Skagway / Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

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.

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