Hike and camp at Tombstone Territorial Park

Opening of Tombstone Territorial Park and Tombstone Mountain Campground delayed until June

All campgrounds, recreation sites and facilities are closed until further notice.

The opening of territorial parks and campgrounds is postponed until June to protect the public, staff and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes Tombstone Territorial Park.

See parks and campgrounds COVID-19 updates for more information on what this means for using territorial parks at this time.

About activities at Tombstone Territorial Park

There are plenty of things to do and see for all ages, abilities and interests in Tombstone Territorial Park. Popular activities include:

• Visiting the Tombstone Interpretive Centre (open May to September)
• Backcountry camping and hiking
• Road-accessible camping
• Road-accessible hiking and viewpoints
• Winter recreational activities
• Wildlife viewing and birding
• Weekly programs and special events (May to September)

Know before you go

Tombstone Territorial Park is located between km 50 and km 120 on the Dempster Highway. It is a remote park without food, gas, phone or Wi-Fi service. The nearest gas, food and lodging are in Dawson City located 110 km away and Eagle Plains located 369 km away. A gas cardlock is available at the junction of the Klondike and Dempster highways.

Start your visit at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre. Expect to drive 1.5 hours from Dawson City, 7 hours from Whitehorse and 12 hours from Inuvik, NWT.

Tombstone Territorial Park is a remote area with few established trails. Even for day hikes, prepare for rough terrain and drastic weather changes. Learn more about traveling safely in the Yukon wilderness and download Planning a Trip to Tombstone Territorial Park.

Check the weather and road conditions

We maintain 2 weather stations in the park. View the current and previous week of weather:

• Weather station data from the Tombstone Interpretive Centre
• Weather station data from Alpine slope on North Fork Mountain (north side of Klondike Valley)

See also: the weather forecast for Mount Frank Rae (elevation 1500 metres) and Environment Canada's current weather, warnings and forecast for the Dempster Highway.

You can check the current Dempster Highway road conditions at Yukon 511.

Do I need a park permit?

If you are a commercial group, a commercial filmmaker or photographer, researcher, educational group, hosting a special event or will be accessing the park by air, you need a park permit.

More trip planning resources

This trip planning information is not exhaustive. We recommend you read Planning a trip to Tombstone Territorial Park and the Tombstone Territorial Park brochure and map.

Follow us on Facebook for the latest news about Tombstone Territorial Park.

Before you hike

Tombstone Territorial Park is remote and there are few established trails. Hikers enjoying its incredible backcountry are responsible for their own safety and must respect the experience of other hikers. Even if you are planning on a day hike, you should:

• prepare for rough terrain and drastic weather changes;
• read the Into the Yukon Wilderness guide; and
• check the status of trails, weather and wildlife sightings at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre.

Trailheads

The following hiking trails can be accessed from the Dempster Highway.

Grizzly Creek to Mount Monolith Lookout

• Trailhead: Km 58.5
• Time (return): 2 to 4 hours
• Distance (return): 6 km
• Difficulty: Moderate to difficult
• Download a trail map

Beaver Pond Interpretive Trail

• Trailhead: Km 71.5
• Time (return): 1 hour
• Distance (return): 1 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Accessibility: packed gravel surface and boardwalks intended for wheelchair-accessibility. Assistance may be required.

Edge of the Arctic Interpretive Loop

• Trailhead: Km 72
• Time (return): 0.5 hours
• Distance (return): 0.5 km
• Difficulty: Easy
• Download a trail map

North Klondike River Trail

• Trailhead: Km 72
• Time (return): 1 to 2 hours
• Distance (return): 3.2 km
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Download a trail map

Goldensides Mountain

• Trailhead: Km 74.5
• Time (return): 1 to 3 hours
• Distance (return): 3 km
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Download a trail map

Hart River Winter Road Trail

• Trailhead: Km 78
• Time (return): up to 6 hours
• Distance (return): up to 19 km
• Difficulty: Easy

You must register your backcountry trip.

• If plan to stay at a the Grizzly, Talus or Divide Lake campgrounds, reserve your campsite. See the next section for details on how to reserve online. Book early to secure a spot.
• Register all trips at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre (km 71.5) upon arrival to the park.
• Registration does not initiate Search and Rescue.

Road-accessible campgrounds

You can camp at the road-accessible Tombstone Mountain campground with a camping permit. Standard fees and registration requirements apply.

Backcountry campgrounds

Reservations are required to camp at the park's 3 backcountry campgrounds: Grizzly, Divide and Talus lakes. For 2020, eligible dates are June 26 to September 11, subject to terrain, wildlife and weather conditions. Tenting in these valleys is restricted to your reserved tent pads.

You may camp in the rest of the park outside that zone for free, and register your trip at the centre.

When hiking and camping in the park, visitors should adhere to leave no trace principles. Find more information in our Planning a Trip to Tombstone Territorial Park.

Book your campsite online

You need to make an online reservation in order to secure a site at the 3 backcountry campgrounds in Tombstone Territorial Park. Early reservations are recommended to ensure availability. For 2020, online reservations open January 6 at 9 a.m.

Online reservation

1. Go to the online backcountry reservation system.
   You can view maps and campsite availability without signing in. If you want to reserve a campsite or view or change your reservation, you need to sign in or create a new account.
2. Select the dates and campsites you want. 
   Note: you cannot reserve the Divide or Talus lake sites for your first night of camping because they are too far to reach on day 1.
3. Pay by credit card to complete your reservation.
4. We will email you a reservation confirmation. Bring this with you to the Tombstone Interpretive Centre to pick up your camping permit.

Hiking to backcountry campsites

Grizzly Lake Trail is the only maintained trail for accessing the backcountry of Tombstone Territorial Park. This includes access to the Grizzly, Talus and Divide lake campsites. The trailhead is at km 58.6 of the Dempster Highway. You must attend an orientation session, pick up your camping permits and show or rent a bear-proof food canister ($60 deposit) at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre before you begin your hike. Orientation sessions are at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 4 p.m., daily.

Backcountry skills you need

Routes from Grizzly to Talus and Divide lakes, and all other off-trail areas of the park, require skills, experience and confidence with:

• 1:50,000 topographical maps;
• wilderness navigation and route-finding;
• wilderness first aid;
• safe and conscious impact travel; and
• preparation for all-weather conditions.

Read Planning a Trip to Tombstone for detailed trail and route descriptions.

Distance to backcountry campsites

Grizzly Lake

• Distances (one-way): 11.5 km from highway, 6 km from Divide Lake, 12.1 from Talus Lake
• Hours: 7 to 10 hours from highway, 4 to 6 from Divide Lake, 7 to 10 from Talus Lake
• Difficulty: Very difficult
• Highway trailhead: Km 58.5 on the Dempster Highway
• First night reservations available: Yes

Divide Lake

• Distances (one-way): 6 km from Grizzly Lake, 6.1 from Talus Lake
• Hours: 4 to 6 hours from Grizzly Lake, 3-4 hours from Talus Lake
• Difficulty: Difficult to extreme from Grizzly Lake, moderate from Talus Lake
• First night reservations available: No

Talus Lake

• Distance (one-way): 6.1 km from Divide Lake, 12.1 km from Grizzly Lake
• Hours: 3 to 4 hours from Divide Lake, 7 to 10 hours from Grizzly Lake
• Difficulty: Moderate from Divide Lake, difficult to extreme from Grizzly Lake
• First night reservations available: No

 

Located at km 71.5 on the Dempster Highway, the Tombstone Interpretive Centre is a 1.5-hour drive north of Dawson City. It's your first stop for adventures in Tombstone Territorial Park, providing information and services for park campers, hikers and visitors.

The building itself was designed to withstand its harsh and remote northern environment, reduce its environmental impact, and maximize the energy from the sun. Drop in for a cup of Mountain Wild tea by the fire, visit the library, take part in an interpretive program or special event and enjoy the interpretive displays.

For 2020, the centre is open daily May 16 to September 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Interpretive Centre facilities and services

Please note that it is cash only at the Interpretive Centre.

• Mandatory backcountry orientations for campers at Grizzly, Divide and Talus lakes sites.
• Backcountry camping permits for sale.
• Fishing licences for sale.
• Bear-proof food canisters for rent ($60 refundable deposit).
• Area maps for sale (Tombstone Territorial Park hiking map and the four 1:50,000 scale topographical maps encompassing the park).
• Guided walks.
• Interpretive programs and special events.
• Outdoor information boards with wildlife sightings, bear safety, trail and highway conditions and daily events.
• Wheelchair accessible toilets.
• Library.
• Gift shop.
• Friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Note: There is no Wi-Fi, phone, food or gas at the Interpretive Centre. The nearest food or gas is in Dawson City and Eagle Plains. A gas cardlock is available at the junction of the Klondike and Dempster highways.

Park events

Search the event listings for updated information on events at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre. Weekly interpretive programming happens June 1 to August 31, 2020.

For more information about the Tombstone Interpretive Centre, contact us at tombstonecentre@gmail.com.

 

Park services and facilities are closed during the winter, but visitors enjoy snowshoeing, dog sledding, skiing, snowmobiling and viewing wildlife in the park. Make sure you plan ahead to ensure your activities are safe and you will be self-sufficient. Though the backcountry campgrounds at Grizzly, Divide and Talus lakes are not maintained in winter, their outhouses and kitchen shelters may be usable.

Avalanche safety

Avalanches occur regularly in the park. View the park avalanche terrain map and check weather and snow conditions for the period leading up to your trip. Visit the Yukon Avalanche Association for more information.

Snowmobile use

Most of the park is managed as Wildland Zone for non-motorized recreation to preserve the natural landscape and offer peaceful backcountry experiences.

However, when snow is at least 15 to 30.5 cm over frozen ground and deep enough to protect the fragile ground cover, recreational snowmobiling is allowed in the �Recreational Snowmobile Use’ sub-zone. This includes North Klondike River basin and an area south of the Hart River Winter Road, as well as specific winter travel routes.

See the Tombstone Territorial Park Management Plan for maps.