Alaska Hiking & Backpacking - The Chilkoot Trail
A railway parallels the route to offer a scenic and unusual way to get back to your starting point. Because this route crosses the border with Canada, all backpackers must first clear customs. Due to the popularity of this route, travelers should expect crowds of fellow hikers.The trek begins in the coastal rainforest near Skagway, climbs through the stark boulder fields and windswept tundra of Chilkoot Pass, and then passes into the boreal forest of the Canadian interior.
This historic gold rush route crosses one of only three ice-free passages between the shores of the Alaskan panhandle and the old goldfields of the Klondike. The easiest access is via the ferry, but a paved highway also connects Skagway with the Alaska Highway near Whitehorse, Yukon.
Along the way, travelers may encounter artifacts cast aside by gold rush prospectors. The trail is 33 miles in length, and takes from three to five days to complete. It is administered by the National Park Service, with permits available at the Skagway visitor center. Travelers planning to traverse this rugged and often muddy route should gather information well in advance. The pass may be snowbound late into summer, so be sure to check the prevailing conditions before you go.