Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon Territory, Canada - map, photos and visitor information

Kluane National Park and Reserve lies in southwest Yukon, with Haines Junction serving as its main visitor base. The Alaska and Haines highways reach the park's eastern edge, where lakes, trails, and viewpoints offer shorter visits. The icefields and high peaks farther inside require flightseeing or a carefully planned wilderness expedition.

Lakeside visits and mountain routes

• Kathleen Lake: A road-access lake with a day-use area, a shoreline boardwalk, and seasonal camping.
• King's Throne: A steep hike to an alpine cirque, with a separate unmaintained route continuing toward the summit.
• Thechàl Dhâl' area: Mountain and valley views along the Alaska Highway, with seasonal visitor services and wildlife closures.
• Icefields: Commercial flightseeing offers a view of the interior without a mountaineering approach.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Prepare for independent mountain travel

Grizzly and black bears live in the park. Learn the park's bear-country guidance and plan food storage before setting out. Higher routes can have unstable rocks, strong winds, and quickly changing visibility. A short highway stop and a remote mountain outing need different preparation.

Cellphones are out of range in much of Kluane. Parks Canada recommends satellite communication and warns that rescue can be delayed by weather, aircraft, or personnel availability. Emergency dispatch is 1-780-852-3100.

Protect wildlife and fragile ground

Approved bear-resistant food containers are required for overnight trips from April 1 through November 15, with specific exceptions for the icefields, Kathleen Lake Campground, and Mush Lake Backcountry Campsite. Confirm the storage arrangement and any canister rental charge for your route.

Fires are prohibited in Ä’äy Chù Valley, Bullion Plateau, and the Congdon Creek area. Gas cooking stoves remain permitted under that order. Follow the current restrictions, protect cultural objects and vegetation, and pack out waste. Recreational drones are prohibited.

Camping, registration, and aircraft access

Kathleen Lake is closed for the season. When it operates, it offers reservable and first-come campsites, with oTENTiks booked separately.

Overnight activities elsewhere require backcountry permits and safety registration from April 1 through November 15. During the current shoulder season, use the forms outside the Kluane visitor center at the Da Kų Cultural Centre in Haines Junction. Arrange food-container pickup ahead of time. De-registration is no longer required, but leave a trip plan with your emergency contact. Read the seasonal registration instructions.

Aircraft landings need advance authorization. A flight booking does not itself replace the park's landing and activity permits. The icefields have additional requirements.

Maps, location, and access

From Whitehorse, follow the Alaska Highway west to Haines Junction. The Haines Highway heads south beside the park; the Alaska Highway continues north along its eastern side. Choose the actual trailhead or day-use destination rather than the park's mailing address.

Use the official route and restricted-area maps. Highway access does not extend across the icefield interior, and a general park map is not a substitute for the navigation material needed on a remote route.

Other parks on the road approaches

• Tatshenshini-Alsek Park: Follow the Haines Highway south into British Columbia for trailhead access. Roads do not continue through its wilderness interior.
• Kusawa Territorial Park: On the Whitehorse approach, turn from the Alaska Highway onto Kusawa Lake Road.

Choose a shoreline walk or a mountain climb

The Kokanee Trail follows Kathleen Lake on a 0.5 km boardwalk. King's Throne is a much larger commitment: the cirque is a 10 km return hike with 548 m of elevation gain. Continuing to the summit makes the outing 16 km return and requires an unmarked, unmaintained mountain route. The maintained trail ends at the cirque.

Flightseeing, rafting, and mountaineering use different operators, permits, and weather decisions. Arrange these as specialist activities rather than additions to an unplanned lake visit.

Seasonal services at the highway edge

During its season, Kathleen Lake Campground provides drinking-water taps, outhouses, food lockers, and firewood. It does not provide showers. These amenities are not an assurance of service during its closure. Overnight use of the day-use shelter is prohibited.

The visitor centers have wheelchair access. Kathleen Lake lists two accessible campsites with adjacent outhouses, along with accessible day-use facilities and the Kokanee boardwalk. Confirm the condition and availability of the exact facility you need, particularly outside summer.

About Kluane

Southern Tutchone homelands and shared stewardship

The area lies within the traditional territories of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Kluane First Nation. The 1943 game sanctuary restricted First Nations access to traditional harvesting areas. Today, those First Nations governments and Parks Canada share management responsibilities, with cultural relationships central to the park's history and stewardship.

The green belt below the icefields

Lower valleys support spruce, aspen, and poplar forest, while higher ground includes shrub and alpine habitats. Dall sheep, moose, mountain goats, grizzly bears, and black bears use this landscape. Watch without approaching, and respect closures that protect feeding and other sensitive areas.

Contact

Official Kluane information
Visitor information: 867-634-5134
Administration: 867-634-7250
Email: [email protected]
Mail: P.O. Box 5495, Haines Junction, Yukon Y0B 1L0.