Home > Facts > National Parks Facts > Kluane National Park Facts

Kluane National Park Facts

Kluane National Park Facts
Kluane National Park and Reserve is an 8,499 square mile park located in the Yukon's southwest region, in Canada's far north. The Kluane First Nation and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations have inhabited the region, which has been part of their traditional lands, for many years. One of the main attractions in the park is Mount Logan, which is Canada's highest mountain at 19,551 feet. The glaciers and mountains located within the park boundaries cover approximately 83% of its landscape. The largest ice field in Canada is also located in the park. The grizzly bear population in the park is extremely diverse genetically, and there is a wide variety of wildlife living within the park and reserve.
Interesting Kluane National Park Facts:
Kluane National Park and Reserve was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 for its landscape and wildlife. It was given this designation along with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Glacier National Park, and Tatshenshini-Alsek National Park - together known as Kluane-Wrangell-St. Elias-Glacier Bay-Tatshenshini-Alsek.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest protected area in the world.
Kluane National Park is managed by Parks Canada, Kluane First Nation, and Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.
The northern boundary of Kluane National Park, which runs 129 kilometers, is mostly made up of the Haines Road and the Alaska Highway.
St. Elias Mountains is located in Kluane National Park. This mountain range is the most massive in Canada. It contains the highest mountain in the country (Mount Logan), which is the second tallest peak in North America.
Visitors to the park can hike, camp, rent cabins, canoe, go mountain biking, or even hire a tour guide to help them explore the park's wonders.
Wildlife that can be seen in Kluane National Park and Reserve include arctic ground squirrels, wolverines, mountain goats, Alaskan moose, grizzly bears, Dall sheep, caribou, timber wolves, coyotes, Canadian lynxes, river otters, muskrats, marmots, minks, red foxes, beavers, and snowshoe hares.
Kluane National Park is the furthest point west in Canada, as it borders Alaska to the west.
Approximately 20% of Kluane National Park is referred to as the 'green belt' because its diverse plant life that is made up of a variety of species found in northern prairie, mountain, coastal, and arctic regions.
Trees growing in the green belt of Kluane National Park include white spruce, balsam poplar, trembling aspen, dwarf birch, willows, and alder.
There have been more than 150 different species of birds identified in Kluane National Park. 118 of these species are known to nest inside the park's boundaries.
Kathleen Lake within Kluane National Park has a popular picnic area for visitors. There is also a seasonal campground for visitors to use.
Hiking trails within Kluane National Park include Mush Lake Road, St. Elias Lake, Cottonwood, King's Throne, Rock Glacier, Shorty Creek, and many more.
Alsek River is located in Kluane National Park. It is designated a Canadian Heritage river and is popular for white water rafting. Native Americans avoided this river for trade as it was too rough for such travel.


Related Links:
Facts
National Parks Facts
Animals Facts