A Gold Rush town in Alaska with preserved 1890s wooden buildings along Broadway Street. Gateway to Klondike trails and the White Pass Railroad.
Skagway, a small town of 1,240 residents in Alaska's panhandle, draws more than a million summer visitors. Walking down Broadway Street, you'll pass original 1890s buildings like the Red Onion Saloon, where madams once ran a bustling brothel. You can ride a vintage train through mountain passes, spot bears and mountain goats, or follow the footsteps of gold seekers on the 33-mile Chilkoot Trail.
Riding the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
The narrow-gauge train climbs 2,865 feet through the mountains, passing glaciers and waterfalls during a 3-hour round trip. You'll see Bridal Veil Falls, Dead Horse Gulch, and traces of the original 1898 Gold Rush trail. The train runs May through September ($155 for adults, $77.50 for children), departing at 8:15am, 12:45pm, and 4:30pm from the downtown depot. During the Summit Excursion, you'll stop at three viewpoints while guides explain how workers built the railroad during the harsh winter of 1898.
Walking Through Downtown's Historic Buildings
Along Broadway Street, you'll find 100 original buildings from the 1890s gold rush, now part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Stop at the Red Onion Saloon, an 1898 brothel-turned-restaurant, to see original furniture and artifacts while having lunch. Visit the Moore House (built 1887), Skagway's first building, to see period furniture and early settler photographs. The Mascot Saloon and Jeff Smith's Parlor display mining equipment, period clothing, and everyday objects from the gold rush era.
Hiking the Local Trails
Climb 500 feet on the Lower Dewey Lake Trail to reach a mountain lake - the 2.5-mile round trip takes about 45 minutes each way. Walk 1.5 miles to the Gold Rush Cemetery, where you'll find the grave of notorious con man Soapy Smith, then continue to Lower Reid Falls, a 300-foot waterfall. The challenging Chilkoot Trail runs 33 miles from Dyea to Bennett Lake, taking 3-5 days to complete. You'll need a permit from the National Park Service, and rangers recommend hiking between June and early September.
Getting to Skagway
Cruise ships dock in the center of town from May to September. Take the Alaska Marine Highway ferry to Juneau (6.5 hours, $56 per adult) three times weekly year-round. Drive the Klondike Highway to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory (110 miles, 2 hours). Alaska Seaplanes flies twice daily to Juneau ($120 one way). In winter, only the highway and limited ferry service operate.
Day Trips and Activities
Take a boat tour on Lynn Canal to see seals and eagles ($89 for 3 hours). Go dog sledding on Denver Glacier ($549 including helicopter transport). Explore Dyea ghost town, 9 miles away, where you'll find gold rush building foundations and information panels along a 1-mile trail. Go rafting on the Taiya River from May through September ($89 for 2 hours). Between July and September, walk 5 minutes from the cruise ship dock to watch salmon swimming upstream at Pullen Creek.
