News Release

U.S. Side of the Chilkoot Trail Closed August 8, 2018

Date: August 8, 2018
Contact: Jason Verhaeghe, [phone]

Skagway – Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park has closed the Chilkoot Trail to all use due to flooding conditions along the Taiya River. Park officials will assess conditions on August 9 to determine if the trail can be reopened. Contact the Trail Center in Skagway or call 907-983-9234 for the latest trail conditions and closure information.

The National Weather Service Juneau Office issued a Flood Warning on Wednesday August 8 after the Taiya River reached moderate flood stage of 17.23 feet. Flooding submerged sections of the Chilkoot Trail with hazardous, swift-flowing, waist-deep water.

The trail is closed until further notice and will be reassessed on Thursday morning. Heavy rains forecasted for Wednesday evening suggest increasing river levels through the evening, with the river not likely receding to below moderate flood state until Thursday afternoon.

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park was created in 1976 to preserve and interpret the historic structures, trails, artifacts, landscapes, and stories associated with the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-98. The park preserves 23 historic structures in Skagway, the historic Chilkoot Trail in partnership with Parks Canada, and is the most visited national park site in Alaska.