Kluane National Park

Kluane National Park is not an easy place to visit. Set in the wilds of Canada's Yukon Territory, it borders British Columbia and Alaska. Although you can glimpse the edge from the Alaska Highway, which follows its northern edge for more than 120 kilometers, much of this vast park is inaccessible to the casual visitor. But for those ready to invest the considerable effort to hike into Kluane's 22,125-square-kilometer interior, the rewards will have you demanding that UNESCO create a platinum level for its World Heritage status. Glaciers of unimaginable enormity cleave through mountains and fill entire valleys with a sonorous rumbling of ...

Kluane National Park is not an easy place to visit. Set in the wilds of Canada's Yukon Territory, it borders British Columbia and Alaska. Although you can glimpse the edge from the Alaska Highway, which follows its northern edge for more than 120 kilometers, much of this vast park is inaccessible to the casual visitor. But for those ready to invest the considerable effort to hike into Kluane's 22,125-square-kilometer interior, the rewards will have you demanding that UNESCO create a platinum level for its World Heritage status. Glaciers of unimaginable enormity cleave through mountains and fill entire valleys with a sonorous rumbling of immense force. Vast lakes - so many in number that they lack names - have azure waters dotted with icebergs more fearsome than anything that sunk the Titanic. A simple hike to get the briefest of glimpses can take two to three days. Along the way expect to see bears of all kinds, moose, caribou and other large mammals. Those darting white dots on the sheer rock cliffs are Dall sheep. Parks Canada has excellent information on hiking and wilderness camping at its info centers in Haines Junction (the closest town) and Tachal Dhal, both on the Alaska Highway.

About the Expert

Ryan Ver Berkmoes has written many books for Lonely Planet, including Bali & Lombok and the Southeastern Alaska and Western Canada sections for LP's Canada guide.