Historic gold rush town nestled between steep mountains and a deepwater inlet, known for its preserved architecture, vibrant harbor, and access to dramatic alpine scenery.
General Information
How to Get There
From Juneau (90 mi): Take a ferry or short regional flight north to Skagway, arriving at the harbor or airport, then continue into the compact downtown area near the waterfront.
Overview
Skagway is a small Alaska Panhandle port and the gateway to the Klondike, a gold rush boom town of 1898 with wooden boardwalks and false-front buildings, now the most-visited cruise port in Southeast Alaska. The name comes from a Tlingit phrase for rough seas caused by north winds in the Taiya Inlet.
Highlights
- Skagway Historic District and the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and the Chilkoot Trail
- Getting there: the Alaska Marine Highway, fast ferry from Juneau and Haines, or by the Klondike Highway from Canada
Things to Do
Step Back into Alaska's Gold Rush Era
Skagway is one of Alaska's most historic communities and served as a primary gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898. Nestled between towering mountains and the waters of Lynn Canal, the town preserves its frontier character through restored buildings, museums, scenic railroads, and outdoor recreation opportunities that blend history with breathtaking scenery.
Ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad is Skagway's most famous attraction. Built during the Klondike Gold Rush, the historic railway climbs through rugged mountain terrain, passing waterfalls, deep gorges, glaciers, and dramatic alpine scenery. The journey offers visitors spectacular views while retracing the route traveled by gold seekers more than a century ago.
Explore Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Much of downtown Skagway is preserved as part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Visitors can tour historic buildings, attend ranger-led programs, view museum exhibits, and learn about the thousands of prospectors who traveled through Skagway in search of fortune in the Yukon.
Walk Through Historic Downtown Skagway
The town's wooden boardwalks, period storefronts, saloons, and restored buildings create one of Alaska's most authentic historic districts. Walking through downtown provides a unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a Gold Rush boomtown while visiting shops, museums, and local attractions.
Visit Dyea and Learn About Gold Rush History
Just outside Skagway lies Dyea, once a bustling settlement that served as the starting point for the Chilkoot Trail. Today visitors can explore interpretive sites, historical markers, scenic viewpoints, and wildlife habitats while learning about the abandoned town's role in Gold Rush history.
Take a Scenic Drive into the Yukon
The Klondike Highway is one of North America's most scenic roads. Guided tours and self-drive adventures take visitors over White Pass and into Canada's Yukon Territory, passing mountain lakes, waterfalls, alpine tundra, and sweeping wilderness landscapes.
Explore Nearby Glaciers
Several excursions from Skagway provide opportunities to experience Alaska's glaciers. Popular activities include helicopter tours, glacier landings, guided glacier hikes, and flightseeing adventures that showcase the region's spectacular icefields and mountain scenery.
Go Wildlife Viewing and Sea Kayaking
The waters surrounding Skagway offer opportunities to observe seals, sea lions, whales, bald eagles, and other wildlife. Guided sea kayaking excursions allow visitors to paddle through scenic coastal environments while enjoying unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains and waterways.
Pan for Gold
Several attractions near town allow visitors to experience the excitement of Gold Rush prospecting. Demonstrations and hands-on gold panning activities provide insight into the techniques used by the stampeders who traveled through Skagway more than a century ago.
Top Trails
Chilkoot Trail
Length: Approximately 33 miles one way
Elevation Gain: Significant mountain ascent
Difficulty: Strenuous
One of North America's most famous historic trails, the Chilkoot Trail follows the route used by Klondike Gold Rush prospectors traveling from Dyea to the Yukon. The trail combines extraordinary history, alpine scenery, waterfalls, and wilderness camping opportunities.
Lower Dewey Lake Trail
Length: Approximately 2.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Approximately 500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
This popular hike climbs through forested terrain to the scenic shores of Lower Dewey Lake. The trail offers beautiful mountain views and is one of the most accessible hiking options close to downtown Skagway.
Yakutania Point Trail
Length: Approximately 1.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: Minimal
Difficulty: Easy
A short and family-friendly trail, Yakutania Point leads to a scenic coastal viewpoint overlooking Taiya Inlet. Visitors can enjoy views of mountains, cruise ships, waterfalls, and marine wildlife while exploring a beautiful forest environment.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article and official pages for Alaska.org - Best Things to Do in Skagway, nps.gov, Skagway, Alaska, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
Featured Locations and Trails
Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Historic park preserving restored gold rush-era buildings, rugged mountain trails, and stories of thousands who journeyed north in search of fortune during the late 1890s.
ThreeIfByBike, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Skagway Historic District and White Pass and Yukon Route
Preserved collection of wooden buildings and historic streets paired with a scenic railway route climbing through rugged mountains, showcasing the dramatic journey of gold rush travelers.
