Gateway to the Yukon Territory, Yakutania Point, the Chilkoot Trail: With so many historical and naturally stunning attractions, there are an almost endless number of things to do in Skagway! This quaint port town, settled around the end of the 19th century by hopeful gold rushers, is among the last stops for many northbound Inside Passage cruisers. After experiencing some of the countless exciting things to do in Skagway, though, visitors may just feel that they’ve saved the best for last! After all, besides its inherent historic interest, Skagway has some of the most exciting shore excursions Alaska has to offer!

Well-researched Skagway visitors will likely be familiar with such excursions as the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari, which grants adventurers access to the gorgeous (but rapidly shrinking!) Davidson Glacier. This massive tongue of ice is situated just outside of the neighboring town of Haines, known colloquially as the Adventure Capital of the World! Other classic favorites among some of the top shore excursions Alaska features include the Yukon Discovery Tour, whereby visitors gain access to the stunning, historically significant, and still-wild Yukon Territory, and the Bennett Lake Scenic Journey, a train adventure that follows a similar itinerary. These options represent just the tip of the iceberg, however, for things to do in Skagway, as folks willing to go a bit off the beaten path will find truly unlimited options for new and exciting experiences!

With some of the most scenic shore excursions Alaska offers, a powerful historical legacy, and extensive wildlife, Skagway is a gem among Inside Passage destinations!

 

What Experiences Does Skagway Have to Offer?

Adventure junkies, road trippers, & relaxed wildlife watchers all have something to unite them in this historic town. Take a look to see what this mining town without gold has to offer you.

Yukon Sightseeing Tours

The Gateway to The Yukon features many stunning journeys into this historic area, from trains to bikes to buses!

Adventurous Excursions

From Glacier Experiences, to fast-pace Bike Tours, to zippy Zodiac Trips, Skagway is perfect for adrenaline junkies.

Private Experiences

Skagway features some of our best private tour experiences, so you can experience Alaska without the crowds.

1100 Population

66 Average July Temperature (degrees farenheit)

28 Tours Offered

1200 $ earned by Nordstroms Founder in the Gold Rush

            

Want to Learn More? Check Out Our Travel Tips!

Skagway is Home to some Great Ziplining Options

Take a look at our Zipline guide to decide if Grizzly Falls is the stop for you!

Skagway is an Exciting Little Town!

Take a look here at what to do between shore excursions, with this list of Cheap & Free stops.

We Give Back!

Skagway is a stunning port surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes: find out what we're doing to help preserve them.

 

Why I Love Skagway

“The history of the Klondike Gold Rush makes Skagway one of the most historic areas in the Inside Passage. In some ways, the same adventurous, pioneering attitude is tangible in the small town even today. Skagway also provides cruise visitors one of the rare opportunities to get off the coast and head inland to explore the notorious Yukon Territory.”

Drew F.

 

Explore Skagway

Downtown Skagway is quite small and easily walkable. If you’d like to venture into the Yukon on your own, you can find rental cars through Avis Rent-A-Car (907-983-2247) & Affordable Car Rentals (907-983-2523).

Skagway’s Municipal and Regional Transit (S.M.A.R.T.) Bus is the local transit system that is easy to use, affordable and convenient. The Smart Bus runs May 1 – October 1:

• 7 am to 9 pm – Buses run every 20 minutes from all cruise ship docks into town, with stops at 3rd, 5th & 7th Avenue.
• 10 am to 5 pm – Buses run every 30 minutes from 3rd Avenue to the north end of town, with stops at 3rd, 5th & 7th Avenue, the Gold Rush Cemetery road, Alaska 360 and Jewell Gardens.
• Wheelchair lift-equipped buses are available.
$5 per person – All Day Pass
$2 per person – One Way

CRUISE DOCKS

• Broadway  – At the end of Broadway St, the main street in Downtown Skagway.
• Ore – Farthest from the railway, closest to the helicopter base.
• Railroad Dock – Closest to the railway.
• Ferry Dock – Only for very small cruise ships.

NOTABLE LANDMARKS

• The Arctic Brotherhood Hall – You can’t miss the most photographed building in Alaska, with its nearly 9,000 driftwood sticks collected from Skagway Bay attached to it. Built in 1899 as a fraternal hall, it is now home to the Skagway Convention & Visitors Bureau.
• The Chilkoot Trail – “The world’s longest outdoor museum” is the beginning of the route to the Yukon Goldfields. The 33-mile trail offers spectacular hiking from tidewater at Dyea to Bennett Lake in Canada (17 trail miles in the US; 16 miles in Canada).
• Dyea – The once bustling town of Dyea is now cherished by locals and visitors alike for its quiet beauty. Dyea was established several centuries ago as a summer camp by the Tlingit Natives. In 1897 the city was filling with gold seekers but almost disappeared shortly after due to a fatal avalanche and the construction of the railroad in Skagway.
• White Pass & Yukon Route – Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, the White Pass and Yukon Route Narrow Gauge Railway is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The WPYR Railway gains nearly 3,000 feet in 20 miles all while providing magnificent views of waterfalls, gorges, glaciers, trestles and historic sites via their vintage rail cars.
• Red Onion Saloon – A favorite among locals, this bar/restaurant/museum/music venue was a brothel back in the Gold Rush days. You can take a bawdy madam-guided tour of the historic brothel, or just stop in for pizza and a beer.
• Yakutania Point – Yakutania Point is a pleasantly easy, 1.6-mile hike that is a stone’s throw away from the ship. There’s a good chance that you will see some seals and possibly some humpback whales or even orcas out at the Point. Grab a bite in town and head out for a picnic and enjoy the sound of the waves, seabirds, and eagles.
• Skagway Museum – Located in Skagway’s City Hall, the first stone building in Alaska, this museum highlights the town’s unique history. On display are items such as a Tlingit canoe, Bering Sea kayaks, a WP&YR locomotive and caboose, and a 1931 Ford AA truck. Also exhibited are supplies, tools and gambling equipment used in the Klondike Gold Rush and an Alaska Native heritage collection of baskets, beadwork, and carvings.
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Museum – Located in the original 1898 White Pass & Yukon Route depot, the center is spread over two interconnecting buildings. One contains an exhibit that highlights some of the Klondike background with an emphasis on the two routes out of Skagway:
• Chilkoot Pass and White Pass. The other is a visitor center staffed by park rangers where you can sign up for walking tours and view a 25-minute film, Gold Fever: Race to the Klondike.
• Small Boat Harbor – Meeting spot for several tours.
• Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry – 45-minute ferry ride that travels to Haines and back.

 

PLACES TO EAT

• Skagway Fish Company  – $$ Seafood, American
• Bites on Broadway – $ American, Café
• Poppie’s Garden Restaurant – $$ Organic, Fresh, Local
• StarFire – $$ Thai
• Glacial Smoothies & Espresso – $ Juice Bar, Café, Deli
• Skagway Brew Co – $$ American
• Gold Digger Mine and Dine – $$ Filipino
• Olivia’s Alaskan Bistro – $$ Seafood, Mexican, American
• Bonanza Bar & Grill – $$ American
• Northern Lights Pizzeria – $$ Pizza
• Sweet Tooth Café – $$ Café
• Red Onion Saloon – $$ American

 

Hungry?

Featured Restaurants & Breweries

Skagway Brew Co. –

Established in 1897, this microbrewery is a favorite among locals and visitors. Dedicated to creating fresh, unfiltered ales using pure Alaskan water, their signature Spruce Tip Blonde Ale has received high praise. The food menu is also impressive, featuring delicious options for everyone from locally caught seafood to burgers to gluten-free and vegetarian options.

Red Onion Saloon –

Quoted “the best burger I’ve ever had” by locals and visitors, don’t be fooled by the modest building that’s located just after the bridge, north of berth 3. They take their time cooking their burgers, so keep that in mind as you decide which milkshake and side to choose.
g room and serves up gin cocktails. They anticipate their single malt whiskey to be released in 2020.

Want to Learn More? Join our Newsletter to receive the Inside Passage Planner by filling out our Contact Form.