Skagway

Skagway is a town with a population of less than a thousand in Southeastern Alaska. It is the northern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway System. It sprang up during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899, and now subsists almost entirely on tourism. The historical interest and natural beauty of the area make it a worthwhile place to visit.

Understand

Climate
Skagway
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation+Snow totals in inches
   Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Visitor information

Get in

By boat
See also: Alaska Marine Highway

The most common way to get to Skagway is by boat, whether cruise ship or Alaska Marine Highway ferry.

By car

The only road access to the remainder of the continent is on Highway 98, which travels to Whitehorse, Yukon via Carcross, Yukon. The highway is named Highway 2 (South Klondike Highway) in Canada within British Columbia and Yukon.

By train
  • 🌍 White Pass and Yukon Route, 2nd Av, toll-free: +1-800-343-7373, . Operates from Skagway, and stops in Northern British Columbia on its way to Carcross, Yukon. Service operates from May to early October. Railroad was built to transport miners from Skagway to the gold. It was in service until the early 1980s, servicing the Yukon's Mining Industry. Today, a portion of the railroad is restored and still in operation. An out-and-back day trip offers great views as the train snakes along the sides of mountains overlooking the river far below; although it goes into Canada, passports aren't required because you don't get off the train. The restored/replica passenger cars feature reversible seats so that passengers face forward both outbound and when the train reverses course to return to Skagway. International trips to Fraser and Bennett Lake, British Columbia are also available. The railroad also offers a transport service for hikers traveling to our returning from Bennett Lake, which is the Canadian trailhead of the Chilkoot Trail, which travels between Alaska and British Columbia. (updated Sep 2022)

By plane

Skagway is accessible by commuter flight from Juneau.

Get around

The city is only a few blocks wide and a couple dozen blocks long, on level ground; walking works just fine. S.M.A.R.T. City Transit provides small buses around town and to and from the cruise ship docks. Bus fare for the short route that travels from the cruise ship docks to Broadway and 8th Street costs $2 per trip or $5 for an all-day pass. Buses run from May 1 - October 1, 7AM-9PM, 7 days a week. The fare for the bus route that goes from Broadway and 8th street along State Street to Jewel Gardens and Klondike Gold Fields is $5.

See

Start by stepping away from any buildings and turning 360 degrees for an impressive view of the nearby peaks that enclose Skagway.

  • 🌍 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitors Center (former Railway Broadway Depot), 271 Broadway, ☏ +1 907 983-9200. Built as the railway's depot, completed in December 1898, after a long history this building was transferred to National Park Service in 1976, with restoration completed in 1984, returning its appearance to the 1908-1915 time period. It now serves as the KGRNHP's Visitors Center and Headquarters. The National Park itself includes much of the historic downtown: the railway Administration Building, Soapy Smith's Parlor, Mascot Saloon and several other buildings, owned and restored by NPS and others, some leased even today for ordinary commercial purposes, to recreate the city's bustling activity. Free. (updated Oct 2018)
  • 🌍 Skagway Centennial Statue, 271 Broadway (in front of the Visitors Center). Remembers the miners coming to Skagway in the Gold Rush. (updated Oct 2018)
  • 🌍 Skagway Museum and Archives (Seventh and Spring Streets), ☏ +1 907-983-2420. Photos and artifacts from Old Skaguay including a Tlingit canoe, a Portland Cutter sleigh and Bering Sea kayaks as well as Gold Rush era tools, baskets, beadwork and carvings. Also gold rush genealogy research. $2. 
  • 🌍 Footbridge to Yakutania Point & Smuggler's Cove (south of airport terminal off First Ave). Trails, exercise course, picnic spots. 
  • 🌍 Skagway Sculpture Garden (8th and Spring Streets). 
  • 🌍 Skagway Overlook, Mile 2 on Dyea Rd. Turnoff and platform. 
  • 🌍 Jewell Gardens (on the highway just beyond the river), ☏ +1 907-983-2111. Unique flowers and vegetables, including some giants. 
  • 🌍 Gold Rush Cemetery, Alaska St. Old cemetery which includes the grave of Jefferson "Soapy" Smith and "The Largest Nugget in the World" which is really just a giant boulder painted gold. Trolley tours offered to the cemetery, but if you wish to walk from downtown it will take about 20 minutes. 

Do

Buy

There is no shortage of shops along Skagway's main street (actually Broadway Street, one block from Main), offering an array of standard tourist souvenirs, native/local crafts and imported imitations, jewelry, and other goods. Here are a few:

  • 🌍 Precious Kollections Gallery (Northwest Supernatural Art), 4th and Broadway, ☏ +1 907-983-2020. 10AM-7PM. Special showing of Alaskan Multimedia Artist, Tresham Gregg, working in woodcarvings, silk screen prints, tribal jewelry, puppets, paintings, and more. Plus exotic silver and stone jewelry. 

Eat

A few restaurants and bars along the main street offering a variety of brews and cooking provide a pleasant alternative to - or break from - shopping and excursions.

Drink
  • 🌍 Red Onion Saloon (2nd and Broadway). Has that Gold Rush era feel. "Meet the Ladies of '98". 

Sleep

Hotels

Bed and Breakfast

RV Parks

Connect

As of 2013, cellular users in Skagway and Haines have reported substantial network delays due to the load placed on existing infrastructure when passengers from multiple arriving cruise ships access the system simultaneously. An upgrade to 4G is planned but not yet implemented.

Go next
Routes through Skagway
Whitehorse ← and becomes ←  N  S  → END


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