Museums & culture

Kluane National Park and Reserve

2 min read

Kluane icefields and boreal valley in the southwest Yukon

Kluane covers 22,000 square kilometres of the St. Elias Mountains, including Mount Logan at 5,959 metres and the vast Kaskawulsh, Hubbard and Lowell icefields. Almost none of it is reachable by road, which is the point: you drive the Alaska or Haines Highway along its eastern edge, then walk, paddle or fly in. The Thechàl Dhâl viewpoint alone regularly delivers Dall sheep, grizzlies and golden eagles from the parking lot.

Base yourself in Haines Junction and pick one big thing per day. First-timers do the King's Throne day hike or a Kluane Glacier Air flightseeing tour out of the airstrip beside the visitor centre. Serious hikers tackle the Slims West route toward Observation Mountain, and paddlers run the Alsek. Fuel up in Haines Junction before you go — there is no gas, no cell service and no water past Kathleen Lake.

Hours

Visitor Centre daily 9:00-17:00 (mid-May to mid-Sep)

Park access year-round, self-register in winter

Tachal Dhal (Sheep Mountain) Centre daily 9:00-16:00 in summer

Frequently asked questions

How much does Kluane National Park cost?

Day-use entry is free. A backcountry overnight permit is $25 per person, and the Kathleen Lake frontcountry campground is $17.50 per night.

Are there free-entry days?

Kluane has no day-use fee at all, so every day is free. Youth 17 and under also camp and hike free year-round.

How long do I need to visit Kluane?

Plan a full day minimum: one day-hike plus the visitor centre. To include flightseeing or the Alsek, budget two to three days from Haines Junction.

When is the park closed?

The park itself never closes. The Haines Junction Visitor Centre operates mid-May through mid-September, 9:00 to 17:00 daily; in winter you self-register at the front door.

Do I need to book in advance?

Day hiking, no. Backcountry permits for the Slims and Cottonwood routes should be reserved on reservation.pc.gc.ca up to three months ahead, and flightseeing seats book out 48 hours ahead in July.

What is the nearest town or stop?

Haines Junction, 158 km west of Whitehorse on the Alaska Highway. Yukon Alaska Tourist Tours runs a summer shuttle from Whitehorse for around $85 one way.