The YukonTombstone Territorial Park
2,200 square kilometres of jagged granite spires, permafrost tundra and Beringian wildlife along the Dempster Highway.
Tombstone is what people mean when they say 'the Yukon looks like another planet.' The Dempster Highway climbs from spruce forest into open sub-arctic tundra, and suddenly the black serrated peaks of Mount Monolith and Tombstone Mountain rise straight out of red-orange dwarf birch. Late August into the first week of September is peak fall colour and the reason photographers fly in from around the world. Caribou, grizzlies and moose all move through the valleys.
Most visitors day-trip from Dawson City, 90 minutes south. Stop at the Tombstone Interpretive Centre for the ranger talk and current bear activity, then drive the Dempster to the North Fork Pass viewpoint at Km 74 for the classic photo. Serious hikers should apply for a Grizzly Lake permit — it is the only overnight access and it is limited to about a dozen tents a night, allocated by lottery each January.
Hours & entry
Free day-use access year-round
Interpretive Centre daily 9:00-19:00 (Jun-mid-Sep) · Park open 24/7 year-round · Grizzly Lake backcountry campground open mid-Jun to mid-Sep
What to see
Grizzly Lake overlook and Mount Monolith view — End of the Grizzly Lake day-hike, 11 km from Km 58.5 Dempster trailhead
North Fork Pass viewpoint over the Tombstone Range — Km 74 Dempster Highway pullout
Tombstone Interpretive Centre and permafrost boardwalk — Km 71.5 Dempster Highway, next to the campground
Tips from the ground
Fall colour peaks around August 20-September 5 — book Dawson City hotels months out for this window.
Fuel up at Klondike River Lodge at the start of the Dempster; the next gas is 370 km north at Eagle Plains.
The Grizzly Lake permit lottery opens on January 8 each year at Yukon.ca — miss it and you are day-hiking only.
Questions, answered
Is there an entrance fee for Tombstone?
No. Day-use, the interpretive centre and the highway pullouts are all free. Only the Tombstone Mountain Campground ($20/night) and Grizzly Lake backcountry permits ($12/person/night) are paid.
Are there free days at the park?
Every day is free for day visitors. There is no fee gate on the Dempster Highway.
How long should I spend at Tombstone?
A full day if driving up from Dawson: allow 2 hours each way plus 4-5 hours for the interpretive centre and a short hike. Overnight backpackers spend 3-4 days on the Grizzly-Divide-Talus loop.
When is Tombstone closed?
The park is open 24/7 all year, but services shut down mid-September. The Dempster is technically open in winter but only recommended for experienced arctic drivers.
Do I need reservations?
For day hiking, no. Tombstone Mountain Campground is first-come first-served. Grizzly Lake, Divide Lake and Talus Lake require permits reserved through the January lottery at Yukon.ca/tombstone.
What's the nearest town?
Dawson City, 115 km south. The interpretive centre sits at Km 71.5 of the Dempster Highway; there is no shuttle, so you need a rental car from Dawson or Whitehorse.
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