Chilkoot Trail (Dyea to Chilkoot Pass)

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park commemorates one of the most dramatic and chaotic migration events in North American history. In 1897, news of a major gold discovery in Canada’s Yukon Territory spread rapidly throughout the United States and triggered a massive rush northward as tens of thousands of prospectors — known as stampeders — attempted to reach the Klondike Gold Fields in search of fortune. The coastal town of Skagway quickly became one of the primary gateways to the gold fields and transformed almost overnight into a booming frontier settlement crowded with outfitters, supply stores, saloons, hotels, and hopeful miners. Today, the national historical park preserves this remarkable era through fifteen restored buildings within the Skagway Historic District, where visitors can walk historic boardwalks and explore structures dating back to the height of the gold rush. The park also protects and manages the legendary Chilkoot Trail as well as portions of the White Pass Trail, both of which served as major overland routes into the Yukon. Included within the park is part of the abandoned townsite of Dyea, once a bustling supply camp at the foot of the Chilkoot Trail that later disappeared back into the forest after the gold rush faded. Together, these preserved sites provide a vivid glimpse into the hardships, ambition, and determination that defined the Klondike era.

The Chilkoot Trail is often described as a walk back in time because it closely follows the exact route used by stampeders more than a century ago as they struggled toward the Yukon interior. During the gold rush, Canadian authorities required prospectors to carry nearly a year’s worth of supplies before entering Canada, forcing many travelers to haul enormous loads over the mountains in repeated trips. Remnants of that effort can still be found scattered along the trail today, including rusted cans, broken tools, abandoned boilers, and other artifacts slowly being reclaimed by the wilderness. The trail itself is remarkably diverse, beginning in coastal rainforest near Dyea before climbing through muddy valleys, rocky alpine terrain, and snowy mountain passes. Along the route, hikers encounter lush canyons, windswept tundra, glacial lakes, and steep slopes that once formed the infamous “Golden Stairs” leading to Chilkoot Pass. The 33-plus mile journey carries backpackers from Alaska into Canada’s Yukon Territory before descending into British Columbia toward Lake Bennett, where stampeders historically built boats for the next stage of their trip to the Klondike. Many modern hikers complete the experience with a ride aboard the historic White Pass and Yukon Route railway back to Skagway, a spectacular narrow-gauge train route famous for its dramatic mountain scenery, waterfalls, and sheer cliffs. While the Chilkoot is a popular trail with many thru-hikers during the short summer season, it offers an unforgettable combination of wilderness adventure, rich history,