The Essential Guide to Kluane National Park & Reserve

Kluane National Park and Reserve boasts many “mosts.” It is as far west as you can get in Canada, and almost as far north. It’s home to the highest mountains in the country, including Mount Logan, Canada’s tallest peak. Plus, it forms one of the biggest UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and is home to the planet’s largest nonpolar ice field, which spans the border between Canada and the United States.

“It is among the country’s largest and wildest national parks,” says Stella Patera, an acting partnering and engagement officer at Parks Canada. “Vast ice fields are found in the park, up to a kilometer deep in places. These massive ice fields meet massive mountains. But the park isn’t just for hardcore adventurers. Amazing frontcountry hiking just off the highway, a road-accessed campground set near a gorgeous lake, and an expansive visitor center with interactive exhibits makes Kluane’s wild charms within almost anyone’s reach.”

Kluane’s history is just as interesting as its landscape. The national park and reserve sit within the traditional territories of three Yukon First Nations: Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Kluane First Nation, and White River First Nation. Its territory was used by Indigenous people for thousands of years for hunting, trapping, and fishing, but they were displaced in the 1940s when the Alaska Highway and Kluane Game Sanctuary were established.

“We call it ‘Asi Keyi,’ which [means] ‘our grandfather’s land’ or ‘grandfather’s country,’” says Amber Berard-Althouse, a member of the Kluane First Nation who has spent time working with Parks Canada as a heritage presenter. She now leads workshops and walking tours independently.

In 1976, Kluane was declared a national park reserve, and in 1993 and 2003, the Canadian government signed land claim agreements with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and the Kluane First Nation, respectively, restoring and protecting their rights to hunt, trap, fish, and gather plants there. Today, the park is managed by the Kluane National Park Management Board, an advisory board comprised of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Kluane First Nation, and Parks Canada. 

During a trip to the park and reserve, visitors can not only learn about the land’s long history, but they can also experience some of Canada’s most stunning landscapes, with its unbelievably blue lakes, deep glacial valleys, and its tallest peaks. After all, the Yukon is known for its wildly beautiful vistas, and Kluane is perhaps one of the best places to take it all in.

Here’s what you need to know before visiting Kluane National Park and Reserve.

Know Before You Go

There is no admission fee to enter Kluane National Park and Reserve, but if you plan to camp, you’ll need to buy a permit, which starts at 27 Canadian Dollars (about $20 USD). You can also opt for an Otentik, a structured, semipermanent tent that has mattresses, a wood stove, and firewood for your warmth and convenience—these start at 133.25 Canadian Dollars (about $96 USD). Thinking of hiking or camping in the backcountry? You’ll need a permit for that too, which costs 13.50 Canadian Dollars (about $10 USD) per night. 

The Yukon has healthy populations of both grizzly and black bears, and encounters can happen anywhere in the park, from busy trails to remote backcountry areas—it’s best to always travel with bear spray and a bear horn. “For first timers especially, but even for people who are used to it, stop in at the Haines Junction visitor center and get some bear safety information,” Berard-Althouse says.  

Connectivity, both physically and technologically, is another thing to keep in mind. “Kluane isn’t a park with neatly paved roads winding through it. Once you’re inside, you’ll find gravel, not highways, and the main road actually skirts the edge of the park,” says Roxanne Mason, owner of Mount Logan Ecolodge & Retreat Center in Haines Junction. “And there’s little to no Wi-Fi once you’re out exploring. I think it’s one of the park’s greatest gifts. It allows visitors to be fully present, unplugged, and immersed in the wild beauty of the Yukon.”

Lastly, the park is open year-round, but many services are only available during peak season, which spans from May through September. This includes visitor centers, campgrounds, and interpretive programming.

Best Time to Visit 

Hiking, rafting, camping, fishing—the opportunities to explore nature are plentiful, and the most popular time of year to do it all is May through September. “It’s when campgrounds are open and interpretive programs are offered. Summer also sees the longest daylight hours and snow-free trails, making it the easiest time for hiking,” says Patera.

However, fall is not to be underestimated. “The fall colors are gorgeous,” says Berard-Althouse. “They come a little earlier than people expect—usually it starts towards the end of August. And it does start getting a little colder, but that’s the perfect time of year, because it’s beautiful and there are no bugs.”

Fall and winter also provide excellent opportunities to catch the northern lights. If you want to avoid frigid temperatures, the park hosts Northern Nights, the Yukon’s only dark sky festival, in September. Camping is still an option at Kathleen Lake during the festival, and programming includes campfire talks and hot dog roasts, craft workshops and storytelling, with stargazing sessions led by the Yukon Astronomical Society.

How to Get There

The park is 100 miles (roughly a two-hour drive) from the Yukon’s capital, Whitehorse, and 108 miles north of Haines, Alaska. It’s also accessible from Alaskan cities such as Anchorage or Fairbanks via the Alaska Highway or the Top of the World Highway. The town of Haines Junction is where you’ll find the park’s main visitor center, as well as a gas station, grocery store, restaurants, and accommodations with indoor plumbing. 

“Visitors can drive into the park at Mät’àtäna Män and Thechàl Dhâl [Sheep Mountain],” says Patera. “Both locations are equipped with parking, outhouses, and day use areas.”

Beyond these points, you can enter the park by foot, raft, or ski, depending on the season of your visit. “The park’s interior is generally accessible only via a flightseeing tour or on a mountaineering or ski touring expedition,” she adds.

Best Things to Do

Take to the sky.

See the vast expanse of the park and the Icefield Ranges, Canada’s highest and youngest mountains, by flight. Rocking Star Adventures has four different tours that soar over the glaciers, mountains, and grasslands that form the park. “A glacial flight is mind-blowing. I’ve been up there a few times and it doesn’t get old,” Berard-Althouse says.

Connect with the artists of Kluane.

The park, in collaboration with the Yukon Arts Centre and the Arctic Institute of North America’s Kluane Lake Research Station, runs an annual Artist in Residence Program, where Canadian visual artists are invited to stay in the park and explore the connection between their work, nature, and science. The artists are based out of Kluane Lake Research Station at Lhù’ààn Mânʼ (Kluane Lake). “Visitors can connect with artists through drop-in Artist at Work demonstrations, public workshops, and artist presentations,” Patera says. 

Explore the area with locals.

Leave the driving to someone else and join a day trip from Whitehorse with Yukon Roots. The Dakwäkäda Day Tour with owners Nikki and Reuben Nielsen includes some wildlife viewing en route to the park—elk, wild horses, and if you’re lucky, bison—and a stop at the Da Kų Cultural Centre before heading to Kathleen Lake for a picnic lunch. Nikki is a member of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation, and her great-grandfather was Keish, also known as Skookum Jim, an instrumental figure during the early days of the Klondike Gold Rush, so expect some unbelievable stories throughout the day. 

Experience the beauty of a Yukon winter.

Along with guided day hikes, Yukon Guided Adventures helps visitors get out on the land via canoe or snowshoe, depending on the time of year. Guided canoe trips take place on the calm waters of Pine Lake, while snowshoeing tours lead travelers on to fresh trails that help them explore the quiet beauty of the park in winter. 

Best Hikes 

Kokanee Trail 

The Kokanee Trail is a boardwalk trail accessible to wheelchair users and people with strollers. Roughly a third of a mile in length each way, it hugs the shores of Kathleen Lake and has beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. “If you follow the trail, there are the red chairs there,” Berard-Althouse says, referring to the Parks Canada program in which Adirondack chairs are placed in spots that have exceptionally great views. 

Sheep Creek Trail

For some friendly wildlife viewing, Sheep Creek Trail is a popular option that has views of the glacially fed Slims River Valley and opportunities to spot wild Dall sheep who roam the terrain below the trail route. The popular trail has a round-trip distance of six miles, and climbs along Sheep Mountain and above Sheep Creek. 

King’s Throne Trail

King’s Throne Trail is a steep and challenging climb, but it comes with the reward of seeing a glacial cirque, a valley carved by glacial erosion. “It’s the ‘seat’ of the King’s Throne,” Patera says. “Alpine wildflowers and sweeping mountain views make this a favorite.”

The hike to the cirque and back to the trailhead is six miles. There is also an unmarked and unmaintained route to the mountain’s summit, which will add another four miles to the trek. Climbers beware: even when conditions are dry, the rocks can be slippery.  “Bring hiking poles,” says Berard-Althouse. “The way down can be very steep and a little tough.”

Best Places to Stay

 Mount Logan Ecolodge & Retreat Center

At the doorstep of the park, just a 10-minute drive to the visitor center, Mount Logan Ecolodge & Retreat Center has several options for overnight stays. Cozy lodge rooms sleep two to four; groups of four can also opt for the yurt, which has a rustic kitchen and is heated with a wood stove. The barrel cabin is perfect for solo travelers or couples who want a glamping option, and the Goldrush cabin, which fits two, is a chic log cabin that happens to be the oldest building in Haines Junction. All stays come with either breakfast or full board (breakfast and three-course dinners). There’s a sauna and glacial-fed creek on-site, too. 

Yukon Black Spruce Cabins

If you’re staying in Whitehouse, immerse yourself in the outdoors while still being comfortably indoors at Yukon Black Spruce Cabins. Beds sit in front of picture windows facing the forest, and each Scandi-inspired compact cabin is outfitted with a full kitchen (including teas and locally roasted, organic coffee), sofa, and private bathroom. There’s a fire pit and sauna for all guests to enjoy.

The Otentiks at Kathleen lake

Parks Canada’s Otentiks at Kathleen Lake are a glamping-like option inside the park and reserve. The turnkey campsites are a cross between a tent and a spacious cabin, and include three sleeping platforms and mattresses that fit up to six people, an indoor dining table, as well as a wood-burning stove and firewood. Outside, you’ll find amenities such as a picnic table, fire pit, an outdoor cooking stove, and a bear-resistant food storage locker. Outhouses, potable water taps, and garbage and recycling disposal are nearby, as well as parking (each Otentik comes with a wagon to transport things between your car and tent). You’ll need to pack sleeping bags, blankets and pillows, food, beverages, and everything else you may need to enjoy them, such as propane, matches, and flashlights. These sites are available May through September and must be reserved through Parks Canada—they go quickly, though, so you may want to snag your spot months in advance.

Places to Eat

There aren’t any places to grab a bite inside the park, so you’ll need to bring your own food and water, or a water purification system. At Kathleen Lake, food and anything else that carries a scent like toiletries must be stored safely away from curious bears, and the park provides bear-proof lockers. In the backcountry, bear-resistant food containers are mandatory for overnight trips between April 1 and Nov. 15. “These canisters are available for loan at Parks Canada visitor centers,” says Patera. 

However, there are a couple of options to fuel up in Haines Junction before or after your park visit.

Mile 1016 Pub

You can find your standard Canadian pub staples at Mile 1016 Pub—think nachos, wings, and poutine—but the extensive burger menu is where the kitchen really shines. Choose between beef, pulled pork, chicken, salmon, or veggie with a side of yam fries. A worthy reward after a day of hiking.

Village Bakery & Deli

Village Bakery & Deli has been welcoming locals and visitors for 36 years with sweets and savories made from scratch daily. Open from May to September, visitors can stop for breakfast or lunch. While the menu changes daily, expect to find breakfast sandwiches and burritos, quiches, soups and salads, as well as pies, scones, cinnamon buns, and more. Don’t miss their sourdough cheese sticks, the most popular item to come out of their ovens.