Last updated on March 8th, 2023 at 04:25 am
There are so many incredible campgrounds in the Yukon but Kathleen Lake Campground was a highlight of our time in the Yukon, with large sites and modern facilities this Parks Canada managed campsite is a great place to stop in an incredible location.
We only managed to squeeze in one night here on our road trip, but you could easily stay for a week and explore the area. The campsite was peaceful and well kept and although it eventually mostly filled up, it never felt busy, even on a long weekend in July.
Where Is Kathleen Lake Campground?
Kathleen Lake Campground is located in Kluane National Park in the Yukon making it a perfect base for hiking and paddling.
It is located 27 kilometres from Haines Junction, the closest town. From Haines Junction, follow Highway 3, Haines Highway. Kathleen Lake campground is on the right hand side when heading from Haines Junction. It is clearly signposted from the highway and once you turn off the highway, the campground is up a hill on the left hand side, while continuing straight, will take you to the Kathleen Lake day use area.
About Kathleen Lake Campground
The Kathleen Lake campground is a clean and well maintained site. It has 38 campsites all with no services making it perfect for tents and self sufficient campers. Each site has a picnic bench and fire ring and some offer beautiful views down through the valley.
There is potable water from taps and the washrooms were spacious and clean when we visited. Firewood was provided at bins around the site, just check for fire bans!
There is a central fire area where Parks Canada hold nightly interpretive talks complete with free hot choccie if you bring your own mug, making this site fantastic for families.
If you want a bit more luxury, there are five oTENTiks which can be reserved at Kathleen Lake, these a-frame structures a mixture of cabin and tent. A fantastic option for those who don’t want to stay in a tent! You can find out more about our experience staying in an oTENTik here.
The standard campsites at Kathleen Lake campground are first come first serve with a self registration kiosk. We turned up mid afternoon on Canada Day long weekend and didn’t have an issue finding a spot….unheard of if you tried such a gamble in Banff!
The oTENTiks can be reserved ahead of time using the Parks Canada online reservation system.
Kathleen Lake is a short walk from the campground via an easy trial through the woods. From the day use area of the lake there are opportunities for hiking, walking and watersports.
Things To Do Around Kathleen Lake
Kluane National Park where Kathleen Lake campground is located is an incredible spot, with towering mountains and never ending trails. Make sure to stop in at the Kluane National Park and Reserve Visitor Centre in Haines Junction on your way to Kathleen Lake campground to get up to date trail conditions and get inspired!
For a relaxed day, head to the Kathleen Lake day use area and take the Kokanee Trail, this accessible, flat trail is half a kilometre and runs beside the lake, with plenty of benches to stop and take in the scenery. After the boardwalk finishes, the trail continues on until you eventually find a set of Parks Canada red chairs looking out over the lake, an absolutely gorgeous spot.
For those who like a more strenuous hike, the Kings Throne hike will be right up your alley! The 5 kilometre trail takes you to a glacial cirque on the mountain, offering up stunning views over Kathleen Lake, for those who wish to continue, an unmaintained scramble route carries on to the summit, making for a 16 kilometre round trip with a whopping 1400 metres of elevation gain. This one is not for the faint hearted. Since this a such a popular trail, Parks Canada provide an information booklet about the trail which is well worth grabbing if you plan on doing this hike.
Kathleen Lake offers a boat launch as well as a gravel beach, which is perfect to launch a canoe from. This is a big lake and if you do plan on canoeing, I’d recommend heading out early in the morning, when the water is much calmer, as the day goes on, the wind tends to pick up and the water can get very rough, even on what appears to be a nice sunny day.
Pingback: Why Taking A Flightseeing Tour In The Yukon Will Be The Most Incredible Trip You Will Take - The Adventures of Blondie
We too stayed one night at Kathleen Lake. Wish we had stayed longer. We were on our way back from Dawson City and Valdez, to name but two wonderful places. This was in September. We then drove to Vancouver (K’emk’emeláy) on our way home to Montréal (Tiohtià:ke).