The Chilkoot Trail Reopens Following Bear Incident

Date: June 25, 2016
Contact: Ben Hayes, 907-983-9206

Skagway –Parks Canada has issued a notice that the Canadian side of the Chilkoot Trail will reopen on Sunday, June 26.The Canadian side of the trail was closed from Monday, June 20 through Saturday, June 25, for visitor and staff safety following a bear incident at the Lindeman City patrol cabin.

On Monday, June 20, a black bear entered an unoccupied Parks Canada patrol cabin at Lindeman Camp and received a large food reward. Parks Canada decided to close the trail

Due to the significance and degree of reward attained and the potential hazard posed to public safety by the food-conditioned bear

Parks Canada Bear Management Teams, with assistance from Yukon Conservation Officers, were deployed and shot one black bear at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22. The team continued to monitor the area and observed a second black bear exhibiting food-conditioned behavior in the Lindeman Camp area.

The Bear Management Team remains on the site and the trail is being re-opened on Sunday, June 26, with permit restrictions and mitigations to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.

A bear incident of this nature is unprecedented on the Chilkoot Trail for both Parks Canada and the National Park Service.Both agencies take measures to protect staff food stores as a vital precaution for wild animals.Parks Canada began managing the Canadian side of the Chilkoot Trail in 1974 and National Park Service began managing the U.S. side in 1976.

The National Park Service and Parks Canada regret the inconvenience this closure caused for hikers who made this trek a significant part of the destination to Alaska and Canada.Hikers may contact the Trail Center in Skagway at 907-983-9234 or the reservation desk at 1-800-661-0486 to manage rescheduling, cancellations and refunds.