Gain: 15 m (50')
Maximum Elevation: 640 m (2100')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Yes
Learn more about Dezadeash River Trail...
Alsek Trail
Use of bear resistant food canisters is mandatory for all overnight trips. Follows old mining road into Sugden Creek, first 15 km are open to 4-wheel drive access. Trail has a mainly rocky surface and is positioned low in the valley. Some variable creeks to cross (no bridges).
Distance: 22.4 km (16 mi) one way
Trailhead: 10 km (6 mi) north of Haines Junction on Alaska Highway
Time/Difficulty: 1 - 3 days / Easy
Elevation Gain: 90 m (300')
Maximum Elevation: 610 m (2000')
Mountain Bike/Ski: Yes/No
Learn more about Alsek Trail...
Sheep Creek Trail
Camping not permitted. Old mining road for the first 4.3 km then a footpath through sub-alpine behind Tachal Dhal. Good views up the Slims River valley to the toe of the Kaskawulsh Glacier.
Distance: 5 km (3 mi) one way
Trailhead: Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Time/Difficulty: 3 - 6 hours / Moderate
Elevation Gain: 430 m (1400')
Maximum Elevation: 1280 m (4200')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Learn more about Sheep Creek Trail...
Bullion Plateau Trail
Camping not permitted. Old mining road leading to an alpine plateau between Sheep and Bullion Creeks. Access to a large alpine region
Distance: 12 km (7.5 mi) one way
Trailhead: Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Time/Difficulty: 6.5 - 8 hours / Moderate
Elevation Gain: 880 m (2900')
Maximum Elevation: 1620 m (5300')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Learn more about Bullion Plateau Trail...
Slims West to Canada Creek
Use of bear resistant food canisters is mandatory. Follows old mining road 6 km to Bullion Creek (mountain bikes allowed far as Bullion Creek). Follows Slims River west bank to Canada Creek and primitive campground at km 22.3 where the trail ends. A route (i.e. there is no trail) heads up Canada and Columbia Creek to slopes that can be climbed to access the alpine plateau west of Observation Mountain and then to the summit of Observation Mountain which overlooks Kaskawulsh Glacier.
Distance: 22.5km (13.7 mi) one way
Trailhead: Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Time/Difficulty: 3 - 5 days / Advanced
Elevation Gain: 97 m (318')
Maximum Elevation: 920 m (3018')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Learn more about Slims West...
Soldiers Summit
Self-guiding interpretive trail which leads to the site of the official opening of the Alaska Highway in 1942.
Distance: 0.5 km (0.3 mi) one way
Trailhead: 1 km north of Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Time/Difficulty: 20 - 90 min / Easy
Elevation Gain: 90 m (300')
Maximum Elevation: 880 m (2900')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Routes
Mt. Decoeli
Follows rocky streambed 4 km to rock glacier. Climbs to a pass west of the summit and then follows a steep ridge to top. Good views of icefield ranges on a clear day, including Mt. Logan.
Distance: 9 km (5.5 mi)one way
Trailhead: 18 km (11 mi) north of Haines Junction on Alaska Highway.
Time/Difficulty: 7 - 11 hours / Advanced
Advanced Elevation Gain: 1340 m (4400')
Maximum Elevation: 2330 m (7650')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Part way
Learn more about Mt. Decoeli
Slims East
Use of bear resistant food canisters is mandatory. Follow old road for first 6 km, then cross several rocky creek beds while skirting the edge of the Slims River. Intermittent footpaths marked with cairns or log posts sometimes assist hikers through difficult sections. Route provides access to mountain slope across from the toe of the Kaskawulsh Glacier for good views.
Distance: 23 km (14 mi) one way
Trailhead: 3 km ( 1.9 mi) south of Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Time/Difficulty: 2 - 4 days / Advanced
Advanced Elevation Gain: 910 m (3000')
Maximum Elevation: 1680 m (5500')
Mountain Bike/Ski: Yes/No
Learn more about Slims East...
Donjek
Distance: 100km (62 mi) loop
Trailhead: Duke River 9 km (5.6 mi) north of Burwash Landing
Time/Difficulty: 8 - 10 days / Advanced
Advanced Elevation Gain: 2770 m (9100')
Maximum Elevation: 2164m (7100')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/Part way
Learn more about Donjek...
King's Throne to summit
Distance: 8 km (5 mi) (first 5 km is on maintained trail)
Trailhead: Kathleen Lake day use area, 27 km (17 mi) south of Haines Junction on the Haines Hwy
Time/Difficulty: 6 - 8 hours / Advanced
Advanced Elevation Gain: 1442 m (4729')
Maximum Elevation: 1990 m (6529')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No
Learn more about King's Throne...
Tachal Dhal Ridge Walk
Distance: 11 km (7 mi)
Trailhead: 2 km north of Tachäl Dhäl (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Time/Difficulty: 6 - 10 hours / Difficult
Advanced Elevation Gain: 1310 m (4300')
Maximum Elevation: 1922 m (6300')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No
Learn more about Tachal Dhal Ridge Walk...
Slim's West Route to Observation Mountain
Ä'ay Chù (Slim's) West Route to Observation Mountain
Difficulty: Advanced
Mountain Bike/Ski: No
Ä'ay Chù (Slim's) West Trail to Canada Creek
Trailhead: Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Return Trip: 45 km (28 miles), 2 - 4 days
Elevation Gain: 97 M (318')
Route from Canada Creek to summit of Observation Mountain
Return Trip: 19 km (12 miles), 1 - 2 days
Elevation Gain: 1194 M (3917')
Ä'ay Chù (Slim's) West return trip including summit of Observation Mountain
Trailhead: Tachal Dhal (Tachal Dhal) Visitor Centre
Return Trip: 64 km (40 miles), 3-6 days
Elevation Gain: 1291 M (4235')
Maximum Elevation: 2114 m (6936')
Learn more about Slim's West Route to Observation Mountain...
Kimberley Meadows
Distance: 62 km (37 mi)
Trailhead: 18 km (11 mi) north of Haines Junction on the Alaska Highway
Time/Difficulty: 4 - 5 days / Advanced
Advanced Elevation Gain: 1219 m (4000')
Maximum Elevation: 1905 m (6250')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Quill Creek
Distance: 18 km (8 mi)
Trailhead: 13 km south of Haines Junction on the Haines Highway
Time/Difficulty: 2 - 4 days / Advanced
Advanced Elevation Gain: 730 m (2400')
Maximum Elevation: 1980 m (6500')
Mountain Bike/Ski: No/No
Learn more about Quill Creek...