Things to do in  Skagway

The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the history of Skagway’s gold rush days. During the boom of the 1890s gold rush, Skagway’s population swelled from just a handful of residents to over 10,000 lured by the possibility of gold. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of these prospectors by visiting historic buildings, trails, mines, and even saloons built during the boom.

The Yukon is the smallest, westernmost, and perhaps wildest of Canada’s northern territories. Its remote mountain landscapes, untamed rivers, and glacier-fed lakes attract casual sightseers and hardcore adventurers alike. Visitors can witness the Northern Lights, hike, snowshoe, or fish in the wilderness, and explore Canada’s First Nations traditions at cultural centers and festivals across the Yukon.

Sheer drops and bright green forests characterize the view from the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. From your seat in a historic train car, the whole experience is a marvel of not only nature, but engineering. Gain 2,888 feet (880 meters) of elevation on the Steam Summit Loop (one of the steepest grades in North America) as a working steam engine pulls you through the remote beauty of the Alaskan wilderness.

Of Skagway’s three old cemeteries (besides Slide Cemetery and Pioneer Cemetery), Gold Rush is the oldest and the easiest to visit. The small, undeveloped cemetery holds the remains of hapless miners and local characters—the most famous is Jefferson “Soapy” Smith, an Old West con artist known for robbing his own customers.

For a quick introduction to Skagway’s rich and colorful past, a visit to the Skagway Museum is a must. Artifacts, photographs, and historical records bring the area's past alive, from the original Tlingit culture to the Klondike Gold Rush and present-day Alaskan life. Housed in Alaska’s first stone building, the museum’s granite facade is a sight in itself.

Retrace the rugged and scenic 33-mile (53-kilometer) route that led prospectors from the coast to the Yukon goldfields during the Klondike Gold Rush in the 1890s. Following old trails used by the Tlingit people for centuries, the prospectors found an arduous path from Dyea to Bennett through the Coastal Mountains. Today, the Chilkoot Trail is a popular backpacking destination.

During the Klondike Gold Rush days, Skagway was a rough-drinking town, boasting more than 80 saloons. The Mascot Saloon was one of the longest-operating saloons of the era, and is now overseen by the National Park Service as a museum and monument to Skagway’s colorful past.

A century ago, Skagway was the gateway to the gold fields of the Klondike; now, the Skagway Cruise Port is one of Alaska’s most popular ports of call and a departure point for exploring the vast Yukon. The scenic cruise port still has the feel of its Gold Rush past though, complete with an historic downtown filled with false front buildings and wooden sidewalks.

A wealthy suburban town in Berkshire, Ascot is both a popular base for affluent commuters and a year-round destination for horse racing fans. Though well-liked for its proximity to LEGOLAND®, London, and Windsor Castle, Ascot is best known for the Ascot Racecourse, site of the annual Royal Ascot and other annual horse racing events which draw crowds of rich and famous spectators.

Nestled at the feet of White Pass north of Skagway, this restaurant and Klondike Gold Rush-themed mining camp offers visitors the chance to try an Alaskan “feast in the forest,” enjoy a local history lesson, and pan for gold in a waterfall nearby. A bordello, laundry tents, and a hippodrome hosting tongue-in-cheek melodramas and poetry readings round out the camp.

For a bird's-eye view of downtown Skagway, the historic harbor, and the surrounding snow-capped peaks, take the scenic drive along the road to Dyea and stop off at the Skagway Overlook to admire the views. From the viewing platform, you can capture panoramic shots of this historic Gold Rush–era town and the narrow Taiya Inlet, which connects Skagway to the rest of Alaska’s Inside Passage.

Discover the sights, sounds, and excitement of the Klondike Gold Rush by visiting Alaska 360 Dredge Town. The historic site—home to an authentic gold dredge—invites visitors to experience a day in the 1890s. Period-clad staff educate and entertain while you try out gold panning, meet sled dogs, and enter a chamber where you can experience the chill of Alaskan winters.