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Skagway Shore Excursion Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Tour

Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Skagway, USA
High interest
Booked 3 times today.
  • 4 hours (approx.)
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Daniel_A ·
Sep 2025
Excellent & informative hike! Followed by a peaceful float. We saw a variety of mushrooms and two bald eagles. Our tour guide, Rachel, was helpful, patient, and really knew her stuff. Dropped us off at our cruise. Thanks for making it a great experience Rachel!!
· Rachel_L ·
Sep 2025
The hike through the rainforest was strenuous part of the way, but not too taxing. We got lucky with beautiful weather and views. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the outdoors and Alaska. The float was very scenic and the color of the glacier water is beautiful.

Overview

Dicover the Chilkoot Trail by foot and water on this half-day hike and float shore excursion from Skagway. After a scenic van ride, embark on a moderate, 2-mile (3.2-kilomter) guided trek with just a small group. Then, climb aboard a rubber raft for a tranquil float down the Taiya River, all while learning more about local sights and history. Round-trip transport is included for your ease.
  • Enjoy a hassle-free shore excursion with round-trip port transit
  • Discover a different side of Skagway on this Chilkoot Trail tour
  • This small-group tour is capped at 11 to keep things personal
  • Enjoy two experiences in one trip on this hiking and rafting tour

What's Included

  • Chilkoot trail hike and float tour
  • Professional guide
  • Port pickup and drop off
  • Snacks
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup point

  • Skagway Cruise Terminal
    Skagway, AK 99840, USA

Pickup details

WE MEET YOU AT YOUR CRUISE SHIP PIER MEETING AREA. Do not go to a different cruise ship pier than yours. Do not follow the map pin. Look for a representative holding a SKAGWAY FLOAT TOURS sign. Please be 10-15 minutes early. Alternatively, you may meet at our office downtown at 3rd and Broadway in the Golden North Hotel Lobby. Look for the Large Golden Dome on the top of the building. Please check in with the office staff so we know you are meeting there instead of your ship pier. Ship pickup is default for all cruise ship passengers unless you check in at our office for pickup or call ahead to change your pickup.

Itinerary

After port pickup in Skagway, your half-day, small-group shore excursion starts with a pleasant van ride along the coastline to the Chilkoot Trail.

Upon arrival at the trailhead, follow your guide into the temperate rainforest. Your moderate-level hike covers 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) and begins on steep, uneven ground that ascends in elevation about 300 feet (92 meters), before proceeding downhill and then on level terrain for the last mile. Along the way, look for local wildlife and plants, and hear engaging tales about Skagway and the Klondike Gold Rush.

Then, climb aboard a rubber raft and drift along the Taiya River, which flows parallel to the Chilkoot Trail. Your river float takes you through the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Keep your eyes peeled and listen for possible wildlife sightseeing, including otters, eagles, bears and salmon.

Your Chilkoot tour ends with transport back to Skagway's cruise terminal, in time for your onward journey.
1

Chilkoot Trail

1 hour 40 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Dyea Road

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

3

Dyea

40 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
  • Please see voucher for details regarding your departure point
  • Please note: this is an active tour, so it is recommended to be in good physical condition and wear sturdy walking shoes with good traction
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Maximum per raft/group is 11
  • Minimum age is 5
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
  • No Joint problems or balance issues
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 11 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.9
based on 514 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Nice outdoor activity combination

David_E, Sep 2025
The first half of the 2 Mile hike is arduous but can be done with a decent level of fitness. Dom., our guide was very knowledgeable and courteous. We learned about many different varieties of mushrooms, berries and other plant life in the rainforest. The raft float back to the starting point was fun and we saw eagles and other wildlife.

Nice hike

Amber_C, Sep 2025
Nice short hike. Guide was funny and informative (Dominic). Float was short but a nice experience with beautiful views. I would recommend this tour

Fun Guy!

Cecilia_W, Sep 2025
The trail was not hard to walk. There is a little ascent with rock steps.. Maybe for someone elderly with mobility issues it would be difficult.. other than that I enjoyed the trail and fungus finding with Shaggy..😉 The float was enjoyable and a nice finish to hike..

More strenuous for some...

Donald_L, Sep 2025
More strenuous for some with limited mobility or over weight. The trail and rafting were great. The foliage was amazing.

The Perfect "2-fer"

Kim_L, Sep 2025
Tuesday September 9th 2025. Loved the whole experience! Danny (our guide) was great! He was born and raised in Skagway and had countless stories and a ton of knowledge about every question that was asked. The weather was perfect, cool but no rain. You do work up a sweat during the 1st half of the hike. Definitely wear sturdy footwear. Beautiful lush forest! Be sure to get things that you might need out of your backpack BEFORE you get on the raft, all backpacks will be stored in a giant bag. The float was beautiful and relaxing. The whole experience having 2 different parts for an excursion was perfect! Thank you so much!

Well-organized, informative, active and stunningly beautiful!

Chelsea_P, Sep 2025
What a beautiful day we had hiking and rafting back! The hike on the Chilkoot trail with Joe was super informative and so incredibly beautiful! We saw fauna that we haven’t seen anywhere else and we live in a forest! The hike was active but not difficult if you are dressed correctly. The river float required nothing from us except to sit and enjoy what Joe was telling us and showing us. It was about a 4 hour excursion and we had a blast!

Awesome Hike & Float with Rachel!!

Daniel_A, Sep 2025
Excellent & informative hike! Followed by a peaceful float. We saw a variety of mushrooms and two bald eagles. Our tour guide, Rachel, was helpful, patient, and really knew her stuff. Dropped us off at our cruise. Thanks for making it a great experience Rachel!!

The hike through the...

Rachel_L, Sep 2025
The hike through the rainforest was strenuous part of the way, but not too taxing. We got lucky with beautiful weather and views. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the outdoors and Alaska. The float was very scenic and the color of the glacier water is beautiful.

Magical hike and an amazing float.

Joy_L, Sep 2025
Bob led us on a beautiful hike through a magical forest! The first half of the hike is a little challenging with a rocky assent and a steep decline but then the path leveled out to a beautiful flat still through the woods. We ending at a wide flowing river to take an amazing float down the river. Bob was very knowledgeable about the area, its history and the natural surroundings. He made sure everyone was safe and comfortable.

Excellent hike and float excursion

Pamela_C, Sep 2025
We really enjoyed our hike and float with Skagway Float Tours and highly recommend for an excursion. The experience was exactly as described and Erin was a great guide and very knowledgeable. We learned a lot about the area, the trees, various fungi, lichen, and berries we encountered along the way. I thought the hike was only moderately difficulty in some places, but the poles they provided did come in handy. They also provide boots for the float and dry bags for both shoes and backpacks.

More difficult than...

Julie_L, Aug 2025
More difficult than expected. Guide needs a P.A. system for van passengers to hear. We could not hear anything in back two rows.

Great excursion to enjoy hike & river float in Alaska

Margaret_c, Aug 2025
beautiful hike through forest …fairly steep path up with stone steps and down . Would of been good to have walking pole Spectacular float down Taiyu river Guide was good at pointing out eagles along river and local trees and plants during hike

Informative of the area!...

Jenn_M, Aug 2025
Informative of the area! Shaggy was a great guide. We booked this experience last minute and it was half the price as purchasing through the cruise lines.

Excellent guide,...

Mark_O, Aug 2025
Excellent guide, beautiful hike, not too difficult, relaxed pace. The float down the river was the icing on the cake. Best excursion we had on our cruise.

Hike And Float

John_S, Aug 2025
We did the hike and float excursion and had such a great time! The hike was beautiful with amazing scenery, and the float down the river was so peaceful and relaxing. Our guide Danny was super friendly, knowledgeable, and really made the experience enjoyable. You can tell he loves what he does and it made the whole excursion even better. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip—I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a mix of adventure and relaxation!

Some had challenging home leading to a beautiful raft ride

Mead_S, Aug 2025
Beautiful two-mile hike followed by a relaxing raft trip down the Taya River. The first half mile of the hike is largely uphill over uneven terrain, so this hike is not a trip for those who are comfortable with climbing steps or walking on sometimes slippery paths. But if you’re comfortable with hiking uphill for a half-mile, you’ll really enjoy the natural beauty both of the flora along the hike and the views as you go down the river. We saw snow-capped mountains, a few bald eagles both in flight and perched in trees, and amazing scenery. I liked it so much that I did this excursion twice, and a third time may be in my future.

Worth the effort!

Robert_G, Aug 2025
Yes, it's steep. Yes, it's slippery when wet. Yes, you should take rain gear. Yes, you should accept a hiking pole. Owen was our guide, and did a spectacular job of caring for us throughout the tour. He waited and helped us through the rough parts, shared his passion for mushrooms with us, and pointed out many things our inexperienced eyes would have missed. And yes, he completed this hike in flip flops, but as he said, "Don't judge the hike by my apparel". Owen thinks he's hiked the trail around 4000 times, and he appears to know every inch of it. Would take this tour again and would recommend to anyone with a love of outdoors and some physical conditioning.

Wilderness Bob

jill_p, Aug 2025
Great hosts! Getting Bob as our guide was truly a once in a lifetime experience! So knowledgeable. You realize you are being guided by a legend, only a few times, if ever, in one’s life you are in the presence of someone as experienced and “life lived” as we were with Bob. Such a beautiful experience!

Owen Knows Best! FIVE glowing stars!

Joelyn_B, Aug 2025
What a great pick! Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before and look for the van with the sign. Owen was an absolutely perfect match for us! We went with just ourselves and another couple as this company does not cancel for minimum requirements not being met! It was a perfect amount of hiking, rafting and scenery! We learned so much, felt comfortable trying berries and learning about all the elements of the rainforest!!

Great Guide

Bagleymandi, Aug 2025
Our guide, Rachel, was amazing! So patient with some misbehaving children on the tour. The hike and float were both great.

Hike was steep and...

Susan_S, Aug 2025
Hike was steep and challenging in the beginning then the second half is flat and easy. Rachel was very knowledgeable and did a great job. I would recommend this activity.

Hike and float

Aimee_G, Aug 2025
Moderate hike at the beginning due to rocks and elevation gain. Not difficult for those who are in shape but for those who have any mobility issues probably too hard. Easy flat walk after that. Gentle float on the river with lots of eagles to see. Great and experienced guide with good stories and info. Scenic drive to the location. It was a beautiful sunny day and we enjoyed the excursion. Good price for the activity as well.

Awesome Adventures with Owen in Skagway!

CASIE_H, Aug 2025
Skagway hike and float trip was a great way to get some exercise and be educated by Owen and his knowledge of the flora and fauna and the Alaskan landscape. Thank you for sharing your love for adventure and be willing and able to accommodate us as necessary. We appreciate the amazing stories of the trail and the awesome river float that was relaxing and beautiful. The sun was shining brightly in Skagway this day and we ended the day at the Skagway Brewing Company and the Salty Siren where we had the best halibut fish and chips and sips in town. Thank you for dropping us off to enjoy a local lunch after a wonderful excursion and getaway. We appreciate you and your company and the excellent communication and drop off and pick up.

Strenuous but worth it!

Shannon_G, Aug 2025
Hike is pretty strenuous for first mile, downhill was as treacherous as uphill for my friend in hiking flip flops. Wear good hiking shoes with good tread, don’t go if you can handle rocky hiking terrain both up and down! It was a good experience but my friend did not come prepared so we were slowing everyone down which I felt bad about

Great Excursion

Cheryl_J, Jul 2025
Great experience and Erin was an awesome guide. Would highly recommend. The hike was challenging but well supported and the float was very calm and relaxing. A great was to experience Skagway.

Hike through rainforest, Chilkoot Trail and float down!

Cindy_Y, Jul 2025
Lovely experience! Great short hike (you need to be able to hike 1 mile 500 ft elevation). Hiking poles provided. And a relaxing, magical float down the river! Such an awesome perspective. Easy to find off the port, dropped us off right dowtown or at the port. Guide Owen was great too. Five stars!

Great hike

Daniel_C, Jul 2025
Beautiful hike. Very informative. Danny, our guide was very knowledgeable and with a great sense of humour.

Shaggy Aggy Doo where are you?

Jill_M, Jul 2025
Shaggy was an awesome guide. We had a great time hiking and learning about plants and shrooms. Great float too.

Highly recommended!

Nichole_G, Jul 2025
We had an amazing hike and float. Our guide, Owen, was so incredibly knowledgeable about Skagway, history of the trail and gold rush, and all the flora and fauna. He really made it special. My 12 year old and I had a great time. Support local business and book with this company instead of the cruise line!

Dominic was the best guide!

Jennifer_K, Jul 2025
This hike and float tour was fabulous! Our tour guide, Dominic, was friendly, knowledgeable and made the tour exactly what we were looking for! The hike was a great way to see Alaskan nature and the views from the river were stunning!

From $145.39

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 80 days in advance.

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