Haines Junction Travel Guide: Gateway to Kluane and the Alaska Highway

Haines Junction is a town of about 600 people at the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Haines Road, 158 km west of Whitehorse. The St. Elias Mountains are visible from the main street on a clear day — and when they're not visible, it's because of weather coming off the icefields that cover most of Kluane National Park. This is the gateway to Kluane. If you're hiking in the park, flightseeing the glaciers, or camping at Kathleen Lake, Haines Junction is where you start and where you come back. It's also an Alaska Highway community with its own history and an excellent Champagne and Aishihik First Nations cultural centre that deserves more attention than it usually gets. ### Getting There From Whitehorse, the Alaska Highway runs west through the communities of Champagne and Takhini River before opening onto the broad Dezadeash Valley, with the Kluane ranges building on the south side. The drive is 158 km and takes about 1.5 hours without stops. From the south, the Haines Road runs 245 km north from Haines, Alaska — a dramatic route through the mountains of the BC coast ranges and across the summit of the Chilkat Pass before descending into the Yukon. The Haines Road is paved throughout. The Haines-Skagway ferry connection makes this route a popular loop for Alaska visitors. ### The Kluane National Park Visitor Centre The park visitor centre is the first stop for anyone planning to hike or camp in Kluane. Park staff provide daily trail conditions, recent bear reports, and alpine weather forecasts. They can also issue backcountry permits and answer the question most first-timers have: which trail is actually manageable in the time I have? The centre is open from May through September. Don't skip it, especially if you're planning anything beyond the easy Kathleen Lake trails. For a full breakdown of what to do in the park, see the [Hiking Kluane National Park Guide](/blog/kluane-day-hikes-guide). ### Da Ku Cultural Centre The Da Ku Cultural Centre is one of the most undervisited cultural sites in the Yukon, and it shouldn't be. It's the home of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations — the Southern Tutchone and Tlingit people whose traditional territory spans the southwest Yukon from the Kluane region toward Carcross and Klukshu. The exhibits cover traditional land use, seasonal rounds, trapping and fishing culture, the history of the First Nation's participation in Alaska Highway construction, and the self-government process. The building itself — modern, cedar-clad, and designed to reflect Southern Tutchone architectural traditions — is beautiful. Open most summer days; check hours when you arrive in town. There's no admission fee, but donations are appreciated and the centre runs on a shoestring. This is worth two hours of your time. ### The Town Haines Junction has everything you need to resupply before or after Kluane. There's a gas station, a grocery store, a hardware store, a few restaurants, and several accommodation options from hotels to campgrounds. The Frosty Bear Bakery on the Alaska Highway serves the best espresso and baking between Whitehorse and the Alaska border. The Village Bakery and Deli has been feeding hungry hikers and road trippers for years. Cozy Corner restaurant does the reliable diner standard — big portions, reasonable prices, and a local crowd at breakfast. Fuel is available in Haines Junction — fill up before heading south on the Haines Road if you're going that direction, as the next fuel is Haines, Alaska, 245 km away. ### Flightseeing Kluane's interior — the Kaskawulsh Glacier, the St. Elias icefields, Mount Logan — is only accessible to most visitors from the air. Two operators in Haines Junction run glacier flightseeing tours. Tours are weather-dependent and frequently cancelled or rescheduled. Book a morning flight when possible, and build in a spare day in your itinerary. The Kaskawulsh Glacier from 500 metres elevation is one of the most spectacular sights in Canada. > **Travel tip:** If your schedule doesn't allow a spare day and a flight is important to your trip, book early in the trip and use the remaining time as buffer. Nothing is more disappointing than clearing the clouds on your last day when you've already left Haines Junction. ### The Haines Road South The Haines Road south from Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska is 245 km of exceptionally scenic mountain highway. It climbs through the Kluane front ranges, crosses the Yukon-BC border, passes through Dezadeash Lake country, and then descends into coastal Alaska through the mountains of the Chilkat Range. This is a worthwhile drive on its own, and essential for anyone doing a Yukon loop that includes the ferry system in Haines or Skagway. The road is paved throughout. Services are very limited between Haines Junction and Haines — fill up before leaving. ### Kluane Lake Driving northwest from Haines Junction on the Alaska Highway, the road reaches Kluane Lake at about 230 km from Whitehorse. Kluane Lake is the largest natural lake in the Yukon — 68 km long — and the highway runs along its eastern shore with the Kluane ranges rising to the west. There's a second Parks Canada visitor area at Tachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain) near the lake, and Dall sheep are regularly visible on the slopes above the road. The community of Burwash Landing sits at the northwest end of Kluane Lake. The Kluane Museum of Natural History there is one of the best small natural history museums in the territory. See the [Burwash Landing guide](/blog/burwash-landing-kluane-museum) for details. ### Seasonal Notes Haines Junction services are at full capacity from mid-May through early September. Outside that window, hours shorten and some businesses close entirely. The park trails are accessible year-round in theory, but winter conditions in the Kluane front ranges are serious — the park staff will advise. For timing your visit in the context of a larger Yukon trip, see [Best Time to Visit the Yukon](/blog/best-time-to-visit-yukon). For the full Alaska Highway route, see the [Alaska Highway Complete Guide](/blog/alaska-highway-complete-guide). Download the [Kluane National Park Guide](/shop/kluane-national-park-guide) for trail maps, campground details, and the complete park planning guide. Sign up at [/newsletter](/newsletter) for southwest Yukon updates and seasonal trail condition dispatches. The [shop](/shop) has downloadable guides for the Alaska Highway and Kluane.