Kluane National Park and Reserve
Kluane National Park and Reserve
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This huge park is well-known for its fantastic scenic landscape and its excellent opportunities for recreational activities.
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taramC5528KJ
London, Canada195 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Came to Haines Junction to get away. We traveled around the Kluane National park. Lots of trails. The solitude sounds of the wave and birds. The flowers, mountains and trees can’t help but be filled with wonder like a child. Dog loved it, my son loved it and as u can tell me too. We even took some time to skip some rocks. Monsquiros were large and feisty m- impressive lol
Written June 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
half-Brit
Oregon Coast49,578 contributions
Jun 2012 • Friends
You don't even have to get out of your car to appreciate the beauty of this area!
Sure, you will experience amazing scenery if you hike into the park. But for those who are unable to hike much or simply do not have the time, there are some great views from the highway.
Going northbound, you first touch the park at Haines Junction - and on a clear day the view of the St. Elias Mountains is spectacular. These are some of the highest peaks in Canada.
Then you'll see the mountains as you drive, and will also come to beautiful Kluane Lake. We drove this highway in 1996, and at that time the road by the lake was narrow, winding, and carved out of the side of the mountain! Wow, they sure have improved the road - nowadays it's wide and smooth and follows the lakeshore.
We stopped at the visitor's center which was interesting and informative. There are several clean outhouses which are very handy! They have free binoculars so you can view the Dall sheep up on the high slopes. This is a favourite stop for tour coaches so it may be crowded - there was a big one pulling in just as we were leaving.
Allow time here to enjoy the scenery even if you don't hike :-)
Sure, you will experience amazing scenery if you hike into the park. But for those who are unable to hike much or simply do not have the time, there are some great views from the highway.
Going northbound, you first touch the park at Haines Junction - and on a clear day the view of the St. Elias Mountains is spectacular. These are some of the highest peaks in Canada.
Then you'll see the mountains as you drive, and will also come to beautiful Kluane Lake. We drove this highway in 1996, and at that time the road by the lake was narrow, winding, and carved out of the side of the mountain! Wow, they sure have improved the road - nowadays it's wide and smooth and follows the lakeshore.
We stopped at the visitor's center which was interesting and informative. There are several clean outhouses which are very handy! They have free binoculars so you can view the Dall sheep up on the high slopes. This is a favourite stop for tour coaches so it may be crowded - there was a big one pulling in just as we were leaving.
Allow time here to enjoy the scenery even if you don't hike :-)
Written July 26, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lesterbeach
Winnipeg, Canada4,501 contributions
May 2014
Arrive in Haines Junction at the face of the majestic chain of mountains. The ride from Whitehorse is easy on a good highway and takes about 2 hours. The Parks Canada and First Nations Centre at Haines Junction is well worth the stop. An amazing video gives you a great sense of the park. Staff enthusiastically respond to questions and help you determine things to do. Staff at the First Nations side of the building were very keen to show artifacts from their own family history and explain traditional ways. The First Nations people said they are very happy with the land claims and their negotiations with the federal government. We travelled on to Kathleen Lake and read about the Kokanee salmon. Beautiful walk along the shore. Picnic tables available but eat along the boardwalk as there is lest wind. From there we headed to Rock Glacier. Hiking up the hillside you arrive at the edge of the glacial till. A well marked path guides you up to the glacial till and then a path has been carved out of the stones. Incredible views once you reach the till. The St Elias mountIn range is amongst the highest in North America. Kluane Park is the largest protected area in the world. The road travels on to Haines Alaske but we turned around. Car rentals in Whitehorse usually only allow 200 km a day and then you pay .20/ km Gas is currently $1.39/ liter. To the north of Haines Junction is sheep Mountain with the long horn sheep but we turned around to get back to Whitehorse at a reasonable time. You don't need to worry about getting back before dark as sun sets in May after 11 pm. A must day trip!
Written May 28, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew
Ottawa, Canada188 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
How does one begin to describe a too-short visit to part of the largest international UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its Visitor Centre. Half a day can easily be spent at the latter, and two short hikes another day. The Rock Glacier climb, 40 km away, is over-rated, but a picnic lunch at Kathleen Lake is worthwhile.
Canada's tallest peak, Mount Logan, is not visible from the Alaska Highway, a surprise and a disappointment, but flights are available, $250 per person, which I'd try on another visit, weather permitting. A low ceiling meant flights cancelled on the day of our visit.
Nonetheless, the half-day drive along the Highway, admiring the snowy peaks of the St. Elias Mountains in the late afternoon sun, is unforgettable!
Canada's tallest peak, Mount Logan, is not visible from the Alaska Highway, a surprise and a disappointment, but flights are available, $250 per person, which I'd try on another visit, weather permitting. A low ceiling meant flights cancelled on the day of our visit.
Nonetheless, the half-day drive along the Highway, admiring the snowy peaks of the St. Elias Mountains in the late afternoon sun, is unforgettable!
Written November 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GiselleIsabel
London, UK87 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
Visited in Aug. 2018. During our trip in Canada we visited many parks: Banff, Jasper, Kluane, Babine, Muncho area etc.. Kluane is the best we visited. Banff is extremely tourist, Jasper a bit less touristic but Kluane is truly wild and authentic... we had a couple of trekking (Sheep creek, Auriol, King's throne etc..) and saw 2 bears (black bears). Compared to other parks this is something we have never seen so far (i'm Italian and quite used to the Alps..). it's like you are alone in the wild and the atmosphere is magic. the nature is also incredible here.. most of the time we were alone on the trails and the silence around us was scary and magic at the same time. I would also recommend to take your car and drive down to the border with U.S. go down the route of visiting Tatshenshini NP... because that road is stunning.... completely another world. My favorite trekking there was Sheep creek - stunning views!. One note.. the location is quite wild and remote so not many restaurant or mall. if you arrive late on your first night, make sure you have some instant food with you as a backup solution. also, it's quite windy and cold when the weather changes so extra layers always with you! enjoy!! Stay at least 3-4 days.
Written October 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OHMike64
Oak Harbor, WA269 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
The problem with Kluane is that you won't get anywhere close to the really breathtaking scenery(Mt. Logan, icefields, glaciers) without taking an expensive flightseeing trip or a really long hike. If your plan is simply driving or day hiking, you will get some nice mountain and lake views. You might even see Dall sheep on Sheep Mountain. There is really nothing wrong with Kluane., but you will get better by visiting the Icefields Parkway(Banff/Jasper), where you can get better glacier views from the road and can get up close to a glacier and waterfalls with short hikes. Wildlife viewing is better along the Fort Nelson-Watson Lake stretch of the Alaska Hwy(black bears, stone sheep,moose, caribou, and wood bison). The mountain scenery is also just as good. In conclusion, for a short visit to Kluane. expect nice, not overwhelming.
Written July 3, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Justine28
Yellowknife, Canada2,187 contributions
Sept 2016 • Couples
Visited Kluane Park just this past weekend (mid-September) on a short day trip from Whitehorse. Due to limited time, we stopped at Haines Junction Parks Canada Visitor Centre for some information and did only two short hikes, both of which we thought were excellent. We decided to drive towards Haines, AK, and therefore stopped for a while at Kathleen Lake (1km Kokanee Trail plus a walk along the other shore of the lake) and then drove further 20kms or so to hike the Rock Glacier (3.2km return a bit uphill and partially walking on the glacier rocks), which turned out to be a great and unusual experience.
The views of the park's peaks from the highways are truly beautiful, but for a better experience, I'd suggest doing at least some easy short walks - just what we did. You can stop at the visitor centre in Haines Junction to get some great advice and maps of hikes from the staff. I'm planning to be back to this great spot to enjoy it further - as soon as I can! FYI: there's no entrance fees to this park.
The views of the park's peaks from the highways are truly beautiful, but for a better experience, I'd suggest doing at least some easy short walks - just what we did. You can stop at the visitor centre in Haines Junction to get some great advice and maps of hikes from the staff. I'm planning to be back to this great spot to enjoy it further - as soon as I can! FYI: there's no entrance fees to this park.
Written September 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
792Amanda
Birmingham, UK14 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
We spent two nights in Haines Junction and the high spot - quite literally - was a 45-minute flight over the St Elias mountain range in a little 4-seater Cessna. Kluane National Park and Reserve is twice the size of Switzerland, and is flanked by three other massive Reserves. The mountains are growing by 2cm a year and it is very humbling, especially for a Brit, to see such a vastness where the mark of humankind is almost non-existent.
Written September 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry S
Whitehorse, Canada209 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
The majesty of the Yukon Area can be fully appreciated in Kluane Park. With the lake right there and fantastic vistas, you will not be disappointed.
There are a number of easy trails right near the entry, families with kids 5 and up could do the Shepard's Knoll hike and see wonderful vistas of Slims River and the mountains beyond.
Well worth taking some time to be in this quiet and wonderful place.
There are a number of easy trails right near the entry, families with kids 5 and up could do the Shepard's Knoll hike and see wonderful vistas of Slims River and the mountains beyond.
Well worth taking some time to be in this quiet and wonderful place.
Written July 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MichiganOreo
michigan22 contributions
Jun 2012 • Couples
Took a 2 hour bus ride to Haines Junction for river rafting. Guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. Scenery is awesome. Saw no wildlife except for birds. Long day due to ride there and back.
Written June 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi , we are planning to spend a weekend in Haines junction and explore Kluane national park one day. Is it possible for us to drive around the park by ourselves or do we have to go with a tour company necessarily?
Written August 4, 2019
It would depend on what you are planning to do, there are some easy walks/hikes you could do on your own.
Written August 5, 2019
I'm interested in backpacking the Cottonwood Trail. But, while it's almost a loop, it's not quite, with a significant 15 or so miles between the start and end where the trail meets the road at either end. It seems to be a somewhat popular trail, I can't imagine most people add a day to the trip hiking 15 along the road. Has anyone done this route? Is there some other option to get from the finish back to the start of the trail without walking 15 miles of road? Thanks for any suggestions!
Written June 26, 2018
Hello. I will be in the Yukon on September 1-5, 2016. I would like to go hiking at Kluane National Park for one or two days. Is there anyone here who is planning a hike for no more than two days within the dates above? If so, contact me please. I am looking for a hiking partner ( or partners) for safety reason. Cheers, Dulciano.
Written August 19, 2016
Please make sure you get bear spray and make noise while on the trail; bells are utterly useless. I was there in July with my husband and we hiked on our own and there was no problem. However the bears might be more active now as winter approaches.
Written August 19, 2016
Do you know about a good tourist agency to visit Kluane? Or can I go by myself. Is my first time there.
Written June 29, 2016
Hi, we're thinking of visiting Kluane National Park sometime next year and were wondering if the hiking trails are safe to do on your own or would you recommend a guide? Did you feel safe on the trails or were you constantly concerned about grizzly bears? As far as distance goes, we'd just be doing day hikes say 4-6 hours long. Thanks for the input.
Written November 6, 2015
Hello Annette
We hiked on of the 5km trails(one way) last August and really enjoyed it. My wife and I are both 50ish. The scenery was incredible and we had great weather.
My wife didn't notice the plaque commemorating a woman killed on the trail until after we finished. Some poor gal was killed by a bear on the trail a number of years ago. So, while my wife was pretty concerned about that, I was not.
We humans have left so little space for other top predators that we deserve to be eaten occasionally. Now I write this rather flippantly of course, but I will never support the killing of an endangered creature like a grizzly bear because of human intrusion.
You need to follow all the guidelines the park provides when hiking in Grizzly country. We had bear spray with us and were careful to make some noise on a regular basis, so I think we were pretty safe. Hiring a guide would probably add to your comfort as far as safety goes, so I guess that's something your group needs to decide.
Written November 15, 2015
I am flying in to Whitehorse but no rental cars are available to get me to Haines Junction and Kluane. Is there any bus transportation, even just to Haines Junction?
Written July 21, 2015
I'd ask to be placed on a cancellation list as I find it hard to believe that you weren't able to get something from Budget. If you want to go bigger and have something to camp in try Cannadream. I believe that Subaru also rents cars.
Written July 24, 2015
Bonjour pourriez vous m indiquer si nous pouvons faire des randonnées seuls dans ce parc, ou s il faut un guide. Est ce dangereux . Merci de vos reponses
Written July 18, 2015
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