Top 10 Skagway Shore Excursions
It offers everything you would expect from an Alaskan cruise port including tourist shops, snow capped mountains, a glacial river, incredible wildlife but it has so much more to offer than that
As the entry port for some many stampeders looking to make their fortunes as part of the Klondike Gold Rush, the city built up around servicing those passing through and that gives the port many of its attractions including saloons, museums and the world-famous White Pass and Yukon Railway.
There is so much more to all of that however, with the region around the port offering lots to see, do and experience and with Skagway been on the Canadian border, you may even need a passport and visa to do them!
But just what are the top 10 Skagway shore excursions? That is just what we answer in this list, which is based on our experience of visiting the port on a cruise holiday and the research we did before visiting there.
Shore Excursions In Skagway
White Pass and Yukon Railway
There can be only one number 1 for a list such as this one as it is the excursion that we did when me and my wife visiting Skagway and that is to take a ride on the historic and iconic White Pass and Yukon Railroad.
Starting from right next to the cruise dock in the heart of Skagway, you first head through the town and then start to head up into the hill where you follow in the steps of the early stampeders and get a great insight into the dangers that they faced.
Your journey will take you over bridges, through tunnels, past reigning rivers and within inches of cliff edges for a journey to remember.
Best of the Yukon Tour
A visit to Skagway gives the chance to explore the Yukon region and many of the excursions on this list allow you to get a little insight into a specific part of the region but if you have a long day docked in port and really want to get a best of the Yukon experience, many tours offer a full day of exploring the region.
On these tours you will likely head out on the historic railway, visit the Yukon Summit, head across the suspension bridge and head for a Salmon bake before going back to your ship and maybe evening panning for some gold.
Nature and Wildlife Expedition
Alaska is world famous for its natural beauty and for the incredible diversity of wildlife that can be found there.
When you are in Skagway, you get to explore several different ecosystems including ocean, estuary, lake, rainforests, rivers and muskeg- Alaskan swamps.
There are plenty of ways to head off and see as much as possible during your stay in the city including boat tour, kayak tours, coach tours, walking tours and helicopter tours.
Klondike Summit Visit
The journey up to the Klondike Summit is an incredible one as the scenery just gets more and more impressive the higher you travel up into the Yukon mountains.
There are plenty of options on how to get to the summit, with the cheapest options been taking a coach there and back from the dock but for a day to remember, why not take a coach up to the top and then enjoy a guided cycle back to your ship!
Yukon Suspension Bridge
For this adventure you will enjoy a coach ride through the beautiful scenery of the Yukon and after crossing the border into Canada, you will arrive at the Yukon Suspension Bridge.
Here you get to walk across the narrow bridge that is suspended above the whitewater rapids of the Tutshi River and whilst it does depend on the exact tour you take; many will take you for a meal at the RCMP Heritage Centre.
Glacier Expedition
No matter how long you are on your cruise for when in Alaska, the chances are that you will see at least one glacier, with most seeing a few everyday you are up there.
When you see them from your ship, they are awe inspiring and a magical moment, especially if this is the first time you have sailed in a region such as Alaska.
If you want to get closer to these wonders of the natural world, there are a few options when in Skagway including taking a helicopter ride over some nearby glaciers including the Chilkat Glacier and the Ferebee Glacier.
If that sounds a bit too pricey or you’re not great with heights, you can head out on a boat trip to Glacier Point before jumping into a canoe and getting up close to the face a glacier.
Walking Tour and a Show
Skagway is easy to explore on your own as the downtown area is relatively small and relatively flat but to truly understand the history of the buildings you walk past; you should take a walking tour where a expert in local history takes around the town and takes to all of the places of interest.
Many of these tours finish with a trip to see a traditional show, with some going to a vaudeville style [performance and some heading to a historical saloon experience.
Dog Sledding and Puppy Visit
There are a few options to go dogsledding including at a Musher’s Camp in Dyea but know matter where you head and what experience you choose, you can be assured of a fun filled few hours in the forests around Skagway.
With little snow during the main cruise season, you will head out on specially adapted wheeled sleds which are still pulled by trained dogs.
When back at camp, you will get to spend some time getting to meet the next generation of sled pullers with plenty of tail-wagging puppies waiting to meet you.
Adventure Park and Zip Lining
For some, a trip to Alaska is a chance to take it easy and enjoy the stunning natural beauty that surrounds you but for others it is a chance to have incredible experiences that really push you to your limits.
Once such experience you can do when docked in Skagway is head to a nearby adventure park where you can traverse a tree top rope course, cross a suspended bridge before taking a series of zip lines through the beautiful Alaskan rainforest.
Gold Panning
The 1898 Klondike gold rush brought incredible wealth to the region and really built-up Skagway, but it was a fleeting period of time where most left with far less than they arrived with.
To gain a firsthand experience of a part of what those early stampeders went through, why not head to the end of town and try your hand at panning for Gold at Dredge Town.
Skagway ShoreEx
The Alaskan city of Skagway is an incredible place to visit and is just the sort of cruise port we love to visit.
It is somewhere where you can simply stroll from your ship, walk around the town and see all that there is to see and all whilst been surrounded by incredible scenery.
When you are in Skagway, there is always a chance that you will see magnificent wildlife including eagles, whales and bears but if you want to head out and see more the surrounding region you can do.
The port acts as the entry to the Yukon region and as somewhere you can experience at first hand the locations of the Klondike gold rush and it is those that many of the Skagway shore excursions focus on.
