Kluane National Park Sheep Mountain Ridge Road — Slims River Flats to Kluane Visitor Centre
Icefield winds and Dall sheep above the dry delta.
The Slims River delta dried up almost overnight in 2016 when Kaskawulsh Glacier retreated and redirected its meltwater — and the dusty, braided outwash plain it left behind is the first thing that smacks you on this route. Starting from the informal gravel pullouts near Km 1707 of the Alaska Highway, this track skirts the base of Sheep Mountain — one of the densest Dall sheep viewing areas in the Yukon — before climbing slightly toward the Parks Canada Kluane Visitor Centre at Tachal Dhal. The road surface is punishing gravel with loose washboard, embedded cobble on the upper switchbacks, and windblown sand that can bury the edges of the track without warning.
This is a high-clearance route suited to stock 4×4 trucks with good all-terrain tires — it’s not extreme, but the combination of relentless dust, lateral camber, and exposure to 70 km/h katabatic winds off the icefields earns it a genuine moderate rating. No permit is required for vehicle access to the visitor centre, but backcountry camping inside Kluane National Park requires a permit from Parks Canada. Cell service is nonexistent. Fuel in Destruction Bay, 25 km south. Best run June through September — snow can close the upper section well into May. What you get: Dall sheep on the cliffs above you, icefield panoramas, and zero other tourists once you leave the highway.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 14 mi / 22.5 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3200 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Destruction Bay, Yukon |
| Land manager | Parks Canada — Kluane National Park and Reserve |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | pc.gc.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Will a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner is the minimum and will manage fine in dry conditions. The mixed gravel, sand, and rutted sections near Slims River flats don't require a lift, but low-profile vehicles will struggle — a crossover or stock SUV without real clearance has no business here.
When does this trail typically open and close each year?
June through September is the reliable window. Spring snowmelt and saturated ground can make the approach impassable into late May, and early October can bring snow that closes access fast — Kluane's weather doesn't negotiate.
Do I need a permit to drive or camp in Kluane National Park?
Yes — Parks Canada requires a valid National Park entry permit for Kluane. Pick one up at the Kluane Visitor Centre in Haines Junction or at the Sheep Mountain Information Centre. Camping fees apply if you're staying overnight in designated areas within the park boundary.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The roughest stretch is along the Slims River flats where wind-driven sand and loose gravel can obscure the route and reduce visibility fast. It's not a technical rock-crawl situation — the challenge is navigation in poor visibility and avoiding soft sand traps near the delta edge, not ledges or steep drops.
There's no cell service out here — how far is the nearest fuel and is there any emergency contact option?
Destruction Bay is your closest fuel stop, roughly 10 km south on the Alaska Highway — top off there before you run this trail. Zero cell service exists on the route, so carry a satellite communicator; the nearest serious help is Haines Junction, about 70 km northeast.
Trail track
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