Winter Use at Log Cabin and the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site
04 March 2025 – Klondike Snowmobile Association
Hi all! Parks Canada has kindly asked us to share the following newsletter from them regarding snowmobiling and other winter activities in the Log Cabin and Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site area.
From Parks Canada:
Winter Use at Log Cabin and the Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site
The Chilkoot Trail has a rich history as a trading trail between the coastal Tlingit and inland Athapaskan First Nations. It also became well known as the gateway to the Klondike during the Gold Rush of 98 when thousands of stampeders made their way over the Chilkoot Pass. Today it is an iconic hiking trail that is protected by Parks Canada as a National Historic Site.
The Chilkoot Trail including Log Cabin area have become popular winter recreational destinations. The Log Cabin Parking Lot and adjacent lands are shared by backcountry skiers and snowboarders, snowshoers, dog walkers, cross country skiers, bike riders, dog mushers, campers and snowmobilers. Parks Canada has created regulations to reduce user conflicts and ensure that the area is protected for everyone to enjoy.
Here is what you’ll need to know to have a safe, enjoyable visit this winter.
Log Cabin Parking Lot
The Log Cabin parking lot is the most common staging area for winter activities in Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site.
Camping is permitted at Log Cabin between December 1st and May 15th. Be respectful of other users and please leave enough space for day users to park and enjoy the area. Site maintenance and upkeep are limited, so please do your part to keep the site clean by disposing of garbage in the bins that are provided. If the garbage bins are full, please bring your garbage back to town. Fires are allowed in the parking lot area but must be contained within a fire pan (not burned on the ground). Plan to bring your own wood as it is illegal to cut or gather firewood within the site, and firewood is not provided. Dogs must always be kept on a leash.
Open fires are prohibited at all other locations within the National Historic Site.
Outhouses are available year-round. We recommend bringing your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
The parking lot may not always be cleared after heavy snowfalls and may drift in with high winds – please be patient, and do not park on the highway. Use the pullout 1 km south of Log Cabin if the Log Cabin parking lot is not cleared. A big thank you to Yukon Highways staff who plow on behalf of Parks Canada as other priority areas permit.
Changes to the Log Cabin Parking Lot
WP&YR has built a new drainage on the south side of the tracks heading out of the LC parking lot. It’s a 30-degree narrow ditch with flat bottom and presents a hazard to snowmobilers. There are also 3 large rocks to avoid.
Lindeman and Bennett
Winter camping is allowed in most of the Chilkoot Trail NHS. Unlike in the summer, camping permits are not required between November 1 and April 14, and you do not have to stay in designated campgrounds. Restricted Activity Areas are in effect at Bennett and Lindeman Townsites to protect historic resources. This means that tent camping at Bennett and Lindeman is limited to the immediate vicinity of the day-use cabins.
The cabin at the upper Lindeman City camping area has a wood stove, and you can find firewood inside or buried in snow beside the cabin. Bennett Cabin is locked in the winter. It is illegal to cut or gather any wood other than what is provided.
Please walk, ski, or snowshoe (do not ride your snowmobile) if you would like to visit the old church at Bennett.
Snowmobile Etiquette:
· Be cautious when travelling through the Log Cabin parking lot
· Travel at reasonable speeds in high use areas
· Reduce speed when approaching skiers and snowshoers
· Yield right of way to dog teams
· Do not cross above others traveling in avalanche terrain.
Non-Motorized Weekends
What is a Non-motorized Weekend? Starting the weekend of December 20th, every third weekend at Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site is designated for non-motorized activities like cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and back-country skiing and snowboarding until April. Use of over-snow vehicles anywhere in the Chilkoot Trail NHS, including staging, loading and unloading machines in the Log Cabin Parking Lot, is prohibited on non-motorized weekend.
All other weekends are multi-use, with snowmobiling also permitted. Check out the 2024/2025 schedule: 2024-2025 Non-Motorized Weekends
Winter Safety and Avalanche Forecasts
This is a remote area. Winter users need to be self-sufficient and responsible for their own safety. In the event of an emergency, you should be prepared for lengthy delays in search and rescue response. There is no cell phone coverage in the area. Parks Canada recommends all users carry a satellite communication device. Know how to use your device, make sure your batteries are charged, and know who you are going to contact!
Leave a trip plan with someone you trust at home who can contact emergency services if you don’t return as scheduled at https://plan.adventuresmart.ca/.
Open water and thin ice on lakes and creeks are increasingly becoming a hazard as our winter weather is becoming more variable. See https://www.adventuresmart.ca/winter-safety/ for more tips and tricks to stay safe while traveling on ice.
Significant avalanche terrain and other natural hazards exist. Users should have the proper training, experience, and equipment for whatever trip they undertake. ‘Know before you go’ – consult the Avalanche Canada forecast for the latest conditions and avalanche danger ratings specific to the White Pass region. Once you return, consider leaving a report on Avalanche Canada’s Mountain Information Network (MIN), so that others can benefit from your experience!
For detailed information about winter recreation and avalanche safety on the Chilkoot Trail, visit these websites: Parks Canada and Yukon Avalanche Association.
For emergencies and to report infractions, call Parks Canada 24-hour Dispatch: 1-780-852-3100
Log Cabin Cross Country Ski Trails
Volunteers maintain approximately 25 km of cross-country ski trails, just outside the Chilkoot Trail NHS adjacent to the Log Cabin Parking Lot. These trails, home to the annual Buckwheat International Classic Ski Race, are enjoyed by thousands of skiers every year. Please respect the signs and do not drive your snowmobile on the ski trails. For up-to-date trail conditions call the Mountain Shop in Skagway at 907-983-2544.
First Nation Trapline and Residence
There is an unbroken connection between the modern Indigenous peoples in this area and their ancestors who trapped and travelled here thousands of years ago. A Carcross/Tagish First Nation family maintains a trapline north of Log Cabin and along the railroad tracks, and they have a seasonal residence at Bennett. Please respect their privacy and do not interfere with their traps or property. Dogs can disturb traps and may be injured. Please always keep your dogs on a leash.
Whether snowmobiling or backcountry skiing, dog walking or dog mushing, enjoy your winter outing on the Chilkoot Trail NHS!
Do your Part
· Leave no trace. Pack out your garbage, including dog waste.
· Protect cultural and natural resources. Do not remove, disturb or damage archaeological or historical objects, plants, animals or other natural objects.
· Winter users are our eyes and ears on the land. Contact Parks Canada at 1-780-852-3100 to report damage to facilities, and unusual or illegal activity.
· Fishing, hunting, and possession of firearms is strictly prohibited.
· Do not approach, disturb, or feed wildlife. · For more information call 1-800-661-0486 or visit www.pc.gc.ca/chilkoot