Skagway

Skagway: A Place of History, Beauty and Adventure

Skagway is Alaska’s first incorporated city and the Gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Nestled at the northernmost reaches of the Inside Passage, the streets are lined with wooden boardwalks and restored buildings, looking much as they did 100 years ago.

Skagway’s history and spectacular natural setting create unparalleled sightseeing and recreation opportunities. Poke around on your own, or select from a variety of commercial tours. Either way, you will be amply rewarded with the sights and activities in and around Skagway.

Skagway is filled with outstanding dining options, abundant shopping, exceptional entertainment and three very fine museums. Many artists have made Skagway home with their work showcased in many of the downtown shops. Look for the ‘Made in Skagway’ logo for products that are crafted locally.

Skagway has five churches, one library and one financial institution. We also have over 200 hotel/ motel rooms in nine facilities ranging from modern to historical, including four bed & breakfasts. There is parking for 175 recreational vehicles. Limited tent camping sites are available in the summer.

For recreation there are two parks, one recreation center, a playground, bowling, museums, fishing, hiking, boating, camping facilities, ice skating, skiing and snowmobiling. A portion of the Skagway downtown area has been designated as the Skagway Unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park; nearly one million visitors are expected in the summer. Skagway is the embarkation point for the famous Chilkoot and White Pass trails.

Peaceful tidal coves and bays, placid mountain lakes, glaciers and soaring peaks are all accessible by a system of trails in and around the Skagway valley. From the timid to the adventurous, anyone can experience the best of Alaska’s wilderness on hikes as brief as a few minutes to as long as several days.

In 1910, the Skagway Commercial Club declared the town “Garden City of Alaska.” The name stuck for many years, but the title was unofficial until former Governor Steve Cowper signed the Garden City proclamation in 1988.

The Chilkoot Trail, a 33-mile trek through history, is the pinnacle of hiking adventures to be found in the Skagway area. The trail is a unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and is enjoyed by thousands each year.

One of the last remaining narrow-gauge trains, the White Pass and Yukon Route, Scenic Railway of the World, offers an unforgettable ride through the coastal mountains and a unique way to view the history of the region.

If it’s glaciers you want, consider booking a flight-seeing tour to Glacier Bay, home to some of the world’s most beautiful “rivers of ice.” Flights average 90 minutes, and regular service makes this side trip convenient to any travel schedule. Or, add an additional dose of excitement with a helicopter tour to one of the local glaciers, featuring a bird’s eye view of the Chilkoot Trail as well as a chance to land on a glacier and touch ice thousands of feet thick and hundreds of years old.

Van and motorcoach tours offer a “sit-back-and-enjoy” introduction to the spectacular vistas of the Skagway valley and beyond. For the “action-oriented,” numerous adventure tours are available to put you in intimate contact with the Alaska wilderness.

Situated on Taiya Inlet – a picturesque glacial fjord – Skagway’s harbor also offers boat charters for sightseeing or sport fishing for halibut and salmon.

Famous for its hospitality, Skagway offers visitors all the amenities they desire for a relaxing, adventurous and unforgettable stay!