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.
High Wind Watch issued February 9 at 4:22AM AKST until February 11 at 6:00AM AKST by NWS Juneau AK
* WHAT...This evening gusts up to 35 mph. On Tuesday evening South winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. * WHERE...Municipality of Skagway. * WHEN...From Tuesday evening through late Tuesday night. * IMPACTS...High winds could blow around unsecured objects, damage property and cause power outages. Travel by land, sea, or air could be difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...For the high wind watch, winds will gradually build through the day Tuesday as a front approaches, and are expected to peak sometime Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.
Special Weather Statement issued February 8 at 1:57PM AKST by NWS Juneau AK
After a series of shortwaves that brought rain and gusty winds over the past few days, a stronger front will approach southeast Alaska from the west on Tuesday. South to southeast winds will increase through the day Tuesday. Confidence is increasing for windy conditions with strong gusts Tuesday night into Wednesday morning as the front pushes west to east across southeast Alaska. Gales with storm force gusts will be possible ahead and along the frontal passage, especially along north-south oriented channels and along the coastal waters. A period of moderate to heavy rainfall will be possible with the frontal passage, but with the progressive nature of the front, flooding is not expected at this time. Another gale to potentially storm force low will quickly lift northeast into the Gulf and looks to push across southeast Alaska sometime later Wednesday into Thursday, bringing another round of strong gusty winds and moderate to heavy rainfall. Further details on the high wind and flooding potential for this system will be honed in on in the coming days. Looking further ahead, a cooling trend is favored to commence in the wake of these passing systems by late work week into the weekend. Snow levels will begin to lower and a colder outflow wind pattern could set up by late weekend. This could result in a return of snow for some coastal communities, especially across northern southeast Alaska. Further details on the pattern change and snow potential will be honed as the weekend approaches.
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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