Grizzly Lake Hike in the Tombstone Mountains
If you’re looking for world-class mountain scenery in an area that doesn’t get a lot of attention, then do the Grizzly Lake hike in the Tombstone Mountain Range, Yukon Territory.
Starting at KM 58.5 on the Dempster Highway, the three to five day hiking trip takes you first to Grizzly Lake, and then to Divide and Talus Lakes. It’s a wild, desolate, truly memorable landscape.
This blog only takes you on a stunner of a hike to Grizzly Lake in the Tombstones, a distance of 11.5 km with an elevation gain of 797 m (2,615 feet) one way.
The next day we traveled about 10 km to reach Divide Lake, via Glissade Pass – and part of that hike was in a blizzard. It was memorable to put it mildly.
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Grizzly Lake hike summary
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles) one-way
Elevation gain: 797 m or 2,615 feet
Time needed: 5 – 8 hours
Level of difficulty: Moderate to hard depending on trail conditions and what sort of shape you’re in
Bear country: There are grizzly bears. You need easy to access bear spray and all food needs to be carried in a bear cannister. (You can rent at the Visitor Centre.)
Backcountry camping: Yes – see below.
Don’t forget: Be sure to include the 10 hiking essentials including a head lamp and first aid kit. Pack warm clothes, even in summer.
Map: Download a map of the Grizzly Lake hike. I’d also recommend Organic Maps – a hiking app that works offline.
Safety: Consider taking a Garmin InReach Mini 2 in case you run into an emergency.
Grizzly Lake hike in the Patagonia of the North
The Tombstones have been called the Patagonia of the North – an apt title as you’ll see when you get close to the mountains. Named for one of the mountains that is the colour and shape of a tombstone, the granite pinnacles have been eroded over time and sculpted into rugged peaks.
To reach them, you must hike through a challenging landscape that takes you up and down over lichen covered, talus slopes that can become extremely slick when wet.
The landscape though, is extraordinary – and I can safely say like nowhere else you’ve seen. Try to arrange your trip for late August when the boreal forest and alpine meadows combine to deliver a rainbow of fall colours. But go prepared for cold temperatures and snow. I had both.
Plan ahead for your Grizzly Lake hike in the Tombstones
You do need to reserve a backcountry campsite either online or in person – though you’re taking your chances if you just show up at the park office.
In 2025, the Grizzly Lake Campground is open from June 13 – September 15th. There are 10 tent pads in total. It’s $18 per night for a tent pad.
You need to watch a backcountry orientation video at the Visitor Centre before you start the Grizzly Lake hike.
Itinerary suggestion for the multi-day Grizzly Lake hike (plus Divide and Talus Lakes)
Hike to Grizzly Lake for the first night. Then go to Divide Lake for the next two nights. That way you can visit Talus Lake as a day trip without a heavy pack.
Then walk all the way out from Divide Lake if you’re a strong hiker. Otherwise, plan on another night at Grizzly Lake.
If you want it to be even easier you could do Grizzly Lake, Divide Lake, Talus Lake, Divide Lake, Grizzly Lake and then out. That would take you six days. There are lots of permutations and combinations but if you go late in the season be very aware that temperatures can plummet quickly. And by September 10th the Grizzly Lake Campground is closed.
Mandatory orientation for the hike
Everyone must take their food in a bear proof barrel on the Grizzly Lake hike – and it has to fit in your backpack.
At the mandatory orientation (offered at 9 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM) you are given a bear barrel in return for a $60 cash deposit. The only downside is that you must drive back to the Tombstone Interpretative Center at KM 71 to return it at the end of the hike.
At the campsites at Grizzly Lake you’ll find outhouses, cooking shelters, more bear boxes, tent platforms and barrels for grey water disposal.
Here’s a look at the landscape you’ll enjoy on the hike to Grizzly Lake. The Grizzly Lake trail is boot-beaten and easy to see.
Grizzly Lake hike photos
I’d rank the Grizzly Lake hike in the top five in Canada!
The people we met on the Grizzly Lake hike were either from Whitehorse or from Germany and Switzerland. I find it interesting that the Grizzly Lake hike is well known outside of Canada.
Although it’s not a long hike to Grizzly Lake in the Tombstones, count on it taking between 5 to 8 hours. It is an area with grizzlies, but I didn’t even see so much as bear scat. Do carry bear spray. One nice feature the park offers is the ability to rent bear spray for a $12 deposit. Since you can’t fly with it, this is very helpful.
Getting to the Tombstone Interpretive Centre
The Interpretive Centre is on the Dempster Highway at Km 71. Count on a 1.5 hour drive from Dawson City, 7 hours from Whitehorse and 12 hours from Inuvik in the Northwest Territories.
If you have further questions you can either email me through my contact form or email yukon.parks@gov.yk.ca. You can also call them toll free at 1-800-661-0408 ext 5648.
If you’re a backpacker, this is one trip that deserves to be on your bucket list.
Location map of the Grizzly Lake hike
Further reading on the Yukon
- Canoeing the Yukon River to Whitehorse Over a Day
- The Ivvavik National Park Base Camp Experience
- The Goldensides Hike in Tombstone Mountain Territorial Park
- Visit Dawson City – Canada’s Klondike City in the Yukon
- Hiking the Auriol Trail in Kluane National Park
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Thanks for the trip report. It looks beautiful. Are there any height issues on the hike to Grizzly Lake? A friend of mine has some issues with exposure/heights.
@Kim No the trail is straightforward from that perspective.
Completed the hike in late August this year. Combined with a flight from YVR and hiking with my son, was a life experience to be sure; a test fora city guy but worth every minute. I had a choice to leave one of my lens at home to reduce weight but that didn’ t happen!
@Brian Truly its one of my all time faves.
Thanks for the breathtaking views and amazing photos! Did you use wide angle lens and filters? I plan to hike the same area next August.
@Hank You’ll have a wonderful hike but go prepared for all weather. I didn’t have a wide angle or filters as I was trying to reduce weight.
Hello,
Thanks for posting the beautiful pictures. I am going back to Yukon in late August and hopefully weather will allow us a couple of hike in Tombstone as well. Late last August I hike Grey Mountain on August 30 before leaving and the colors up there, specially looking into the valley opposite to Whitehorse were spectacular!
I take it one used to climb can make Grizzly Lake a day trip? What other hike in Tombstone would you recommend?
We hiked the Chilkoot: no bugs and rain only at night, another one of a kind hiking trek!
Thanks,
Christine
@Christine The Goldensides hike is a great short hike in the area – and you could also go part of the way to Grizzly Lake if you don’t have enough time. Grizzly Lake is doable as a day trip ONLY if you are sa super strong hiker and you aren’t carrying a full backpack.
Amazing pictures and a nice trip report! I love the autumn colors!
@Kasper Late August and early September is definitely the time to visit the Tombstones.
Your pictures and story to go along with is are amazing! This looks like a great camping trip. I had planned to go to Whitehorse this summer, and after a little research it looks like I definitely have to add Tombstone to my itinerary. I’m wondering if you wouldn’t mind emailing me with advice on this awesome adventure?
@Stephanie It is a great backpacking trip but not necessarily an easy one if it’s wet. There is the option to continue on to Divide and Talus Lakes as well. The Tombstone Mountain Range is incredibly beautiful and late August with all the colours seems like a great time to visit – even if it does get cold.
Wow, the autumn colours are incredible. Such beautiful photos, thank you for posting! I did this hike in late July and now I’m thinking I chose the wrong month! I’m amazed that there are short sleeves being worn in the picture; it was so cold on our hike with strong Arctic winds. I liked the hike (the views really are amazing) but preferred the other ‘off trail’ hikes we did in Tombstone. I found the campground by Grizzly Lake really claustrophobic, which is suprising with all that nature around! Everyone at the campground on our hike was French – either French Canadian or from France. I was the only hiker with English as a first language, which I found pretty interesting.
@Gemma I had seen photos of what the area looked like in late August so I knew that’s when I wanted to be there. Trust me, we got some cold weather on the next few days, but the first one was okay when you were moving. I actually liked the Grizzly Campground for its location but it was very muddy when we were there since they’d had so much rain in August – the whole summer actually.
Hi. Great pictures. I used to live in the Yukon and went hiking a lot – 6 times over the Chilkoot (which is not technically part or the YT) and 3 trips into Kluane. Hope I can get back and visit Tombstone. For people who have not been there – the autumn color shown are quite common in the Yukon, even if the terrain is more spectacular than most. The territory is mostly mountains and more mountains.
@Ralph Thanks for stopping by. We had a day in Kluane after the Tomstones and it too was a treat. I’m ready to go back for more.
I’ve been wanting to see the Yukon but this is unbelievably gorgeous. Now I understand the need for bear boxes for food but… what about your own protection? I’m going to research this further because I’m seriously thinking of a visit…
@Leyla If i’m hiking I carry a can of bear spray but the reality that you’ll actually run into a bear is extremely low. Talking loudly is the best deterrence so you don’t surprise a bear.