Dail Peak
Date Added: July 26, 2010
Last Update: July 26, 2010
Dail Peak, named after miner George Dail, offers sweeping views down the Klondike Highway above Windy Arm of Tagish Lake. It is connected via a ridge system to Mt. Matheson and eventually to Montana Mountain. It is the home of numerous Dall sheep and mountain goats. From the top of the ridge, there are tremendous views of the entire surrounding area for miles around.
Distance: 8 km
Elevation Gain: 1272 m (4173 ft)
Time: 6.5 hours
Directions
Drive south on the South Klondike Highway towards Skagway. After 25 km from Carcross there is a pullout on the right side of the highway with a yellow gate and a road that leads up the mountain side. Just before the pullout there are old mining structures along the highway. Park at the pullout with the yellow gate.
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Description
Start up the old mining road and skirt around the yellow gate. Follow the road as it climbs parallel to the highway. At the first fork in the road, where going straight would descend, take a left uphill. You will soon come to some mining relics and a small clearning. Walk straight to the very end of the clearing where a less established trail climbs upwards.
Follow the trail, which may have pipes and tubings running towards the gulley. The trail stops at the gulley. Make your way upwards from here along the goat trail.
Shortley you will come to a small rock face which will require you to skirt around. You can either descend down into the gulley, or skirt up and to the right of the rock face. If you climb around the rock face, once at the top you should then descend into the gulley.
Follow the gulley to the top of the ridge, staying mostly to the left as possible. Once you get near the top of the ridge, a somewhat worn goat trail will cut across your trail. Follow this goat trail to the left as it gradually climbs towards Dail Peak.
From this point, it is fairly open walking and quite gradual. Continue following the goat trail all the way to the gulley. Cross the gulley by staying on the goat trail.
At the third gulley, you will be forced to start climbing straight uphill along the rocky mounds. At the top of the rock, a large grassy hillside will be above you. Pick your way up the hillside to the top of the ridge.
At the top of the ridge, make your way to the left up the rocky section which will feel like a small false summit. From here, continut along the ridge to the base of Dail Peak. It is a short walk up to the summit from here.
Follow the same trail back. Do not be tempted to descend one of the other gulleys, even though they may look safe and more direct. About three quarters of the way down these gulleys, there is a sheer cliff and waterfalls, which will force you to hike frustratingly back up the way you just came down. It may look promising from the top of the ridge, but will actually take you longer and require a lot of bushwacking if you attempt it.
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