A park ranger trail updates hikers on trail conditions in one of the nightly presentations at Sheep Camp.
Tent sites at Sheep Camp are on raised, wooden platforms.

Sheep Camp

Closed — Closed for the winter season. The Chilkoot Trail typically operates from early June through September. The trail reopened June 1, 2025 after repairs from flood damage. Border crossing to Canada is not currently permitted.

Cold Weather Advisory issued March 1 at 2:04AM AKST until March 2 at 9:00AM AKST by NWS Juneau AK

2:04 AM — 11:00 AM

* WHAT...Dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 below. Wind gusts up to 40 mph. * WHERE...Klondike Highway, near White Pass. * WHEN...Until 9 AM AKST Monday. * IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia are possible if exposed to these temperatures. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...With temperatures expected to decrease through Monday, the Wind Advisory has been replaced with a Cold Weather Advisory. Wind gusts up to 40 mph will still be possible for Skagway through Sunday. Coldest wind chills will remain near the upper elevations of the Klondike Highway near White Pass. With increased winds, blowing snow will lead to reduced intermittent visibilities less than 1 mile at times along the Klondike Highway.

About

Sheep Camp sits at mile 13 of the legendary Chilkoot Trail within Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, marking the last campground on the U.S. side before hikers reach the Canadian border. This popular backcountry camp accommodates 27 reservable sites and serves as a critical stopping point for those attempting the historic gold rush route. The campground features a National Park Service backcountry ranger station where rangers conduct evening presentations, providing valuable updates on current trail conditions, weather forecasts, hiking tips, and historical context about the area. The camp offers essential amenities including warming shelters equipped with stoves (the only place where fires are permitted), composting toilets available year-round, non-potable water sources, and food storage lockers for bear safety. Tent platforms provide level sleeping areas. Due to its strategic location before the challenging ascent to Chilkoot Pass, Sheep Camp can be fully booked during peak summer months. Backpacking stoves are permitted and can be used inside or outside the warming shelters. Access to Sheep Camp requires a Chilkoot Trail permit, which must be purchased at the Trail Center in Skagway. When making reservations, hikers designate which campgrounds they will use, though specific campsites within the campground are not pre-assigned. The trail reopened in June 2025 after five years of partial closures due to historic flooding damage sustained in 2021 and 2022.

Directions

Sheep Camp is located at mile 13 of the Chilkoot Trail, accessible only by hiking from the trailhead in Dyea, near Skagway, Alaska.

Nearby Campgrounds

Amenities

Water Yes
Fires Allowed Yes
Toilets Yes
Dump Station No
Wifi No
Pets Allowed No
Showers No
Electric Hookups
Water Hookups
Sewer Hookups
Camp Store No
Price $20.3 - $54.6

Vehicle

Max RV Length
Max Trailer Length
Big Rig Friendly No
Pull Through Sites No

Contact

Email klgo_information@nps.gov
Phone +1 (907) 983-9200

Cell Service

AT&T None
Verizon None
T-Mobile None

Photos

A park ranger trail updates hikers on trail conditions in one of the nightly presentations at Sheep Camp.
Tent sites at Sheep Camp are on raised, wooden platforms.

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