Permit & Reservation System
© National Park Service / Kari Rain
Permits
Every person overnighting on the Chilkoot Trail, and day users on the Canadian portion of the Chilkoot Trail, require a Permit. Day users remaining on the US portion of the trail do not require a Permit. Those without required permits are subject to fines.
Quota
In order to maintain a high quality hiking experience and to minimize the impact of hikers on Park resources, a maximum of 50 hikers per day will be Permitted to enter Canada over Chilkoot Pass.
Group Size Restrictions
Large groups tend to have a negative effect upon the experience of other hikers, as well as placing greater demands upon park facilities and greater stress on the park environment. In order to minimize the impacts of large groups, group size is limited to a maximum of 12; only one large group (9 - 12 people) is permitted to cross Chilkoot Pass on any given day.
Please show consideration for your fellow hikers and the park environment by respecting these limitations. Use of multiple bookings to circumvent group size restrictions is unacceptable and may result in loss of Permits. Groups & Guided Trips
Designated Camping
Tent sites at Happy Camp © Parks Canada / Christine Hedgecock
Camping is allowed in designated campgrounds only. Individual campsites within the campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Open fires are prohibited.
At the time of reservation you must specify which campgrounds you will stay at for each night of your trip. While this requires careful pre-trip planning, it eliminates over-crowding in campgrounds and ensures that everyone will have a place to camp. Choosing Your Campgrounds
Reservations
Forty-two Reservations (to enter Canada over Chilkoot Pass) will be taken for each day. Reservations for the 2013 season will start being accepted on Monday, January 7, 2013.
Before calling to reserve please ensure that you can provide us with the following information:
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# of Adults (17 yrs+); Youth (6 – 16); and Children (5 yrs and under) in your group
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# of tent sites needed
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your hiking itinerary, if you have not yet selected your campgrounds please visit the Hiking page and consult Choosing Your Campgrounds.
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Credit card information
You may reserve Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (Pacific Standard Time) by calling Parks Canada at:
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1-800-661-0486 Canada & U.S.
- 1-867-667-3910 local & overseas
During the summer operational season (June 1 - first weekend in September) reservations can also be made through the Skagway Trail Centre, seven days a week from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (Alaska Daylight Time), call:
NOTE: All fees are payable at time of reservation. Permit fees are refundable up to one calendar month prior to start date. Reservation fees are non-refundable.
Last Minute Reservations
If you couldn't get your desired dates, or were unable to make a Reservation further in advance, it is worth calling about a month before your desired start date as this is when people generally cancel unneeded Reservations.
Cancellations
To cancel your reservation call 1-800-661-0486: please be prepared to provide us with the Booking Number, the name the booking was made under, the number of permits being cancelled and a phone number where you can be reached. Refunds will be credited to the Credit Card number used to make the Reservation.
Picking up Reserved Permits
The Skagway Trail Centre is located on Broadway between 1st and 2nd.© National Parks ServiceYou must pick up your reserved Permits and register for Customs at the Trail Center in Skagway (located on Broadway between 1st and 2nd Avenues). Hours of operation are 8:00 am - 5:00 pm ADT, seven days a week.
When picking up Permits, all hikers must be present and have proper documentation for crossing the border. Please allow approximately 20 minutes when picking up your permits.
Permits can be picked up the day before, or on the morning that you begin your hike.
If your Permit is not picked up by 12 noon on the day your trip begins, the Reservation for your entire trip is automatically cancelled, unless prior arrangements have been made directly with the Skagway Trail Center (phone 1-907-983-9234).
Walk-in Permits
Walk-in Permits are given out at the Trail Centre at 1:00 pm each day.© National Parks ServiceWalk-in Permits are issued on a first-come first-serve basis at the Trail Center in Skagway (located on Broadway between 1st and 2nd Avenues) beginning at 1:00 pm ADT the day before you wish to start your hike. In addition to the allocated Walk-in Permits, no show Reservations will also be reallocated at 1:00 pm each day (for a same-day start).
When picking up Walk-in Permits, all hikers must be present and have proper documentation for crossing the border. Please allow approximately 30 minutes when picking up walk-in permits.
Walk-ins must specify which campgrounds they will stay at for each night of their trip when Permits are issued. Parks Canada cannot guarantee availability of Walk-in Permits. Delays of more than a day are generally uncommon. To increase your chances of getting a Walk-in Permit we suggest that you be as flexible as possible in terms of your trip plans.
Day Permits
Day Permits are required by anyone, including through hikers and day runners, visiting the Canadian portion of the trail.
Day Permits are available from Parks Canada in Whitehorse (Suite 205 – 300 Main St.) or from the Trail Centre in Skagway (located on Broadway between 1st and 2nd).
Border Crossing requirements are the same for Chilkoot Trail day runners and through hikers as for Chilkoot Trail backpackers. Day hikers/runners are responsible for ensuring that they have proper documentation for crossing the border and complying with border crossing procedures.
Visitors to Bennett who will not be using the Chilkoot Trail do not require Day Permits.
Canadian Camping Permits
Bennett Campground © Christine HedgecockPermits are required by anyone camping overnight in Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site of Canada. If entering or exiting Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site of Canada by way of Chilkoot Pass, Trip Permits are required. For those remaining on the Canadian side of the trail Camping Permits are available.
Camping Permits are available from Parks Canada in Whitehorse (Suite 205 – 300 Main St.) or from the Trail Centre in Skagway (located on Broadway between 1st and 2nd). Campers must specify which campgrounds they will stay at for each night of their trip when Permits are issued.