Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a Cruise

Updated: See our picks for the best tours and excursions in this guide to Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a Cruise (2021).

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska

When you head up north to Alaska, your cruise ship is sure to stop in the historic town of Skagway. Made famous by the 1898 gold rush, which lead to the discovery of about $30 million worth of gold, Skagway is now largely supported by tourism. Skagway may be a little town, but with its exciting history and beautiful scenery, it sure seems larger than life! If you are trying to decide what to do during your visit to this port of call, then you will want to check out our list of the top things to do in Skagway, Alaska on a cruise.

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Best Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a Cruise (2021)

Ride the White Pass Rail

When in Skagway, you have to take a ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, the number one Alaskan cruise excursion. This narrow gauge railway built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush ascends nearly 3,000 feet along its 20 mile path from Skagway to the White Pass Summit. This historic train ride can be booked through most major cruise lines as a round-trip journey or as a one way trip in combination with other activities such as the Klondike Gold Fields, a Dog Musher’s camp, or a Salmon Bake. We recommend a combo tour.

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a Cruise

During your ride, you can relax in a vintage rail car as you retrace the path of the ambitious prospectors on the Trail of ’98 towards the Yukon Gold Fields, complete with guided narration along the way (Narration is the same in both directions.). Hint: If you take the train up to the Summit, sit on the left side, and if you take the train down from the Summit, sit on the right side as most major landmarks are on the same side.

Be sure to have your camera ready to capture all the picturesque landscapes and historic landmarks along your journey. Among some of the sights you will see are a cantilevered steel bridge built in 1901, Dead Horse Gulch- a very dangerous portion of the trail where over 3,000 horses lost their footing and were trampled to death, Inspiration Point with a great view of the Chilkat Range, Bridal Veil Falls, and Rocky Point- a great photo opportunity of Skagway with the cruise ships in the background.

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a Cruise

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Get Adventurous

If thoughts of staying in a train get you a little claustrophobic, then you may want to get out and experience the wilderness. There are a great number of outdoor treks that make our list of the top things to do in Skagway, Alaska on a cruise. You can discover the rugged Yukon Territory by Jeep. This off-roading adventure allows you to get up close and personal with some of the more famous spots on the White Pass Trail and even walk 65 feet above raging rapids on the Yukon Suspension bridge.

Or perhaps, you might want explore the Chilkoot Trail, the other major route traveled by prospectors in hopes of striking it rich in the Yukon Gold Fields. There are several hiking excursions offered that cover about 2 miles of this trail, which is a moderate level of difficulty. At the end of the one way hike, you can relax with a raft float down the Taiya River.

You can also take a Sawtooth Mountain Nature Hike. With this tour, you will board the White Pass Rail for 6 miles to the Denver stop. Then, you will be led through the Tongass National Forest by experienced guides who will provide some history of the area and point out various flora and fauna along the way.

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a Cruise

If you want even a bit more excitement, you can ride the Grizzly Falls Zipline Expedition. This experience allows you to soar along 11 ziplines directly above glacially fed waterfalls reaching lengths of 750 feet and speeds of 45 miles per hour. Now, that’s adventure!

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Experience the Klondike Gold Rush

Tours like the Big Nugget or the Gold Panning, Sled Dogs, and 40 Below will take you to Alaska 360‘s Dredge Town where you will be immersed in the history of the Klondike Gold Rush in one action packed day. During these tours, you will gain a bit of history about the Gold Rush and have access to modern day Alaskan experiences all in one place. You will be able to take a tour of an authentic gold dredge, learn to pan for gold, and then put your skills to practice.

While here, you can also learn about modern day dog sled racing and even meet and interact with an Iditarod Musher and his dog sledding team. Next, you can even feel the Alaskan winter chill in the 40 Below Experience. Yes, after suiting up, you will step into a chamber to actually see and feel what it’s like with a temperature of 40 degrees below zero. Brr! These are certainly activities that the whole family will love.

Top Things to Do in Skagway Alaska
Photograph Copyright: Alaska 360

Don’t worry, you will be able to warm up afterwards with some Alaskan BBQ or a tour of the Soda Factory where you can even bottle your own brew. With so much offered in one place, this Alaskan family adventure definitely makes our list of the top things to do in Skagway, Alaska on a cruise.

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Venture to the Bald Eagle Preserve

The Bald Eagle Preserve, in Haines, Alaska, is located only a river ride away from Skagway. This preserve, established in 1982 to protect the bald eagle population, boasts the largest population of bald eagles in the world and is another one of the top things to do in Skagway, Alaska on a cruise. The flats of the Chilkat River are considered critical habitats and are the main viewing areas for bald eagles.

If you want to venture over to Haines on your own, you can take the Skagway-Haines fast ferry. This is about a 45 minute ride and can be an adventure all of its own. As you travel through the fjords, you can marvel at the cascading waterfalls and are bound to have some wildlife sightings. (Note: The Bald Eagle Preserve is approximately a 30-45 minute drive after taking the ferry.)

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska

If you prefer more of an organized tour, most major cruise lines and private shore excursion companies offer a trip to the Bald Eagle Preserve as well. Whether you choose to venture there by riverboat or raft, you will be transported through the channels of the Chilkat River in the heart of the eagles’ habitat. Be sure to have your camera ready to capture the abundance of wildlife you are about to see! This will be a calm rafting ride, so no whitewater rafting experience is necessary. Just sit back and enjoy.

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Explore Historic Downtown

If just reading about all of these outdoor adventures is making you tired, don’t worry as there are plenty of historic attractions right in the town of Skagway. The Downtown area of historic Skagway is easily walkable for those who want to embark on their own self-guided tour. With a handy map of notable historic sights, you can set off on this approximately 1 mile exploration including landmarks like the Red Onion, The Artic Brotherhood Hall, and the Moore Cabin.

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska

If you aren’t up for a walking tour, you can board an authentic Skagway streetcar for an approximately 90 minute tour to “all points of interest”. Hear stories about the Gold Rush and famous historical characters as you travel to landmarks including the Gold Rush Cemetery, Scenic Overlook, and more.

If you are open to something a little more risqué, check out The Ghosts & Goodtime Girls Walking Tour. Step back in time with one of the madams of the Red Onion Saloon as she guides you on a walking tour of Skagway’s historic streets and back alleys. Hear the untold stories of the ladies of the Klondike Gold Rush and learn about the town’s rich history.

Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska

Your tour will end up at the saloon’s restored brothel museum for some exploration. Even if you don’t take this tour, you should at least visit the saloon to see some of the original relics of this brothel and maybe even catch a glimpse of the resident ghost.

Comments

Do you agree with our list of the Top Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska on a cruise? What are your favorite activities when visiting this popular port of call? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences cruising way up north to Alaska!

Heidi is a physical therapist by profession, cruise enthusiast at heart, and Princess all the time! She is a self-confessed thrill seeker, obsessive planner, and over-packer. She is always looking for the latest and greatest adventures onboard and ashore, enjoys researching top things to do in ports of call, and loves dressing up for formal nights.
Heidi Bucolo
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  1. Great and Important information even for the crew.Thanks