Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Longer and More Challenging Hikes (U.S. National Park Service)

The only National Park Service hiking trail in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is the Chilkoot trail. Our listed hikes below are on Forest Service or other public lands, but are neither maintained nor patrolled by NPS personnel. Trail descriptions courtesy of the City of Skagway from their Skagway Trails brochure.

View from AB Mountain looking down on Skagway and Lynn Canal

NPS Photo

View from atop AB mountain looking down on Skagway and Lynn Canal.

A. B. Mountain
Time: All day
Distance: 10 miles (16 km) round trip
Rating: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 5,000 ft. (1,500 m)

From the trailhead on Dyea Road, the route follows the ridgeline through spruce and hemlock forest to the base of AB Mountain. About 30 minutes into the hike, a good view of Skagway can be seen from a large rock just off the trail to the right. Beyond the stream crossing, the trail may not be clearly visible because of thick brush. Be sure to note landmarks for your return. Above tree line, some rock cairns mark the way, but the trail is easily lost on steep rocky slopes, switchbacks, and heavy brush and vegetation. Do not cross patches of ice-go around them. When you reach alpine meadows, the panoramic views are spectacular. WARNING: This trail is dangerous above tree line. Do not attempt it when weather may obscure the summit.

Upper Dewey Lake
Time: 5 - 6 hours
Distance: 6 miles (9.7 km) round trip
Rating: Strenuous
Elevation Gain: 3,100 ft. (930 m)

From Lower Dewey Lake go left at the junction sign, follow the trail north across several wooden footbridges to the Upper Dewey Lake trail junction sign and turn right up the trail. The route climbs steeply through a series of switchbacks. About 800 feet above Lower Dewey Lake there is a view of town. Near the trail’s end, the climb eases, and the route follows Dewey Creek closely for a short way. It finally emerges from the trees into a muskeg meadow, where there are views of Mt. Harding and the inlet below. A primitive cabin sits by the lake and is open to the public. Follow the trail to the left from this cabin across a spillway to a new cabin perched on the northwest end of the lake. This cabin is available for rent through the Skagway Recreation Center (907-983-2679, www.skagwayrecreation.org). Overnight campers should carry a cooking stove and not cut any live wood.

NPS Photo

View of Taiya Inlet (Upper Lynn Canal) from Devil's Punchbowl

Devil's Punchbowl
Time: 2 hours from Upper Dewey Lake
Distance: 2.5 miles (4 km) round trip from Upper Dewey Lake

Rating: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 600 ft. (180 m)

From Upper Dewey Lake, follow the narrow footpath south from the primitive cabin up the alpine ridge to a spectacular overlook. Watch for rock cairns where the trail crosses boulder fields. Devil’s Punchbowl is a tarn nestled in a deep, rocky bowl, but it is not a recommended camping spot.

Lost Lake
Time: 3 - 4 hours from Dyea Slide Cemetery
Distance: 2 miles (3.2 km) from Cemetery
Rating: Strenuous
Elevation Gain: 1,500 ft (500 m) Drive to Dyea.

Park at the Slide (avalanche) Cemetery and walk .8 mile (1.3 km) north to the trailhead sign. Follow the path toward the hillside and climb up a series of steep banks. This is a seldom-used trail, so look carefully for tree blazes and other evidence of travel. A large rock to the left provides a good view, but the trail continues upward along the gully to the right. (Ignore trails going straight up!) If it is blueberry season you will begin to notice the bushes shortly before arriving at a ridge overlooking the lake.

NPS Photo

Denver Caboose Cabin

Denver Glacier
Time: All day

Distance: 4-6 miles (6-10 km) round trip from railroad stop
Rating: Moderate (difficult beyond trail end) Elevation Gain: 900 ft. (270 m)

The trail begins from the flag stop at miles 5.8 on the WP&YR railroad. From the caboose cabin, the trail parallels the south bank of the Skagway River through spruce and hemlock forest. After about two miles the trail turns south up the outwash of the glacier. The route continues south, but slippery footing and thick brush make access difficult. Winter is a good time to explore the valley on snowshoes or skis because frozen rivers are easier to cross and the brush is buried in deep snow. Avoid the area in March and April when avalanche danger is high.

The Denver and Laughton Glacier trails are located out of town 5.8 and 14 miles up the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. The railroad offers daily flagstop service May-September; purchase tickets in advance (at depot on 2^nd Ave., 1-800-343-7373, or www.wpyr.com). The U.S. Forest Service maintains cabins on both trails call 1-877-444-6777

* these trails are used for commercially guided day hikes

Laughton Glacier
Time: All day
Distance: 3-5 miles (5-8 km) round trip from railroad stop
Rating: Moderate (difficult beyond trail end)
Elevation Gain: 200-600 ft. (60-180 m)

The trail begins from the flag stop at mile 14 of the WP&YR railroad. The trail parallels the south bank of the river upstream to Warm Pass. After passing through a tall grass meadow the trail enters a spruce and hemlock forest where river and trail continue in close proximity to a point where the river narrows and runs through a rock cleft. Some of the small streams that are crossed have slippery logs as bridges; also, windfalls cause occasional interruptions in what is otherwise smooth traveling. The USFS cabin, which sleeps six, is located about 1,000 feet below the glacier, and about one mile from it near where the glacial outwash enters the Skagway River. The wood stove is for heating only, bring your own cook stove, and never cut living trees.

Use extreme caution in venturing out on the glacier, especially during spring and summer thaws and fresh snow that may conceal crevasses.

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