Skagway / Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Canyon City

Closed — The trail reopened June 1, 2025 after flood damage repairs. The campground typically operates during summer hiking season. Winter travel requires avalanche skills and prior contact with park officials.

About

Canyon City campground is a backcountry camping area located at mile 7.7 (km 12.5) on the historic Chilkoot Trail, the legendary route of the Klondike Gold Rush stampeders. The campground provides a welcome rest stop for hikers traversing this challenging trail, offering 11 designated camping spaces with two warming shelters equipped with wood stoves, multiple picnic tables, composting toilets, and food storage lockers. Non-potable water is available on site. The campground sits in a temperate rainforest environment just half a mile from the historic Canyon City townsite, where hikers can explore fascinating gold rush era artifacts including the large metal tram boiler and other remnants from the 1898 gold rush days. The location provides a glimpse into the challenges faced by thousands of prospectors who hauled their supplies along this demanding route to the Yukon goldfields. Camping at Canyon City requires a Chilkoot Trail backcountry permit purchased from the Chilkoot Trail Center in Skagway. When making reservations, hikers must designate which campgrounds they will use, though specific campsites within the campground are not assigned. Fires are only permitted in the wood stoves provided inside the warming shelters; backpacking stoves may be used inside or outside the shelters.

Directions

Canyon City campground is located at mile 7.7 on the Chilkoot Trail, accessible only by foot from the Dyea trailhead near Skagway. From the trailhead, hike 7.7 miles through coastal rainforest following the Taiya River valley. The campground sits approximately 2.9 miles beyond Finnegan's Point campground.

Nearby Campgrounds