White Pass Summit Border

Date Added: August 1, 2008

Last Update: December 13, 2009

This hike is an easy way to get out and explore the alpine in the White Pass. You can hike up to a small ridge that has an international border marker which seperates Canada from the USA. Hiking up even further offers a view down the valley towards Skagway. In late July there is a bounty of beautiful wildflowers.

Distance: 4 km

Elevation Gain: 183 m (600 ft)

Time: 1.5 hours

Directions

From Whitehorse, drive south to the Carcross Cutoff and turn right onto the Klondike Highway. After 71 km you will reach the Canadian Customs. Another 11 km past customs there is a pull-out on the left-hand side of the road with outhouses.

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Description

The trail starts from the pull-out at the opposite end from the outhouses. There are many small braided paths, just stick to a main one. There is no defined trail, so spread out to minimize damage to the flowers and lichen. The easiest way up the first ridge is near the small saddle (refer to the GPS map).

On top of the first small summit is a tooth-shaped tarn. This is a nice place to relax or soak your feet on a sunny day. Follow the ridge to the second small summit which has an international border marker on it. From here, continue along the ridge to the obvious third summit. On top of the third summit is a survey marking mounted in a rock. Follow the same route back to the trailhead.

Winter

To stay out of the way of avalanches, you can head straight from the pull-out towards Summit Lake. As long as you don't skirt near the mountains, you'll be perfectly safe. There are many gullies, so it will be up and down at times. If you continue walking straight towards the mountains at the far side, you will meet up with the White Pass & Yukon Route railway.