5 randonnées spectaculaires dans le parc national de Kluane
Des rives faciles à l’ascension alpine du King’s Throne, classées par effort.
Kluane National Park and Reserve is the crown of the Yukon’s southwest — home to Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, and the largest non-polar icefields on Earth. You cannot reach the ice on foot in a day, but you do not need to: a superb range of trails, from flat lakeshore ambles to lung-busting alpine climbs, lets every kind of walker taste this immense landscape. Here are five of the best, ordered roughly from easiest to hardest.
1. Kathleen Lake day-use trails (easy)
Start at Kathleen Lake, the park’s accessible hub. Gentle shoreline paths and the short Kokanee trail deliver postcard views of water and mountains with almost no effort — ideal for families, a first afternoon, or a rest day. It is also the trailhead for tougher routes, so it makes a natural base.
2. Rock Glacier trail (easy)
A short, well-graded boardwalk-and-path climb near Dezadeash Lake leads to views over a slow-moving rock glacier and the valley beyond. Under an hour return, it packs a lot of reward into a little effort and teaches you to read the glacial landscape.
3. Auriol trail (moderate)
This roughly 15-kilometre loop climbs through boreal forest to the edge of the alpine, with a backcountry campground partway for those who want to linger. It is the classic half-day-to-overnight Kluane hike — enough climbing to feel earned, gentle enough for fit beginners.
4. King’s Throne (hard)
The signature day hike. A relentless climb from Kathleen Lake up to a glacial cirque — the “throne” — rewards you with one of the great views in the territory, straight down the lake and out to the peaks. Strong hikers push higher along the ridge. Steep, exposed, and unforgettable.
5. Sheep Creek to Sheep Mountain (hard)
On the Kluane Lake side of the park, this route climbs into Dall sheep country with huge views over the lake and the Slims River valley. Wildlife is genuine here, so carry bear spray, make noise, and check conditions at the Tachäl Dhäl visitor centre first.
Whatever you choose, treat Kluane with respect. Weather changes fast, this is grizzly country, and cell service is nil once you leave the highway. Carry layers, water, and bear spray, tell someone your plan, and register for any overnight travel. The mountains reward preparation — and punish the lack of it.