Chilkoot Trail

Heading up from the abandoned town of Dyea, and through the Coast Mountains, Chilkoot Trail is a 33-mile trail that was at the center of the Klondike Gold Rush. Chilkoot Trail was a major route used in the 1890s to reach the Yukon goldfields from the coast. While it became obsolete by the end of the 19th century, today it is a National Historic Site of Canada and a popular recreational trail for adventurous hikers, trail runners, and backpackers.

Visiting Chilkoot Trail

Despite the difficult terrain, the Chilkoot Trail is one of Southeast Alaska’s most popular recreational trails. Once the official hiking season begins at the end of May, backpackers flock to the area—with the peak between June and August. With numerous marked historic sites, hiking Chilkoot Trail takes three to five days and follows the same route as prospectors back in the 1800s.

About Chilkoot Trail

When the Gold Rush hit Alaska and the Yukon, Chilkoot Trail became the main source of transportation for prospectors hoping to try their luck in the goldfields. Treacherous, rugged, and prone to severe and extreme weather, the trail took the lives of many and proved to be a difficult journey for even the toughest prospectors.

Its 30+ miles can still be traveled by people seeking an adventure in the footsteps of those that walked it in the Klondike Gold Rush. With nine designated campgrounds and monitoring by park rangers in the busy summer season, it draws thousands of visitors a year that want to venture the rugged backcountry landscape.

History

The Chilkoot Trail was originally used by Native Tlingit people who inhabited the area, and it was one of their best kept secrets from the European settlers. As one of only three passes that could be used year-round in Southeast Alaska, prospectors, settlers, and miners put heavy pressure on the Native people to allow them access to the trail.

In the 1880s, the European settlers won out, and an agreement was reached to allow Europeans access to the route—with the understanding that Native people would be hired by those using the trail to carry their goods and supplies.
When the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1800s hit Southeast Alaska, the Chilkoot Trail was quickly overrun by those seeking their fortune in the goldfields. As the most direct and least expensive way to cross the mountains, it quickly became the most popular route—despite the inherent dangers of the pass. Aerial tramways were then set up along the trail to transport the gear of the expeditioners, and at its heyday, five trams were in full operation.

When White Pass was discovered and developed as an alternative route to the goldfields, it didn’t take long for the Chilkoot Trail to fade in popularity. By the time that the W.P & Y.T Railway was completed at the turn of the century, the Chilkoot trail was rarely used, and towns at its base were abandoned.

Interesting Facts

From the role it played in the Klondike Gold Rush to the modern amenities now found in the area, the Chilkoot Trail has evolved from being a secret of the Native people to one of the top places in Alaska for those who love history and challenging outdoor adventures.

• Survival on the Chilkoot Trail was not guaranteed in the Gold Rush era, and Canada’s North-West Mounted Police began requiring that all prospectors entering Canada come with a minimum of one-ton of gear to help ensure their survival for one year.
• Pack animals were commonly used to help haul gear across the Chilkoot Trail, but the Tlingit people also created a thriving business by hauling gear on a per-pound rate.
• While thousands of prospectors flooded to the trail in the 1800s, today, the National Park Service uses a daily permit system that only allows up to 50 backpackers to begin the trail.
• The Chilkoot Trail has been used for more than just backpacking! Also, a challenging “ultra-run” course, the fastest time for completing a run on the trail was 5 hours and 27 minutes.
• Backpackers on the trail will cross three different climate zones, including coastal rainforest, boreal forest, and high alpine, making it a difficult and treacherous hike.
• In 1998, the U.S. park and the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site in British Columbia combined to celebrate the centennial of the Gold Rush—creating the Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park.
• While camping is allowed on the trail, it must be within one of nine designated campsites, and the Canadian side of the Klondike Gold Rush International Park does not allow firearms to be carried in by visitors.

Points of Interest

If you’ve always wanted to walk in the footsteps of Gold Rush prospectors, there’s no better place for it than on the historic Chilkoot Trail. Come prepared for rugged terrain, bears, and extreme weather, and you’ll find yourself having the adventure of a lifetime as one of more than 10,000 annual visitors that come to the Chilkoot Trail and the surrounding Klondike Gold Rush International Park.

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