Chilkoot Trail Campgrounds on the Canadian Side: Tent Sites, Permits and Fees

The five campgrounds, from Bennett

Distances are along the trail from Bennett. Every campground has bear lockers for food. Plan for at least two hikers per tent site. Individual sites within a campground are first come, first served. Camping is not allowed at the Chilkoot Pass, which has a day-use shelter.

• Bennett, km 0, 670 m (2,200 ft): 18 ground sites, cook cabin. Reached by train, air charter or boat only.
• Bare Loon Lake, km 6.4 (4.0 mi), 747 m (2,450 ft): 19 wooden platforms, picnic shelter.
• Lindeman City, km 11.3 (7.0 mi), 670 m (2,200 ft): 25 ground sites in the upper campground, log cabin with a wood stove. The lower campground is closed to camping.
• Deep Lake, km 16.1 (10.0 mi), 884 m (2,900 ft): 12 platforms and ground sites, a cooking area with a picnic table and no shelter.
• Happy Camp, km 20.1 (12.5 mi), 899 m (2,950 ft): 23 wooden platforms, picnic shelter. Above treeline, exposed, and often on snow until late June or early July.

Orientation, permits and the border

In-person orientation is mandatory for every hiker, and your trail permit is issued there. Attend within 2 days of your hike. For Canadian-side hikes, book an orientation in Whitehorse at 867-333-0775. For US-side hikes, orientations are at the trail centre in Skagway, and Parks Canada sends you to the US National Park Service for that side.

Parks Canada says it is illegal to cross the international border on the Chilkoot Trail, in either direction. You hike the Canadian side or the US side and turn around at the border. Border questions go to the Canada Border Services Agency in Whitehorse (1-867-667-3943) or US Customs and Border Protection at the Skagway Port of Entry (1-907-983-3144).

Food, fire and safety

Open fires are prohibited throughout the site. Carry a backpacking stove and plenty of fuel; some shelters below treeline have wood stoves, which can be closed in high fire weather. Keep all food and other attractants in the bear lockers. At Bennett you cook and eat only at the day-use shelter, never at tent sites. Parks Canada recommends bear spray. Purify all drinking water.

Parks Canada says the trail is for experienced backcountry hikers, with route-finding and navigation required, and no route markers over snow. Early in the season, cross the avalanche zone between Happy Camp and the pass early in the day. There is no cell service anywhere on the trail, including Bennett, so carry a satellite messenger. Parks Canada 24-hour emergency dispatch: 1-780-852-3100.

Fees and cancelling

The overnight permit for the Canadian side is CA$47.00 for an adult or senior and CA$23.75 for a youth; a Canadian-side day-use permit is CA$13.75 per person. The reservation fee is CA$11.50 online or CA$13.50 by phone per hiking group, and it is not refundable. No entry fee is charged at the site.

You can create, change or cancel until 11:59 pm two days before arrival. Permit fees are fully refundable up to 21 days before your start date, and 50% refundable within 21 days. A no-show forfeits all fees. Guides, outfitters and youth groups reserve by email at chilkootinfo@pc.gc.ca.

What PermitSnag does here

Each permit page says whether you can set a PermitSnag alert for it, and links to the agency that sells it.

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