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.
Winter Storm Warning issued December 29 at 5:48PM AKST until December 31 at 12:00PM AKST by NWS Juneau AK
...SNOW CONTINUES FOR THE NORTHERN PANHANDLE INTO MID WEEK... .Snowfall and periods of freezing rain continue for much of the northern half of the panhandle from Juneau and Icy Strait corridor area northward. The rain/snow line has moved southward today sitting just south of Tenakee Springs and Elfin Cove Monday evening. Snow totals have so far been around 15 to 47 inches across the northern panhandle. A low in the gulf is continuing to send surges of moisture into the panhandle with another surge expected to arrive for the northern inner channels late Monday night, bringing more renewed snowfall rates with it. Following this will be a slight decrease in snow rates Tuesday before a second wave of moisture is expected for late Tuesday night. Into Wednesday precip rates should then start to diminish. The rain/snow line will be wavering south of the Icy Strait area through this entire time period. Please stay tuned to future updates on this impactful storm. * WHAT...Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 15 to 21 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Municipality of Skagway, Haines Borough and Klukwan. * WHEN...Until noon AKST Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Travel will be very difficult. The cold wind chills as low as 25 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Snow will be dry and fluffy in nature. Snowfall rates will pick up again late Monday night, diminish on Tuesday, then pick back up again Tuesday night as a series of waves moves through, though these will be weaker than previous waves.
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
| klgo_information@nps.gov | |
| Phone | +1 (907) 983-9200 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Photos
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