Cultural site
Skagway Historic District
- Site type
- Historic site
- Fee
- 0 USD
Almost 100 gold rush buildings along Broadway and the boardwalks, the heart of Klondike Gold Rush NHP.
Alaska local guide
Skagway
Skagway sits at the head of Taiya Inlet, the gold-rush gateway to the Chilkoot Trail and White Pass, with a preserved boardwalk historic district.
- Gateway towns
- Skagway
- Nearest major airport
- Juneau International (JNU); Ketchikan (KTN) and Sitka (SIT)
- Best months
- May–September
- Getting there
- Alaska Marine Highway ferry, flights from Juneau, or the Klondike Highway through Canada; carry border documents.
Southeast / Inside Passage
Around Skagway
Overview
Skagway sits at the head of Taiya Inlet, the gold-rush gateway to the Chilkoot Trail and White Pass, with a preserved boardwalk historic district.
Explore
Highlights
Most of Skagway's sights are restored gold rush buildings within a few blocks of the cruise docks, and the National Park Service sites are free.
- Visitor Center: the 1898 railroad depot at 2nd and Broadway, with exhibits, ranger talks and a film.
- Jeff. Smiths Parlor: Soapy Smith's saloon, by free timed ticket.
- Mascot Saloon and Moore House: restored NPS buildings on Broadway and Spring Street.
- Skagway Museum: city history in the 1899 McCabe College building.
- Dyea: the townsite, wharf pilings and Slide Cemetery, 9 miles from town.
Cultural site
Gold Rush Cemetery
- Site type
- Cemetery
Historic cemetery on the north edge of Skagway, a flat walk from downtown on the way to Lower Reid Falls.
Cultural site
Slide Cemetery (Dyea)
- Site type
- Cemetery
- Historic period
- Klondike Gold Rush, 1898
Dyea cemetery for gold seekers killed in the Palm Sunday avalanche of April 3, 1898.
Museum
Moore House and Cabin
- Season months
- May–Sep
- Museum type
- History
- Owner type
- Federal agency
The home of Skagway's founding Moore family at 5th and Spring, with Captain William Moore's 1887 cabin.
Museum
Klondike Gold Rush NHP Visitor Center (Train Depot)
- Museum type
- History
- Owner type
- Federal agency
- Fee
- 0 USD
The park visitor center in the 1898 White Pass & Yukon Route depot at 2nd and Broadway: exhibits, ranger talks and a film.
Museum
Jeff. Smiths Parlor Museum
- Season months
- May–Sep
- Museum type
- History
- Owner type
- Federal agency
Soapy Smith's gold rush saloon, a roadside museum since 1935, reopened by NPS in 2016; free timed tickets.
Museum
Mascot Saloon Museum
- Season months
- May–Sep
- Museum type
- History
- Owner type
- Federal agency
A Broadway saloon built in 1898, closed by prohibition in 1916 and restored by NPS to its 1904 look.
Museum
Skagway Museum
- Website
- Https://www.skagway.org/museum
- Museum type
- History
- Owner type
- Borough city
City museum of gold rush and local history in the 1899 McCabe College building at 7th and Spring, shared with City Hall.
Glacier
Laughton Glacier
- Viewing access
- Train · Hike
- Viewing notes
- View from the moraine above the Forest Service cabin.
Glacier above the Skagway River valley, reached by train and a short trail from the WP&YR Glacier stop.
Glacier
Denver Glacier
- Viewing access
- Train · Hike · Helicopter
Hanging glacier at the head of the East Fork Skagway River, seen from the Denver trail or by helicopter to a sled dog camp.
Ghost town
Dyea Townsite
- Era
- Klondike Gold Rush, 1897 to 1903
- Why abandoned
- The White Pass & Yukon Route railroad bought the Chilkoot tramways in 1899 and shut them down; later railroad and townsite schemes failed and residents drifted away.
- Remaining structures
- Building foundations, wharf pilings and three cemeteries, including the Slide Cemetery.
Gold rush rival to Skagway at the foot of the Chilkoot Trail, now a quiet NPS site with cemeteries, wharf pilings and wild iris.
Ghost town
Canyon City Townsite (Chilkoot Trail)
- Era
- Klondike Gold Rush
- Access modes
- Hike
Gold rush settlement ruins near mile 7.7 of the Chilkoot Trail, with an old boiler and stoves among the trees.
Viewpoint
White Pass Summit
- Elevation
- 2865 ft
- View of
- White Pass · Skagway River canyon · Coast Mountains
- Access modes
- Train · Road
The 2,865-foot pass on the US-Canada border, reached by the WP&YR Summit Excursion or the Klondike Highway.
Waterfall
Lower Reid Falls
- Hike distance
- 2 mi
- Access modes
- Road · Hike
Cascading falls a short walk beyond the Gold Rush Cemetery, on the flat walk north of town.
Explore
Mountains
The local skyline shapes weather and access.
Mountain
Mount Harding
- Elevation
- 5321 ft
5,321-foot peak about 4.5 miles southwest of Skagway, named for President Harding's 1923 visit.
Mountain
A.B. Mountain
- Standard route
- A.B. Mountain Trail from Dyea Road
The peak above Dyea Road, climbed by a difficult 10-mile round-trip trail with about 5,000 feet of gain.
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State & National Parks
Protected lands have different access, camping and activity rules.
Tongass National Forest
national forest
Land manager: USFS
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
other
Land manager: NPS
Explore
Hiking
Hikes start right from downtown or from the Dyea Road, and the railway drops hikers at two glacier trailheads.
- Chilkoot Trail: 33 miles over Chilkoot Pass; overnight permit and orientation required.
- Lower Dewey Lake: 0.9 mile and 500 ft to a forest lake, with a loop around it.
- Upper Dewey Lake: a steep 3,100 ft climb to an alpine lake and cabins.
- Yakutania Point and Smuggler's Cove: easy shoreline walks across the footbridge.
- Laughton Glacier and Denver Glacier: reached by WP&YR flag-stop trains in summer.
Trail
Chilkoot Trail
- Distance
- 33 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3500 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
The 33-mile gold rush route from Dyea over Chilkoot Pass to Bennett, BC; permits required for overnight trips.
33.0 mi
Trail
Laughton Glacier Trail
- Distance
- 1.5 mi
- Route type
- Out and back
- Access modes
- Train · Hike
Train-access trail from the WP&YR Glacier stop (mile 14) through old-growth forest to the Laughton Glacier cabin and moraine.
1.5 mi
Trail
Denver Glacier Trail
- Distance
- 4.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 900 ft
- Route type
- Out and back
Train-access trail from the Denver Caboose cabin up the East Fork Skagway River valley toward Denver Glacier.
4.5 mi
Trail
A.B. Mountain Trail
- Distance
- 5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 5000 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Difficult 10-mile round trip from Dyea Road with 5,000 feet of climbing; dangerous above treeline.
5.0 mi
Trail
Lower Dewey Lake Trail
- Distance
- 0.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 500 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
The most popular hike from downtown: a short steep climb to Lower Dewey Lake and a loop through pine forest around it.
0.9 mi
Trail
Upper Dewey Lake Trail
- Distance
- 3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3100 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Steep climb of about 3,100 feet from Lower Dewey Lake to an alpine lake with a public shelter and rental cabin.
3.0 mi
Trail
Devil's Punchbowl Trail
- Distance
- 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 600 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Alpine extension from Upper Dewey Lake to the Devil's Punchbowl tarn; 2.5 miles round trip and 600 feet more climbing.
1.3 mi
Trail
Icy Lake and Upper Reid Falls Trail
- Distance
- 3.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 850 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Dewey Lakes system trail to Icy Lake and Upper Reid Falls; 7 miles round trip with 850 feet of climbing.
3.5 mi
Trail
Sturgill's Landing Trail
- Distance
- 3.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 500 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Forest trail from Lower Dewey Lake to a beach on Taiya Inlet with a picnic table and old sawmill remains.
3.5 mi
Trail
Yakutania Point Trail
- Distance
- 0.5 mi
- Elevation gain
- 100 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
Easy walk across the Skagway River footbridge to Yakutania Point, with a picnic shelter and harbor seal viewing.
0.5 mi
Trail
Smuggler's Cove Trail
- Distance
- 2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 50 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
Easy trail beyond Yakutania Point to Smuggler's Cove, with a picnic shelter and privy.
2.0 mi
Trail
Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls Walk
- Distance
- 2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 50 ft
- Difficulty
- Easy
Flat walk north of town to the Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls; 4 miles round trip from downtown.
2.0 mi
Trail
Lost Lake Trail (Dyea)
- Distance
- 2 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1500 ft
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Steep 2-mile climb of about 1,500 feet near Dyea to Lost Lake, a rainbow trout lake.
2.0 mi
Explore
Fishing
Fishing here is mostly for enhanced king salmon in Taiya Inlet and trout in hike-in lakes.
- Taiya Inlet kings: June to August from the small boat harbor ramp.
- Pullen Creek: hatchery kings and pink salmon return through town in July and August.
- Lower Dewey Lake: Dolly Varden and brook trout a mile above town.
- Lost Lake near Dyea: rainbow trout, 2 a day, 9 inches or longer.
- Rules change often, so check current emergency orders before fishing for kings.
Fishing spot
Taiya Inlet king salmon
- Season months
- Jun–Aug
- Water kind
- Saltwater
- Species
- King salmon
Boat fishery for enhanced king salmon in Taiya Inlet from June to August, launching at the Skagway harbor ramp.
Fishing spot
Pullen Creek and Pond
- Water kind
- Creek
- Species
- King salmon · Pink salmon
- Shore access
- Yes
Downtown creek where returning hatchery kings and pink salmon gather in July and August.
Fishing spot
Lower Dewey Lake
- Water kind
- Lake
- Species
- Dolly Varden · Brook trout
- Methods
- Spin · Fly
Hike-in lake a mile above town with Dolly Varden and brook trout (stocked before 1950, now 10 to 12 inches).
Fishing spot
Lost Lake (Dyea)
- Water kind
- Lake
- Species
- Rainbow trout
- Methods
- Spin · Fly · Bait
Hike-in rainbow trout lake above Dyea; bait allowed, 2 rainbows a day, 9 inches or longer.
River
Taiya River
- Length
- 17 mi
- Mouth
- Taiya Inlet at Dyea
- Species
- Coho salmon · Pink salmon · Chum salmon · Eulachon
17-mile river flowing to Taiya Inlet at Dyea; the Chilkoot Trail follows its valley.
River
Skagway River
- Mouth
- Taiya Inlet at Skagway
- Species
- Eulachon
The river that cuts through Skagway, followed by the WP&YR railway and the Klondike Highway up toward White Pass.
A field companion
Know your salmon
King
Chinook
Usually 10–20 lb
- Spots:
- Back and both tail lobes
- Mouth:
- Black mouth, black gums
- Eye / scales:
- Small eye; round pupil
- Spawning:
- Olive to maroon; spots remain
Red
Sockeye
About 4–8 lb
- Spots:
- No distinct spots on back or tail
- Mouth:
- White mouth and gums
- Eye / scales:
- Prominent golden eye; round pupil
- Spawning:
- Red body, green head
Silver
Coho
Usually 8–12 lb
- Spots:
- Back and upper tail lobe
- Mouth:
- Black mouth, white gums
- Eye / scales:
- Round pupil; use gums and spots for ID
- Spawning:
- Maroon sides, dark head; hooked male jaw
Humpy
Pink
Average 3.5–5 lb
- Spots:
- Large oval spots on both tail lobes
- Mouth:
- White mouth, dark gums/tongue
- Eye / scales:
- Round pupil; very small body scales
- Spawning:
- Male has pronounced hump; gray-olive body
Dog / Keta
Chum
About 6–12 lb
- Spots:
- No distinct tail spots
- Mouth:
- White mouth and gums
- Eye / scales:
- Round pupil; no reliable pupil-only ID
- Spawning:
- Purple calico bars, large male canine teeth
Illustrations are interpretive; identify fish by several traits together, not pupil shape alone. Adult sizes vary by stock. Official ADF&G identification chart
Current ADF&G sport-fishing regulations and emergency orders
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Hunting
Skagway lies in Game Management Unit 1D, the part of Unit 1 north of Eldred Rock that also covers Haines.
- Black bear: September 1 to June 30.
- Brown bear, mountain goat and moose: by permit only.
- No open deer season in Unit 1D.
- Nonresidents need a guide for brown bear and goat.
- Check with the National Park Service before hunting on park land.
Licenses and land access
Do not assume that public land allows sport hunting. Verify the precise unit, land designation and any permit before planning.
Game management unit: 1D
Nonresidents: Nonresidents hunting brown/grizzly bear, Dall sheep or mountain goat need a licensed Alaska guide or an eligible Alaska-resident relative; nonresident aliens require a guide for all big game. Check current permits, seasons and emergency orders.
Seasons, permits and land restrictions change. Check current Alaska Department of Fish and Game regulations before planning a hunt.
Content coming soon
Explore
Wildlife
Wildlife viewing here follows the fish: eulachon in spring and salmon in late summer bring seals, eagles and bears to the river mouths.
- Dyea flats: eagles, harbor seals and Steller sea lions during the spring eulachon run.
- Taiya River: black and brown bears during the July to September salmon runs.
- Klondike Highway: mountain goats on the cliffs near Moore's Bridge at mile 11.
- Yakutania Point: harbor seals at the Skagway River mouth and arctic terns by the footbridge.
- Harbor and ferry dock: river otters, marbled murrelets and pigeon guillemots.
Black bear
Common in Ketchikan; Prince of Wales, Mitkof and the mainland. Glacier bears, a rare blue-gray phase, live near Yakutat and Glacier Bay.
Brown bear
ABC islands, the mainland and Yakutat; in Ketchikan area on the mainland incl. Misty Fiords and Hyder.
Harbor seal
Marine mammal of the Inside Passage.
Porpoises (incl. Dall's porpoise)
Dall's porpoises in Southeast waters.
River otter
Listed by USFS in Misty Fiords.
Steller sea lion
Marine mammal of Southeast.
Mountain goat
Mainland and Baranof.
Bald eagle
Everywhere; thousands gather on the Chilkat River in late fall (Oct–Nov).
Marbled murrelet
Outer coast and Misty Fiords.
Pigeon guillemot
Listed for Misty Fiords.
Moose
Along the mainland rivers.
Bear country
Brown bear or black bear?
Brown / grizzly bear
- Shoulders:
- Prominent muscular shoulder hump
- Face:
- Dished, concave profile
- Ears:
- Small, rounded
- Claws:
- Long, relatively straight; about 2–4 inches
American black bear
- Shoulders:
- No distinct shoulder hump; rump often higher
- Face:
- Straight muzzle profile
- Ears:
- Larger, taller
- Claws:
- Short, curved; generally under 2 inches
Color is not a reliable ID
Both species vary in coat color. Never approach a bear to identify it. Stay alert, make noise in dense cover, give bears space, secure food and garbage, and never run. Carry accessible bear spray and know how to use it.
ADF&G bear safety guidanceExplore
Four-Wheel Drive & Backroads
A four-wheel-drive vehicle does not create a right to drive off-road.
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Rafting & Paddling
Water trips require cold-water equipment and a realistic evacuation plan.
Taiya River near Dyea
Taiya River near Dyea
Difficulty: Reach- and weather-dependent; obtain local advice
Season: Generally summer; verify water levels, ice and operator schedules
Content coming soon
Explore
Camping
Camping ranges from city RV parks by the harbor to backcountry camps along the Chilkoot Trail.
- Dyea Campground: 22 first-come NPS sites near the Chilkoot trailhead, $10 a night.
- Chilkoot Trail camps: Finnegan's Point, Canyon City, Pleasant Camp and Sheep Camp, by permit.
- Pullen Creek RV Park: 34 city sites with power and water next to the ferry terminal.
- Garden City RV Park: 30 pull-through sites on State Street.
- Cabins: Forest Service cabins at Laughton Glacier and Denver, and a city cabin at Upper Dewey Lake.
Campground
Dyea Campground
- Ownership
- Public
- Total sites
- 22
- Walk in sites
- 3
NPS campground 9 miles from Skagway and half a mile from the Chilkoot trailhead: 22 first-come sites at $10 a night.
Campground
Finnegan's Point Campground (Chilkoot Trail)
- Ownership
- Public
- Total sites
- 6
- Tent only sites
- 6
First Chilkoot Trail campground, 4.8 miles from the trailhead, with six tent sites and Irene Glacier views.
Campground
Canyon City Campground (Chilkoot Trail)
- Ownership
- Public
- Total sites
- 11
- Group sites
- 1
Chilkoot Trail camp at mile 7.7 with 11 sites, a warming cabin and the Canyon City townsite half a mile away.
Campground
Pleasant Camp Campground (Chilkoot Trail)
- Ownership
- Public
- Total sites
- 11
- Reservable
- Yes
Quiet Chilkoot Trail camp at mile 10.7 with 11 sites; the least-used campground on the US side.
Campground
Sheep Camp Campground (Chilkoot Trail)
- Ownership
- Public
- Total sites
- 27
- Tent only sites
- 27
Last US campground before Chilkoot Pass, at mile 13, with 27 tent sites and nightly ranger briefings.
Campground
Pullen Creek RV Park
- Season months
- Apr–Oct
- Website
- Https://skagwayrvparks.com/pullen-creek-rv-park/
- Ownership
- Public
City-owned waterfront RV park by the ferry terminal and small boat harbor: 34 back-in sites with 30-amp power and water.
Campground
Garden City RV Park
- Website
- Https://skagwayrvparks.com/garden-city-rv-park/
- Ownership
- Public
- Phone
- 844-983-3884
City-owned RV park on State Street with 30 pull-through sites (30-amp electric), showers and a laundromat.
Public-use cabin
Laughton Glacier Cabin
- Season months
- May–Sep
- Sleeps
- 6
- Heat
- Oil stove
Forest Service cabin sleeping six below Laughton Glacier, reached by the WP&YR train to mile 14 and a 1.5-mile trail.
Public-use cabin
Denver Caboose Cabin
- Season months
- May–Sep
- Sleeps
- 6
- Heat
- Oil stove
Retired WP&YR caboose turned Forest Service cabin, 5.5 miles north of Skagway beside the railway; sleeps six.
Public-use cabin
Upper Dewey Lake Cabin
- Sleeps
- 6
- Heat
- Oil stove
- Outhouse
- Yes
City of Skagway rental cabin at Upper Dewey Lake, a steep 3,100-foot climb above town; sleeps six.
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Other Activities
Local operators and cultural institutions offer different ways to explore.
Operator
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
- Website
- Https://wpyr.com/
- Kind
- Transport
- Ownership
- Private
Narrow-gauge railway built 1898 to 1900 from Skagway over White Pass; summit excursions plus hiker drop-offs at Denver and Laughton.
Operator
Temsco Helicopters (Skagway)
- Website
- Https://temscoair.com/skagway-helicopter-tours/
- Kind
- Flightseeing
- Ownership
- Private
Helicopter glacier landings and a Denver Glacier sled dog camp tour from Skagway.
Operator
Skagway RV Parks (Municipality of Skagway)
- Website
- Https://skagwayrvparks.com/
- Kind
- Other
- Ownership
- Public
City-owned operator of the Pullen Creek and Garden City RV parks, managed under contract.
Explore
Access & Logistics
Skagway is one of the few Inside Passage towns with a road out, and the ferry, airport and railway are all within walking distance of downtown.
- Klondike Highway: about 15 miles to the Canadian border and about 100 miles to Whitehorse.
- Alaska Marine Highway: daily ferries in summer and several a week in winter.
- Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry: passenger service to Haines in about 45 minutes in summer.
- Skagway Airport: a 3,550 ft runway at the edge of town, served by Alaska Seaplanes.
- WP&YR railway: summit excursions and hiker drop-offs at Denver and Laughton.
Airport
Skagway Airport (SGY)
- Elevation
- 44 ft
- Faa code
- SGY
- Iata code
- SGY
State airport at the edge of town with a 3,550-foot paved runway; Alaska Seaplanes is the only scheduled airline.
Ferry terminal
Skagway Ferry Terminal (AMHS)
- Website
- Https://dot.alaska.gov/amhs/comm/skagway.shtml
- Ferry lines
- Alaska Marine Highway System
- Connecting ports
- Haines · Juneau (Auke Bay)
Alaska Marine Highway terminal at Mile 0 of the Klondike Highway, steps from downtown.
Harbor
Skagway Small Boat Harbor
- Website
- Https://www.skagway.org/harbor
- Harbormaster phone
- 907-983-2628
- Transient moorage
- Yes
City harbor on Congress Way with transient moorage for boats up to 150 feet, a launch ramp, pump-out and seasonal showers.
Rail station
WP&YR Skagway Depot
- Website
- Https://wpyr.com/
- Railroad
- White Pass & Yukon Route
- Train routes
- Summit Excursion · Denver hiker service · Laughton hiker service
White Pass & Yukon Route depot on Second Avenue, departure point for summit excursions and hiker trains.
Rail station
Denver Flag Stop (WP&YR mile 5.8)
- Season months
- Apr–Sep
- Railroad
- White Pass & Yukon Route
- Train routes
- Denver hiker service
Hiker flag stop at the Denver Caboose Cabin and Denver Glacier trailhead, about 6 miles up the line.
Rail station
Glacier Flag Stop (WP&YR mile 14)
- Season months
- May–Sep
- Railroad
- White Pass & Yukon Route
- Train routes
- Laughton hiker service
Hiker flag stop for the Laughton Glacier Trail and Forest Service cabin, 14 miles up the line.
Gallery
In pictures
Southeast / Inside Passage
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