Skagway

It's easy to see why tiny Skagway is Alaska's top visitor destination: It has wide-ranging appeal, including a compelling history, architecture, a scenic railway, a national park and walkability found in few other Alaska towns. It's a town as picturesque as the ones kids set up around their toy trains every Christmas, and one of the few places in the state to win awards for urban design.

Favorite Attractions

Skagway and its population of about 1000 attract close to one million visitors each year, who typically tour the National Historic Park buildings, then stroll along the boardwalks, window shop, and admire the town’s collective green thumb.

• Explore Skagway & Beyond: Skagway has many unique options for exploring the city as well as a the roads beyond. Midnight Sun Excursions offers a scenic White Pass Tour as well as private mini-bus tours into the Yukon. Rainbow Glacier Adventures offers a tour to White Pass Summit that also includes admission to the Yukon Suspension Bridge. Or join their guided tour of the old townsite of Dyea.
• White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad: Ride "The Railway Built of Gold." Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad climbs 3000 feet in 20 miles and features steep grades, cliff-hanging turns, steep grades, tunnels, bridges, and trestles.
• Dog Sledding: Board a flight with TEMSCO Helicopters that whisks you thousands of feet above sea where you'll mush across the snow.
• Downtown Walking Tours: Bring the spirit of the Gold Rush to life with Alaska.org's exclusive Skagway Audio Guide, narrated by one of Skagway's favorite sons, Buckwheat Donahue, a captivating storyteller, entertainer, historian, and adventurer.
• Hike the Chilkoot Trail: Adventuresome travelers can retrace the stampeders’ route to the gold mines by taking a backpacking the 33-mile climb up and over the “Golden Stairs,” immortalized in Charlie Chaplin’s silent film, “The Gold Rush,”. Plan about five days to complete, or take a shuttle to the trailhead and set off for a day hike.
• Cruising? See our list of recommended shore excursions!

Getting Here

A popular stop on Inside Passage Cruises, Skagway is also easily reached by the Alaska Marine Highway ferries, Alaska Seaplanes, or by car. Click here for a sample itinerary that includes Skagway.