×

Canada🇨🇦 | national parksKluane National Park and ReserveKaskawulsh Glacier, Mount Logan, Kathleen Lake, Dall sheep slopes | things to do and best time to go

Explore Kejimkujik National ParkExplore Kootenay National Park

Backpacking in Kluane and Reserve
🌟 Highlightnational park ranked #6
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

Most of Kluane National Park and Reserve is ice: roughly half the park is glaciers and icefields, including the largest non-polar icefield on Earth. Kluane National Park and Reserve sits in the southwest Yukon in the north of Canada, west of Whitehorse. Only a handful of trails reach the mountains, and the rest is for pilots and expedition climbers. The big trade-off is crowds, which are almost nonexistent, against services, which are thin. Grizzlies are common, so bear spray is part of your kit. On my drive in, a pickup ahead of me braked for a grizzly sow and two cubs digging roots on the gravel shoulder, and I killed the engine and listened to their claws scrape the stones. Before you go, fill your tank in Haines Junction, because fuel is scarce along the Alaska Highway.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Canada Travel Guide.


example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
Loading the map 🌍
CLICK TO FILTER
cities
towns
villages
landmarks
national parks
hikes
beaches
attractions
festivals
regions
SHOW COUNTRY’S BESTSHOW ALL

✨ Why go?
Ranked #6 national park in CanadaWhy visitors keep coming back

Kluane National Park and Reserve suits people who like to plan their own days, since almost everything here is done on foot with a pack and a bear canister, not on a tour. Trails start right off the Haines Highway and the Alaska Highway, so you can hitch a short section of road and be above treeline by afternoon. The variety is the draw. The Kathleen Lake basin gives you a turquoise lake and a campground, while the Slims River West trail pushes you toward glacier-fed braided rivers and wide gravel flats with Kaskawulsh Glacier ahead. Multi-day routes such as Cottonwood let you go for days without meeting another party. Rangers at the Haines Junction visitor center give briefings on bears and river crossings, and these are worth attending. Come ready for self-reliance, because there are no huts, no cell coverage and no one to call.

💡 HighlightsTop highlights of Kluane and Reserve

  1. Kaskawulsh Glacier: Reached by flightseeing or by the long Slims River route, this glacier is the park's signature image, with ice spilling out of the St. Elias Mountains.
  2. Kluane Icefield and Mount Logan: Canada's highest peak at 5,959 meters rises from the icefields, and most people see it from a small plane.
  3. Kathleen Lake: Its water is an intense blue-green, with a day-use area, a campground and a shoreline you can walk freely.
  4. King's Throne: A steep scree climb to a glacial cirque above Kathleen Lake, with a view across the whole basin.
  5. Slims River West Trail: A flat, dusty track along a wide valley, where the river vanished after the glacier retreat redirected its flow, with views of the Kaskawulsh toe.
  6. Sheep Mountain Visitor Center: A roadside stop where Dall sheep are often spotted on the
… read more 👉
  1. Kaskawulsh Glacier: Reached by flightseeing or by the long Slims River route, this glacier is the park's signature image, with ice spilling out of the St. Elias Mountains.
  2. Kluane Icefield and Mount Logan: Canada's highest peak at 5,959 meters rises from the icefields, and most people see it from a small plane.
  3. Kathleen Lake: Its water is an intense blue-green, with a day-use area, a campground and a shoreline you can walk freely.
  4. King's Throne: A steep scree climb to a glacial cirque above Kathleen Lake, with a view across the whole basin.
  5. Slims River West Trail: A flat, dusty track along a wide valley, where the river vanished after the glacier retreat redirected its flow, with views of the Kaskawulsh toe.
  6. Sheep Mountain Visitor Center: A roadside stop where Dall sheep are often spotted on the slopes above with a spotting scope.
  7. Auriol Trail: A loop that climbs through forest to open alpine ridges with big views of the Auriol Range.
Kathleen Lake is the cheapest stop, since the shoreline and walks around it cost nothing beyond the park pass that Kluane National Park and Reserve already requires for any overnight use.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Kluane National Park and Reserve

KLUANE NATIONAL PARK - Day-Trip from Whitehorse

KLUANE NATIONAL PARK - Day-Trip from Whitehorse

4.7(25)
From €249
per personViator
Arctic Day: Kluane National Park Tour | full day

Arctic Day: Kluane National Park Tour | full day

4.4(10) 9h
From €208
per personViator
Yukon Summer Dream - Active Summer Adventure | 5 days

Yukon Summer Dream - Active Summer Adventure | 5 days

5.0(3) 120h
From €1,355
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When to go for the best experience

Late June through August is the window for Kluane National Park and Reserve, when trails are snow-free and the Kluane Lake road corridor is fully open.
  • Summer (June to August): Days run 15 to 20 hours long, highs reach 15 to 22°C (59 to 72°F), and nights drop to 3 to 8°C (37 to 46°F). Mosquitoes peak in June and July. Expect the most visitors and the highest lodging rates.
  • Early fall (September): Highs of 5 to 12°C (41 to 54°F), few bugs, golden aspen and tundra color, and grizzlies busy on berries. Lodging cheapens and many Haines Junction businesses close by mid-month.
  • Winter (October to April): Highs of -5 to -25°C (23 to -13°F) and short days. Backpacking is for experienced cold-weather travelers only, though ski touring and aurora viewing draw a few.
  • Spring (May): Highs of 5 to 13°C (41 to
… read more 👉
Late June through August is the window for Kluane National Park and Reserve, when trails are snow-free and the Kluane Lake road corridor is fully open.
  • Summer (June to August): Days run 15 to 20 hours long, highs reach 15 to 22°C (59 to 72°F), and nights drop to 3 to 8°C (37 to 46°F). Mosquitoes peak in June and July. Expect the most visitors and the highest lodging rates.
  • Early fall (September): Highs of 5 to 12°C (41 to 54°F), few bugs, golden aspen and tundra color, and grizzlies busy on berries. Lodging cheapens and many Haines Junction businesses close by mid-month.
  • Winter (October to April): Highs of -5 to -25°C (23 to -13°F) and short days. Backpacking is for experienced cold-weather travelers only, though ski touring and aurora viewing draw a few.
  • Spring (May): Highs of 5 to 13°C (41 to 55°F), but trails are muddy or snowy and rivers run high.
Book Haines Junction rooms and the Kathleen Lake campground well ahead for July.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: below average for travelingFEBFebruary: below average for travelingMARMarch: below average for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: good for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: below average for traveling
canada-national-park-kluane-national-park-and-reserve
© Google | Monowar Hossain

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutCanada Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
example page 0 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 1 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 2 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 3 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 4 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 5 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 6 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
example page 7 from our offline Travel Guide for Canada
The digital guide (385 pages) contains:
✅ 128 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 14, 21 & 30-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
👉 Click to see all 30+ guide features

📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
✅ Budget expectations

🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ Local customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
✅ Insights that make places more meaningful

📱 Built for real travel conditions
✅ Fully downloadable PDF
✅ Works completely offline
✅ Optimized for phone use
✅ Useful in remote areas & buses
✅ Everything in one place
Stop searching, start planning
Get instant access to your full guide. 30‑day money-back guarantee.
+ Add another guide for just

By proceeding you agree to our terms.
Sent to your inbox immediately after payment • 100% Secure Checkout
Best Backpacking Travel Advisor 2025 tourism awardBest Backpacking
Travel Advisor
2025
What others say about Take Your Backpack Guides:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantastic, amazing amount of information!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My goodness this is amazing, it's what I've been looking for hats off too you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I think this is absolutely BRILLIANT
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Very complete and informative. It's still missing places, but I gotta to commend you
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is truly amazing, thank you, can't wait to explore it with my kids!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awesome resource, thank you!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is amazing! Can't wait to explore the ones I haven't seen
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I love this! Well done, great idea.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks for taking the time to make this gem!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This might be the best website I've ever seen.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Congratulations, and thank you so much for your work; it's incredibly valuable.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
In all seriousness I think you did a great job pointing out the important spots
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
10/10 very good
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As someone who's only just starting to visit regularly this is awesome, thank you.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you very much! I'm going to visit my dad, it's going to be very useful!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is really cool! We'll be travelling for the first time and this definitely come in handy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You are now our minister of culture, congratulations 👨‍💼
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Just wanted to tell you that this is a pearl! Going to follow your recommendations.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is so cool. I'll definitely be using the resource for my travels soon.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is very impressive! Good work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is an amazing and informative site. Very well done!

🛏️ Where to stay?How to pick the right area

Haines Junction, Yukon, is the best base for Kluane National Park and Reserve, sitting right at the park’s eastern edge and holding the main visitor center.
Inside the park, the only developed campground is Kathleen Lake, about 27 km (17 mi) south of town, with around 40 sites at roughly US$16 to 20 a night and a lakeside day-use area. Backcountry camping is free with a permit, and you pick it up at the visitor center, where staff also supply bear canisters.
In Haines Junction you will find a small handful of motels, a hostel-style bunk option, B&Bs and a private campground, with rooms mostly US$100 … read more 👉
Haines Junction, Yukon, is the best base for Kluane National Park and Reserve, sitting right at the park’s eastern edge and holding the main visitor center.
Inside the park, the only developed campground is Kathleen Lake, about 27 km (17 mi) south of town, with around 40 sites at roughly US$16 to 20 a night and a lakeside day-use area. Backcountry camping is free with a permit, and you pick it up at the visitor center, where staff also supply bear canisters.
In Haines Junction you will find a small handful of motels, a hostel-style bunk option, B&Bs and a private campground, with rooms mostly US$100 to 180 in summer and campsites around US$20 to 30. Groceries, a bakery and fuel are here too.
Further north on the Alaska Highway, Destruction Bay and Burwash Landing have a few lodges and campgrounds along Kluane Lake, handy for the Slims River and Sheep Mountain side. Kluane Lake lodging is limited, so reserve in summer. Whitehorse, about 160 km (100 mi) east, has the widest hostel and hotel choice, plus the airport.
Best hostels in Canada


Best quality hotels in Canada

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

A backpacker should budget about US$95 to 135 a day for Kluane National Park and Reserve, mostly covering camping, groceries and fuel.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$0 to 5Driving through and most trailheads are free; a day fee applies at some developed sites such as Kathleen Lake.
Backcountry permitUS$5 to 10 a nightRequired for overnight trips and issued at the Haines Junction visitor center, with a bear canister loan included.
Accommodation (high season)US$20 to 30Kathleen Lake campground is about US$16 to 20; private sites in Haines Junction cost more. Motel rooms run US$100 to 180.
Local transportUS$20 to 40Public transit is minimal, so most travelers rent a car or share fuel costs. Fuel is pricey along the Alaska Highway.
Food and suppliesUS$30 to 40Groceries in Haines Junction
… read more 👉
A backpacker should budget about US$95 to 135 a day for Kluane National Park and Reserve, mostly covering camping, groceries and fuel.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Park entryUS$0 to 5Driving through and most trailheads are free; a day fee applies at some developed sites such as Kathleen Lake.
Backcountry permitUS$5 to 10 a nightRequired for overnight trips and issued at the Haines Junction visitor center, with a bear canister loan included.
Accommodation (high season)US$20 to 30Kathleen Lake campground is about US$16 to 20; private sites in Haines Junction cost more. Motel rooms run US$100 to 180.
Local transportUS$20 to 40Public transit is minimal, so most travelers rent a car or share fuel costs. Fuel is pricey along the Alaska Highway.
Food and suppliesUS$30 to 40Groceries in Haines Junction cost noticeably more than in Whitehorse; a diner meal is US$15 to 25.
Bear spray and gearUS$0 to 10Bear spray costs about US$40 to 55 to buy and is cheaper to rent in Haines Junction.
Total Daily BudgetUS$95 to 135Sharing a vehicle and camping every night keeps you at the low end.


source: parks.canada.ca
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🥾 TrailsWhere to hike in Kluane and Reserve: trails for every level

Kluane National Park and Reserve has a short list of maintained trails and a much longer list of rough backcountry routes, mostly across gravel, scree and river flats.
  • King's Throne: About 5 kilometers each way, 5 to 7 hours round trip, difficult. Steep forest, then loose scree to a cirque with views over Kathleen Lake.
  • Slims River West: About 22 kilometers one way, 2 to 4 days return, moderate. Flat gravel valley, strong winds, and views of the Kaskawulsh Glacier.
  • Auriol Trail: About 15 kilometers loop, 5 to 7 hours, moderate. Spruce forest then alpine ridge, with sheep and marmots possible.
  • Cottonwood
… read more 👉
Kluane National Park and Reserve has a short list of maintained trails and a much longer list of rough backcountry routes, mostly across gravel, scree and river flats.
  • King's Throne: About 5 kilometers each way, 5 to 7 hours round trip, difficult. Steep forest, then loose scree to a cirque with views over Kathleen Lake.
  • Slims River West: About 22 kilometers one way, 2 to 4 days return, moderate. Flat gravel valley, strong winds, and views of the Kaskawulsh Glacier.
  • Auriol Trail: About 15 kilometers loop, 5 to 7 hours, moderate. Spruce forest then alpine ridge, with sheep and marmots possible.
  • Cottonwood Trail: About 85 kilometers loop, 5 to 7 days, demanding. Remote valleys, creek crossings and few other hikers.
  • Sheep Creek Trail: Short, easy, with a good chance of seeing Dall sheep.
Bears are the main wildlife concern, so carry spray and store food properly. Rivers rise quickly with glacier melt, so cross early in the day. Weather shifts fast, and snow can arrive in any month at higher elevations.

The park is reached by road from Whitehorse via Haines Junction, with limited bus service, so many backpackers hitchhike or rent a car. Crowds are thin even in July. A park pass is required, and backcountry users must register at the visitor center, which charges a modest overnight fee of about US$10 to 15 per person per night.
⚠️ Hiking info can sometimes be outdated or inaccurate. Before you hit the trail, check the latest conditions with locals. If you do spot anything that's off, I'd love to hear from you, so I can update it for fellow travelers.

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Kluane National Park and Reserve is wild, remote and lightly serviced, so self-reliance matters more than any single hazard.
Grizzlies and black bears are common. Carry bear spray where you can reach it, make noise in brush, and store food in the canisters the visitor center lends out. Weather swings fast: snow can fall in any month at higher elevations, so pack warm layers and rain gear even in July.
Routes such as the Cottonwood and Slims West trails are largely unmarked or lightly marked, and the Slims River and creek crossings can be cold, fast and silty, especially on warm afternoons when glacier melt peaks. Cross early in the day, unbuckle your pack, and turn back if the water is above your knees. Cell coverage is absent, so carry a satellite messenger and register your trip with park … read more 👉
Kluane National Park and Reserve is wild, remote and lightly serviced, so self-reliance matters more than any single hazard.
Grizzlies and black bears are common. Carry bear spray where you can reach it, make noise in brush, and store food in the canisters the visitor center lends out. Weather swings fast: snow can fall in any month at higher elevations, so pack warm layers and rain gear even in July.
Routes such as the Cottonwood and Slims West trails are largely unmarked or lightly marked, and the Slims River and creek crossings can be cold, fast and silty, especially on warm afternoons when glacier melt peaks. Cross early in the day, unbuckle your pack, and turn back if the water is above your knees. Cell coverage is absent, so carry a satellite messenger and register your trip with park staff. Allow extra days for slow, boggy or boulder-strewn walking.
Check Country Safety

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Plan on 2 to 3 days for Kluane National Park and Reserve if you only want the road-accessible highlights, and 4 to 6 days for a real backcountry trip. The Kathleen Lake shoreline and the Cottonwood or Slims River routes can fill a long weekend, while the Cottonwood Trail is a multi-day trek of roughly 85 km (53 mi) one way. Add a day for a flightseeing trip over the St. Elias icefields.
Getting around Kluane National Park and Reserve without a car is difficult but possible. Whitehorse is about 160 km (100 mi) from Haines Junction, and a scheduled shuttle or bus runs on some days between them in summer for around US$60 to 100. Once in town, you can reach Kathleen Lake only by hitchhiking or a local taxi or tour, so renting a car in Whitehorse from roughly US$70 to 120 a day is the practical choice.
Entry to Kluane National Park and Reserve is free for driving through and for most trailheads, but overnight backcountry camping needs a permit. Permits cost about US$5 to 10 per person per night and are issued at the Haines Junction visitor center, which also lends bear canisters. Kathleen Lake campground costs roughly US$16 to 20 a night, and a Parks Canada Discovery Pass covers day-use fees.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Canadian national parks near Kluane and Reserve

Explore more nearby:


💡 Not sure where to go next?
Create a personalized itinerary for Canada including Kluane and Reserve and the places that fit your trip.

Generate my itinerary

👉 Discover all national parks

Or checkout all Canada has to offer (think cities, towns, villages, national parks, hikes, beaches, festivals)
Explore Canada
Country photo of Canada
© Google Images

We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on exploring Kluane and Reserve

Kluane National Park and Reserve deserves four to five days if you want one hard day hike and a rest day for weather. Add a week if you plan a backcountry route. I would book a flightseeing hop over the icefields and carry extra food, because storms can pin you in camp.

✈️ When did I visit Canada?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Canada in 2016.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Canada, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

Read the full story