KLRS has 10 cabins for the use of visitors and staff. Of these, seven have vehicle access, while the three along the beach are only accessible by foot.
Each cabin has space for two to six people. Single beds, mattresses, top sheets, and pillows are provided, however visitors must bring their own sleeping bags and/or blankets.
Cabins are heated with wood stoves and feature 12VDC solar powered lights and USB charging ports.
For more information about trip logistics and station facilities, see our Preparing for Your Stay section below.
To arrange your stay at KLRS, please fill out our reservation request form. Once we have received your request, you will be contacted by the KLRS management team to confirm details of your visit, such as any dietary or special needs you require.
Invoicing for your visit will be sent after you depart to ensure billing accuracy for the length of your stay and number of people. If you need payment to occur ahead of time, please let us know when booking.
Please note: The station operates at full capacity and staffing from May through September. For winter operation inquires, please contact klrs@ucalgary.ca.
Here you'll find all the information you need to prepare for your stay at KLRS, including important information about community consultation and permitting, transportation, facilities, meals, and payment.
Please contact us if you have any further questions.
The Kluane Lake Research Station (KLRS) has the privilege of being located on the Traditional Territories of the Kluane First Nation (KFN) and the Champagne & Aishihik First Nations (CAFN). Research in the region often occurs within the Traditional Territories of KFN, CAFN, and the White River First Nation (WRFN).
Our expectation is that all researchers staying at KLRS actively prioritize First Nation consultation and community engagement. The following steps are a non-exhaustive list of items researchers should complete early in the process of developing plans for research in the area, well in advance of their stay at KLRS. Researchers must provide permit(s) to klrs@ucalgary.ca to visit the station for research.
GeoYukon outlines First Nation Traditional Territories and Settlement Land. Reach out to the First Nations whose territories you wish to conduct research in to seek permission and foster collaboration in developing research plans that address community priorities. Do not perform research on Settlement Land without explicit permission from the appropriate First Nation(s).
Please note the First Nation governments receive a large number of requests for their time – no response to informal requests does not mean lack of interest. It is still important to contact them before applying for permits (step 6), even if you do not receive an immediate response.
KFN
Natural Resource Manager – resource.manager@kfn.ca
Environment Officer – environment@kfn.ca
Lands Manager – lands.manager@kfn.ca
Guardian Coordinator – guardian.coordinator@kfn.ca
CAFN
Acting Environment Manager – thume@cafn.ca
Heritage Steward – ddhume@cafn.ca
Environment & Natural Resource Officer – kjoe@cafn.ca
Lands Officer – jjamieson@cafn.ca
WRFN
Lands & Resources Manager – lands.manager@wrfn.ca
Lands & Resources Coordinator – lands.coord@wrfn.ca
Lands & Resources Technician – gis@wrfn.ca
Prioritize local communities throughout your entire research project, including planning, involving and hiring local community members, attending community events, and consistently communicating research progress in accessible ways the community can relate to.
Take YFN 001 - Yukon First Nations 101, a self-paced (~6-8 hour) online training from Yukon University, to learn about the history and culture of First Nations in the Yukon, and how to communicate respectfully with First Nation individuals and communities.
We encourage all users to book transportation with local shuttle services, such as Who What Where Tours or Adventure Time.
Rental vehicles are available at the Whitehorse airport from Driving Force, in town from Budget, and in the Whitehorse community of Porter Creek from K & K Truck Rentals.
KLRS is located at:
Mile 1054 Alaska Highway
Yukon Y0B 1H0
From Whitehorse follow signs for the Alaska Highway West, towards Haines Junction. Continue for approximately 2 hours until you reach the Village of Haines Junction. Turn right to continue on the Alaska Highway towards Fairbanks (you will see the RCMP detachment across the road and the Top Spot gas station to your right). Continue for approximately 40 minutes (60 km). The entrance to KLRS is a gravel road immediately off the highway (first right turn after passing Silver Creek). Signs direct you 1km from the turn. Continue straight along the gravel road until you come to a stop sign. This is the entrance to an active runway so beware of aircraft (see below for details about Silver City Airstrip). Continue across the runway, pass both sets of orange cones on the right, and turn right. The KLRS parking area is located on the left, on either side of the tree grove in front of the flag poles.
Be aware: The last gas option leaving Whitehorse is Goody's Gas approximately 15 minutes outside Whitehorse. The next gas station is not until Haines Junction. The last opportunity for gas before arriving at the station is Haines Junction.
KLRS is located on an active air strip with both fixed wing and helicopter air traffic.
After leaving the Alaska Highway at the turnoff to KLRS, you will come to a stop-sign. This is the Silver City gravel airstrip. Obey the sign and STOP - turn the music off. Look left, right, and up and listen for aircraft landing or taking off.
Do NOT proceed if there is any aircraft movement on the strip or if there are any aircraft approaching the strip or in the air in the immediate vicinity.
Once clear, drive directly across the strip, staying outside the runway markers, turn right on the far side of the strip and proceed along the trees to the KLRS parking area.
Please do NOT drive diagonally across the airstrip to KLRS.
The pilots thank you!
We suggest packing the following for your stay:
Please contact KLRS Management for a complete gear list or to discuss specific group or individual needs.
The mess hall is the main communal area at KLRS with space for up to 40 people. All meals are prepared by our Executive Chef and Assistant Cook. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, and other food allergies. Please let KLRS staff know of any dietary requirements BEFORE your visit.
The kitchen area in the mess hall is off limits to visitors, but there is storage space and a visitor fridge available for any personal food items or beverages you wish to bring.
Please note: Food is not permitted in the cabins to avoid attracting bears and mice.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks, tea, coffee, etc.
There is a centrally located washhouse with four showers, eight sinks, and four toilets, divided into men's and women's areas. Visitors are responsible for bringing their own personal toiletries and towel.
A washing machine, clothes drier, and laundry soap are provided for use of clients staying at KLRS.
The nearest medical facilities to KLRS are the Destruction Bay Nursing Station and the Haines Junction Health Centre. Both are approximately 35 to 40 minutes driving distance from KLRS. A nurse practitioner is on call 24 hours/day for emergencies. There is a limited pharmacy available at the health centres so if you require medications, please ensure that you bring them with you.
All out of territory, Canadian, visitors who require the use of the Haines Junction Health Centre are subject to associated charges if they do not have health insurance coverage or a valid federal health card. Please ensure that you obtain appropriate travel insurance for your visit to avoid any medical expenses.
KLRS is equipped with several First Aid Stations equipped with level 3 first aid kits, AEDs, and eye wash bottles. The locations of these kits will be reviewed during your orientation briefing upon arrival at KLRS.
First Aid Kit locations:
Automated External Defibrillators (AED) locations:
EyeWash Stations:
For emergencies in areas where there is not a First Aid Station there is a portable AED and first aid kit located in the Mess Hall and Old Mess Hall.
A backboard and stretcher are located in the Operations Room, along with additional first aid supplies.
EpiPen's are on site but are intended solely as a replenishment source for anyone who has had to use their own. Please consult KLRS station manager if a replacement EpiPen is required.
Please review the You Are In Bear Country safety information provided by Parks Canada.
KLRS provides visitors with internet access via satellite, which has limited bandwidth and, therefore, strict limits regarding internet usage. Please note the following requirements to make the limited bandwidth available to everyone:
There is public Wi-Fi available at several locations in Haines Junction.
The station operates a landline connected phone primarily for AINA/KLRS business and emergencies. Phones may be made available to visitors for short calls but timings may be subject to operational needs. Please ask a KLRS staff member if you require the use of the phone. Most newer cell phones have Wi-Fi calling options, which may be switched on ahead of arrival to KLRS.
In emergencies, family and friends can contact you on the station phone +1 (867) 841-4561.
There is no cell (mobile) phone coverage at KLRS. Locally to KLRS, there is cell coverage in Haines Junction, Destruction Bay, and Burwash Landing. Depending on the type of mobile device you have, you may be able to obtain cell coverage within (approximately) a 10-minute drive of KLRS towards Haines Junction.
The main cellular provider in the area is Bell Mobility. Consult your cellular provider prior to your visit to determine whether your provider is compatible with Bell Mobility service areas.
Following your visit you will be sent an invoice for your stay, which can be paid online via the Arctic Institute of North America's payment page.
If you are unable to make payments online, cheques made out to the Arctic Institute of North America are accepted and may be mailed to:
Arctic Institute of North America
ES1040 - 2500 University Dr. NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2N 1N4
We appreciate payments being made within 30 days of the invoicing date.
At the end of your visit to KLRS, we will request additional information that can be included in our Annual Report, KLRS informational material, and ADA: Arctic Discovery & Access. AINA wishes to ensure continued support for the station and also profile the researchers who use our facility by showcasing their work as appropriate.
For over 35 years AINA has maintained a publicly accessible bibliography of all publications produced as a result of our research support. The KLRS bibliography forms part of the ADA: Arctic Discovery & Access educational service, which is developed and maintained by AINA.
