The 5 Best Skagway Shore Excursions

Skagway has a variety of tours to choose from and picking the right one can be a daunting task. We've listed out the Skagway shore excursions that consistently receive 5-star reviews and are also our team's personal favorites. Take a look at the tours below, and you'll have a much better idea of how you should spend your time off the ship in Skagway.

Browse all of our top picks for the best Skagway excursions!

The five best Skagway shore excursions are the Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition (best for families), Yukon Discovery (most scenic), the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari (best glacier experience), the Bennett Lake Scenic Journey (most historic), and the Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp (best for dog lovers). Every Skagway tour on this list consistently earns 5-star reviews from cruise guests, and each one is timed to fit a standard day in port. Below, we break down what each tour offers, who it suits, and how to choose the right excursion before your ship arrives.

Skagway Shore Excursions at a Glance

Tour	Best for	Duration	Guest rating	Into Canada?	From price
Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition	Families	4 hrs	4.95 stars (430 reviews)	No	$$
Yukon Discovery	Scenery & photo stops	6.5 hrs	4.88 stars (1,147 reviews)	Yes — passport required	$
Glacier Point Wilderness Safari	Glacier up close	6 hrs	4.72 stars (345 reviews)	No	$$$
Bennett Lake Scenic Journey	History buffs	8 hrs	4.92 stars (169 reviews)	Yes — passport required	$$
Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp	Dog lovers & families	3.25 hrs	4.88 stars (644 reviews)	No	$$

$ = under $200 per adult · $$ = roughly $200–$350 · $$$ = $350+. Rates vary by season — current prices are always listed on each tour page.

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Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition: Best for Families

4.95 stars from 430 reviews

The Grizzly Falls Ziplining tour is one of the most popular tours in Skagway, and for good reason. The setting is picturesque, the ziplines are fast, and the guides are awesome.

Grizzly Falls Ziplining is a favorite for families because it’s able to accommodate almost everyone (barring those with a severe fear of heights!). The Grizzly Falls course has seen people ages 6 to 96 (not kidding!), and the guides are highly trained in safety and bad jokes.

You’ll go down 9 different ziplines (plus 1 or 2 training lines if needed). The fastest has a top speed near 40 miles per hour and the longest is over 2 football fields in length. The harnesses and guide-operated braking system means you can get crazy! If you’re up for it, the guides will teach you tricks like hanging upside-down and front flips, all while soaring above the Alaskan rainforest.

The age limit for Grizzly Falls Ziplining is 6, and the weight limit is 50 to 265 lbs. The guide's top priority is safety, and they try their hardest to never turn anyone away unless it would be unsafe for that person to participate.

What guests are saying:

I’ve been zip lining all over the country and this is by far the most fun I’ve ever had – hands down! The ride up the mountain in a Unimog (monster truck) is really fun and scenic. The staff was incredible and so enthusiastic! You can tell they have fun all day! They teach you and encourage you to do tricks. The zips are fun and provide gorgeous views of the area. You zip over a high-speed stream a few times. Overall a really fun experience and I highly recommend it! Can’t say enough about the staff!! -Daniel Russel

Learn more and book your Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition for your Skagway port date!

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Yukon Discovery: Most Scenic

4.88 stars from 1,147 reviews

If you want photos that will make your friends jealous, you want this tour.

The 6.5-hour tour takes you out of Skagway, through the White Pass and British Columbia, and into the Yukon. Your guide will stop at several of the most scenic spots for plenty of photo opportunities. Be on the lookout for wildlife like bears and mountain goats!

Get your picture taken in front of the "Welcome to Alaska" and "Welcome to the Yukon" signs for a great memory of your trip. The guides are very knowledgeable on the history and local flora and fauna of the area, so take advantage! Even if you've been to Skagway before, we guarantee that you'll learn something new on this tour.

Lunch from the fantastic Caribou Crossing is included, along with entrance to the great wildlife display and Mountie museum. For a little extra, you can even experience the thrill of riding in a sled pulled by Alaskan huskies, some of whom competed in the Iditarod!

This tour is fairly sedentary, so if you're looking to get outside and play, this probably isn't the one for you. But if you want the best photo stops, this is it. There is no age or weight limit.

What guests are saying:

This tour was the highlight of our seven day Alaskan cruise! Our guide, John, was very friendly and knowledgeable. He kept us entertained the entire trip. He went over and above a typical tour guide. We stopped at many sites to take pictures and he was always glad to take pictures of our group! We saw many beautiful sites on this tour. He gave us good information about the town when he dropped us off. We would definitely recommend this company and especially this tour guide! Thank you!! -JoAnn and Steve Mingura

Learn more and to book your Yukon Discovery for your Skagway port date!

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Glacier Point Wilderness Safari: Best Glacier Experience

4.72 stars from 345 reviews

Explore the Lynn Canal, Tongass National Forest, and the Davidson Glacier on the stunning 6-hour Glacier Point Wilderness Safari excursion. Your trip starts off on a customized boat that will take you down the Lynn Canal towards Haines. The boat ride out to Glacier Point takes about an hour, and you land right on the beach in your own version of the invasion of Normandy. Once you've donned all the gear needed for the day, you'll make your way to the Davidson Glacier in 10-person canoes.

While walking on the glacier isn't guaranteed, Glacier Point guides do their best to get you up close and personal. If you do get the chance to walk on it, you'll have plenty of time for pictures and for staring in awe at the giant mass of ice. If conditions don't allow you to walk on it, the guides will often fish chunks of the glacier out of the lake for you to look at and handle.

During the excursion, there is a lot of time spent on boats, and the nature of the tour is fairly educational. Also included on this tour is a picnic-style lunch. The weight limit for the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari is 50 to 350 lbs, there is a minimum height requirement of 4'10" and a minimum age requirement of 7-years-old.

What guests are saying:

This was one of our favorite excursions during our Alaska cruise. From the boat ride with amazing views to the essentially private glacier experience. The guides were knowledgeable, organized, and fun. Would highly recommend this tour! -Melissa Yeh

Learn more and book the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari for your Skagway port date!

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Bennett Lake Scenic Journey: Most Historic

4.92 stars from 169 reviews

Cover the entire 67.5 miles of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad on this 8-hour tour. Many people come to Skagway and hop right on the train. The downfall of the standard train trips is that they simply summit the White Pass and turn around, so you miss some of the most beautiful points that lie just beyond that.

This tour takes you up into the Yukon to Emerald Lake and Carcross, with a very educated guide leading the way. WP&YR is known to provide some of the most in-depth education to its guides so that they can pass their knowledge on to you.

Both the train and bus portions of this trip are fully narrated, but you'll have more chances to ask questions on your bus ride, where the group is much smaller. On the train, one person narrates for the entire line of cars, so it can be difficult to reach them!

This small-group tour departs Skagway just 1-2 times a day. And space is limited, so if you're a history buff, it's best to book early! There are no weight or age restrictions on this tour.

What guests are saying:

All of our excursions were fantastic, but this was the most scenic and relaxing! The train ride was fun and took you back in time and the shuttle ride back to Skagway was equally wonderful. Our driver Mike was a historian of the gold rush and had a wonderful sense of humor. We have already recommended this experience to our friends and family. -Jennifer Bennett

Learn more and book your Bennett Lake Scenic Journey for your visit to Skagway!

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Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp: Best for Dog Lovers

4.88 stars from 644 reviews

If your ideal day in port involves a team of Alaskan huskies and a lap full of puppies, this is your tour. The Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp begins with a narrated drive along 11 miles of coastline to Dyea, a Gold Rush ghost town turned summer training camp, where a Unimog all-terrain vehicle hauls you up a mountain road lined with glacial streams to meet the dogs.

At the top, a team of huskies pulls you on a custom wheeled summer sled along a mile of zig-zagging trail through the Tongass National Forest. These mushers are the real deal; many have raced the Iditarod and Yukon Quest, and the kennel talk afterward covers what it takes to train canine athletes for 1,000-mile races. Then comes the part everyone remembers: puppy time. Cuddling the camp's next generation of sled dogs is part of their socialization, so nobody has to hold back.

At 3 hours and 15 minutes dock to dock with no minimum age (children under 2 even ride free as lap children), this is the easiest "only in Alaska" win on the list for families and dog lovers alike.

What guests are saying:

Everyone from the kids to the grandparents loved this excursion! The dogs, the scenery, the people...everything was wonderful. -Karen B.

Learn more and book the Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp for your day in Skagway!

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How to Choose the Right Skagway Excursion for You

With so many Skagway shore excursions to pick from, the right choice comes down to what you want most from your day in port. Families and adrenaline seekers should head straight to Grizzly Falls for ziplining above the rainforest. If you want big views with low effort, Yukon Discovery delivers the region's best scenery from a comfortable coach. Travelers who want to be on the water and up close to glacier ice should choose Glacier Point. History buffs will get the most from Bennett Lake and the full White Pass and Yukon Route. And if your perfect souvenir is a photo with a husky puppy, the Sled Dog and Musher's Camp was made for you.

Still deciding? Our tour specialists know all of these Skagway tours inside and out. Contact us and we'll help you match a tour to your ship's schedule before you book.

Know Before You Go: Skagway Shore Excursion Tips

• Book early: The best small-group Skagway shore excursions sell out, sometimes weeks in advance. Reserve your booking as soon as your port date is set.
• Passports: Documentation is only required for the tours that cross the border into Canada — Yukon Discovery and the Bennett Lake Scenic Journey. Alaska-only tours do not need one.
• Timing: Every tour on this list is timed to return before all-aboard, but always confirm your cruise ship's departure time when you book.
• What to wear: Dress in layers and pack a waterproof layer. Southeast Alaska weather conditions shift fast, even in July.
• Getting off the ship: Most cruise ships dock in downtown Skagway, so shops and many tour meeting points are a short walk from the pier.
• Season: The season for Skagway guided tours runs roughly early May through late September, matching the Alaska cruise calendar's summer sailings.

Frequently Asked Questions About Skagway Shore Excursions

What is the best Skagway shore excursion?

The Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition is the highest-rated Skagway shore excursion on our list at 4.95 stars, but the best choice depends on your travel style: Yukon Discovery for scenery, Glacier Point for glacier access, Bennett Lake for Klondike Gold Rush history, and the Sled Dog and Musher's Camp for husky puppies. Compare all five in the table above.

How much time do you have in port in Skagway?

Most cruise ships arrive in Skagway around 7:00 a.m. and stay into the evening, giving you a full day in the cruise port. That is enough time for even the longest excursion on this list, the 8-hour Bennett Lake Scenic Journey, with time to spare before all-aboard.

Do you need a passport for Skagway shore excursions?

Only for the tours that cross into Canada. Yukon Discovery and the Bennett Lake Scenic Journey both require passports for adults and children 16 or older, while US and Canadian kids 15 and under can cross the border with an original birth certificate. Alaska-only excursions require no passport.

Are Skagway shore excursions worth it?

Yes. The Skagway cruise excursions on this list average 4.7 to 4.95 stars across more than 2,700 combined reviews on our site, Viator, and TripAdvisor. They reach places you simply cannot see from town, including the Yukon, alpine lakes, and the Davidson Glacier, and guests consistently rank them among their cruise highlights.

What is Skagway known for?

Skagway is known as the gateway of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, when thousands of stampeders passed through on their way to the Yukon goldfields. Today its biggest draws are the historic White Pass and Yukon Route railroad, the gold rush-era downtown, and easy access to alpine lakes and glacier country.

Can you book Skagway excursions independently instead of through the cruise line?

Yes. You can book Skagway excursions directly with a local operator like Alaska Shore Tours. Every tour on this list is timed around cruise port schedules, and if your ship's schedule changes or your tour is canceled, you receive a refund, the same protection the cruise lines advertise.

What is the best time of year for Skagway excursions?

The Skagway excursion season runs from early May through late September, matching the Alaska cruise season. June through August brings the warmest weather and longest daylight, while May and September sail with smaller crowds. The Skagway tours on this list operate throughout the summer season.

How far in advance should you book a Skagway shore excursion?

Book as soon as your cruise itinerary is confirmed. Popular small-group Skagway shore excursions can sell out months in advance during peak season, and the Bennett Lake Scenic Journey runs just one or two departures a day with limited seating. Booking early secures your preferred tour and departure time.

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We hope this list helps you narrow down your Skagway excursion options. But if you have any questions, or are wondering what else Skagway has to offer, contact us! Our tour specialists and reservations agents are here to help.