NPS · Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park · Skagway, AK

Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits

When you apply for your Chilkoot Trail permit you will need to select the campgrounds you wish to use, select which nights you will be there, and how many members are in your party. Each campsite includes one 10ftx10ft space which may be used for up to two small tents. If additional spaces are needed, select additio April 1-May 31 camping permits are not required. Campsites are listed as Walk up - First Come, First Served to indicate the campgrounds are open.

Partly reservable55 sitesFrom $20 per nightPets okTents only

Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

More like this: first-come in Alaska · reservable in Alaska · tent only in Alaska · pets allowed in Alaska

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
A tent on a raised wooden platform. Also on the platform are boots, trekking poles, and water bottles.Two hikers walk in the distance on an elevated boardwalk spanning a beaver damn and flooded pool.End of a mountain valley with lots of snow.Metal Stove with pulaski leaning against it
Photos courtesy of NPS/Renata Harrison, NPS/Kelsey Graczyk, NPS photo/AJ Conley, NPS photo · Recreation.gov

Site mix

Hike-in55
Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served. For the first-come sites, arrive early on a weekday and take what is open. The booking page shows which of the reservable sites are open. The first-come playbook

Site guide

55 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteLoopWater / sewerWaterfrontPeople / vehiclesFires
Site 1 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 2 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 3 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 4 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 5 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 6 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 7 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 8 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 9 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No
Site 10 Canyon CityCanyon City CampgroundNo / NoRiverfront4 / –No

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed
FeesThere is a $20.00 nonrefundable permit fee per trip. The permit covers all Chilkoot Trail campsites that you reserve for your trip.

You are required to stop by the Trail Center in Skagway to validate your permit and receive a safety briefing prior to starting your hike.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits20°30°40°50°60°January: 2.65 inches of precipitation, 9.2 inches of snowFebruary: 1.98 inches of precipitation, 8.1 inches of snowMarch: 1.98 inches of precipitation, 8.6 inches of snowApril: 1.67 inches of precipitation, 1.5 inches of snowMay: 1.14 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJune: 1.42 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 1.62 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 2.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 4.51 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 4.42 inches of precipitation, 1.1 inches of snowNovember: 3.42 inches of precipitation, 5.9 inches of snowDecember: 4.02 inches of precipitation, 10.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 24.7°F averageFebruary: 27.5°F averageMarch: 31.6°F averageApril: 41.2°F averageMay: 50.4°F averageJune: 57.0°F averageJuly: 59.1°F averageAugust: 57.4°F averageSeptember: 50.4°F averageOctober: 41.8°F averageNovember: 31.8°F averageDecember: 27.5°F average0 in5 in10 in15 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Skagway, less than a mile from the campground at 35 feet, station USC00508525 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 31 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 45 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Start by checking in at the Chilkoot Trail Center at 520 Broadway, Skagway, AK. The Chilkoot Trail Center is located on the east side of Broadway between 5th and 6th Avenues. Once your permit has been validated you can head to the Chilkoot Trailhead. Head North out of town towards the Klondike Highway.

Nearest townSkagway, Alaska
Coordinates59.4554° N, 135.3148° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • The Chilkoot National Historic Trail is not open for crossing the Canadian border.

Explore

Video

Chilkoot Campground | Sierra National Forest | California | Site by Site Tour

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 2 mi
    Sturgil'S Camp Trail
    0.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 4.2 mi
    Denver Trail
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Guidebooks for Alaska

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

For some sites. Some sites take reservations on Recreation.gov. Others are first-come, first-served.

Source: Recreation.gov

How much does it cost to camp at Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

There is a $20.00 nonrefundable permit fee per trip. The permit covers all Chilkoot Trail campsites that you reserve for your trip.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

How many sites does Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits have?

55 sites, including 55 hike-in sites.

Source: Recreation.gov

Can I bring an RV to Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits is listed for tents only.

Source: Recreation.gov

Are pets allowed at Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

Yes, pets are allowed at Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits. Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is the nearest town to Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits?

Skagway, Alaska.

Source: Getting there

What if Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Dyea Campground (3.8 mi, first-come), Bartlett Cove Campground (72.4 mi, first-come), and Mendenhall Campground (76.8 mi).

Source: Campgrounds nearby

Which national park is Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits in?

Chilkoot Trail Camping Permits is a Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park campground. Entrance fees, alerts, and hours are on Park Atlas.

Source: Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park