Stopping by Skagway on your Alaskan cruise? Here are some great ideas to help you have an amazing and fun port day!
About Skagway
Once the starting point for countless individuals seeking their fortunes in the Klondike region of Yukon, Skagway is now a popular stop on many Alaskan cruise itineraries.
Staying In-Town
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Site
The National Parks Service has helped preserve many of the original buildings from the town’s hayday during the late 1890’s gold rush as the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. You can tour many of these buildings, including one of the original founder’s homesteads, outlaw “Soapy” Smith’s place of ‘business,’ and original White Pass and Yukon Railway buildings. The park offers a visitor’s center which features a short movie about the Yukon gold rush and a historical museum. Kid’s can even earn a Junior Ranger badge by visiting the dedicated Junior Ranger building and completing the activities there. Entry to the park buildings is free, however, depending on staffing levels, some buildings are occasionally closed to visitors. Check the website or the visitor’s center for a schedule.
Red Onion’s Quickie Brothel Tour
Want a short tour that’s full of interesting history and entertaining guides? Consider Red Onion’s Quickie Brothel Tour. This short, 20 minute tour explores the history of the building and the women who worked there. Items recovered during preservation of buildings in town have been collected to help tell the story of the lives of those who passed through during the gold rush era. Tours are $10 and generally run every hour.
Arctic Brotherhood Hall
Probably one of the most photographed buildings in Skagway, the driftwood covered Artic Brotherhood Hall is a eye catching sight. The order was formed in 1899 by headed north with dreams of striking it rich. Unfortunately the order faded along with most of these stampeders’ dreams and was disbanded by the 1930s. The original Arctic Brotherhood Hall building now serves as Skagway’s visitor’s center. Stop by to pick up maps/guides and lean about the town’s history.
Take a Guided Tour
There are several options for guided tours of Skagway. Red Onion Saloon offers a Ghosts and Goodtime Girls Tour which details the often adventurous and sometimes tragic lives of the women of the gold rush or take a Skagway Street Car Tour where you’ll board a 1927 sightseeing bus to explore the town, take in scenic views, and visit the Gold Rush Cemetery all while learning about the area’s unique history.
Skagway Museum
Housed in a building that was once a college and then a jail, the Skagway Museum offers an opportunity to learn about the history of the region. View items from the gold rush days along with exhibits on local arts and culture. Admission is inexpensive…only $2 for adults and $1 for children.
Eat, Drink, and Shop
Like most port towns, Skagway offers great food, drink, and shopping options. Skagway Brewing Company offers tasty upscale bar favorites made with local seafood as well as options for local brews and spirits (including a local root beer for non-drinkers in the group). Other popular options include Olivia’s Bistro and the Skagway Fish Company. While you’ll find all the standard stores along the main street, check out Klondike Doughboy for unique Alaskan food souvenirs to take back to everyone at home (and make sure to try some of their signature fried dough while you’re there!).
Venturing Out of Town
White Pass Railway
Enjoy beautiful views as you climb high into the mountains on the historic White Pass and Yukon Route. Originally built to help move prospectors and their supplies, the narrow gage railway now carries tourists on sightseeing excursions. A guide narrates along the way, providing historical context to the incredible scenery passing by. Prices vary depending on what type of trip you’re taking, there are round trip options or ones that continue one way into Canada (and then take a bus back to Skagway). Or you can use the train to access trails along the route. If you purchase directly from your cruise line, you’ll likely board right at your dock (though the main station is only a short walk away).
Go Hiking
Skagway has lots of great hiking options for all levels, many of which are accessible from near town. Check out options such as Yakutania Point and Smuggler’s Cove, Lower Dewey Lake, or the Chilkoot Pass Trail. For a unique experience, ride the White Pass and Yukon Railway to your trail head! The train offers service to trails that access the Denver Glacier and the Laughton Glacier. The train will drop you off for your hike and then you’ll flag the train down for a trip back into town! Or take a leisurely walk (city streets and gravel road) to the old Gold Rush Cemetery and explore the nearby Lower Reid Falls.
Visit Yukon
Want to explore further into the Yukon territory? A variety of operators offer train and bus options. Note that you’ll probably need your passport for these tours as most cross into Canada.
Take the Fast Ferry to Haines
Haines is only 45 minutes away from Skagway by ferry. Haines offers opportunities for hiking, ATV tours, fishing, kayaking, museums, a bald eagle sanctuary, and much more.
Other Port Towns
For port day ideas for other common stops on an Alaskan cruise, check out:
Ideas for an Amazing Port Day in Ketchikan
Ideas for an Amazing Port Day in Juneau
Ideas for an Amazing Pre- or Post- Cruise Day in Vancouver
Ideas for an Amazing Pre- or Post-Cruise Day in Seward
