20 Fantastic Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska You Need to Try
While most visitors to this area only tend to stay a few hours before getting back on the cruise ship, there are a lot more things to do in Skagway, Alaska that you might not know about! We loved visiting sled dogs here and heading to the downtown area–you really feel like you are stepping back in time to the Gold Rush era. After checking out of the top Skagway restaurants and staying in several of the best hotels in Skagway Alaska, we saw everything that Skagway had to offer.
Incredible things to do in Skagway, Alaska you need to check out
Here are some awesome things to do in Skagway, Alaska that you will love!
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The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
Offering incredible views of the Alaskan landscape, the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is one of the best things to do in Skagway. Beginning in the center of the city, this train route travels 2,865 feet in elevation up to the summit of White Pass.
As you meander through the scenic countryside of Alaska, traveling up and down the mountain, you’ll pass by several glaciers, waterfalls, and gorges. Some of the most notable sights you’re likely to encounter include Inspiration Point Lookout, Bridal Veil Falls, Dead Horse Gulch, as well as the Original Klondike Trail of 1898.
Dog sledding tour
Dog sledding tours are perfect for more adventurous travelers. On these excursions, you’ll have the chance to not only ride in the sled but also mush your own team of dogs as you race over glaciers. Depending upon the tour you sign up for, you may even have the opportunity to take a helicopter to and from the dog camp, adding an extra layer of excitement to your excursion.
Regardless of how you get there, you’re sure to have an incredible time, as dog sledding is without a doubt one of the most popular things to do in Skagway, Alaska.
Jewell Gardens
If you’re looking for unique things to do in Skagway, Alaska, look no further than Jewell Gardens. Situated just outside of the city center, Jewell Gardens is home to a variety of stunning gardens that feature natural Alaskan flowers, as well as handcrafted glass art.
While here, you’ll have the chance to stroll through the gardens, tour the Glass Gallery, view a glass blowing demonstration, and even create your own glass flowers. In addition to this, Jewell Gardens offers daily lunch via their Poppies Restaurant. Here you’ll have the chance to sample some of the garden’s local produce.
Helicopter tour
Helicopter tourFor incredible aerial views of Alaska, consider joining a helicopter tour. These excursions into Alaska’s icy wilderness take you to some of the most remote glaciers in the area. You’ll fly over countless waterfalls, glacier-filled valleys, and expansive ice fields, getting a first-hand look at the most stunning scenery around.
If you’re lucky and the weather allows, you may even have the opportunity to touch down on a glacier and explore it up close and personal. As you wander around, taking once-in-a-lifetime photos, you’ll learn about their glaciers and their creation from your experienced guides.
Red Onion Saloon
A former brothel dating back to the late-1800’s, this saloon now operates as a museum and restaurant. Here you can grab a beer, a bite to eat and learn about Skagway’s steamy pass. Tours are provided daily, offering an insider’s perspective into the former operations of the saloon and the women who ran it. Hear their stories and catch a glimpse of the lives they led through the artifacts they left behind.
The saloon also provides a walking tour that highlights other former risqué establishments in the area. While it certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, the Red Onion Saloon is undoubtedly one of the most unique things to do in Skagway, Alaska.
Check out the salmon run
Check out the salmon run The salmon run is a must for those who visit Skagway during the summer months. Situated just outside of downtown Skagway, Alaska lies the Pullen Creek (sometimes called Dewey Creek), a stream that flows between the harbor and a nearby pond, where salmon are known to spawn. You can wander along the creek via the Pullen Creek Stream Walk and watch as large groups of salmon swim upstream.
If you’re lucky, you may even spot a bear or two hunting for fish along the creek – just be sure to keep your distance if you do!
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
If you’re a history buff wondering what to do in Skagway, you should consider visiting the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Meant to commemorate the Klondike Gold Rush, which resulted in the relocation of tens of thousands of hopeful miners to interior Alaska, the historical park aims to preserve more than 13,000 acres of historically significant land.
This includes the historical district of Skagway, the abandoned town of Dyea, as well as the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails. The park’s headquarters lies in the heart of Skagway, at the Klondike Gold Rush Visitor’s Center and Museum. Here you can learn about the history of the Gold Rush and its impacts upon Alaska.
Zipline
What could be better than hiking through Alaska’s wilderness? Soaring above it! On the outskirts of Skagway, there are several different zipline tours that you can join. Featuring a variety of different routes and obstacle courses, these tours take you above the Alaskan rainforest, offering stunning views of the mountains and forests. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a few animals scurrying around in the treetops or on the ground down below.
Downtown Skagway
Downtown Skagway From museums to shops, Skagway, Alaska restaurants, saloons, theaters, and the harbor, there’s so much to do and see in downtown Skagway. While you can simply wander around and enjoy the sights you encounter along the way, one of the best ways to see the town, if you’re looking to get a little taste of everything, is to join a walking tour. These tours take you to some of Skagway’s most important landmarks, providing a wealth of knowledge and information about the town’s past. With several different walking tours to choose from, including guided tours, audio tours, historical tours, and haunted tours, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs!
Wilderness safari tour
The Wilderness Safari Tour is one of the most adventurous things to do in Skagway, Alaska! Offering an immersive experience into the Alaskan wilderness, the tour combines whale watching with hiking, canoeing, and glacier explorations for the ultimate Alaskan adventure. Start your tour with a catamaran cruise around the ice fjords, and keep a lookout for whales, seals, and sea lions! The best part is that many of these tours will often pick you up from the main hotels in Skagway, Alaska.
Then hike through the dense rainforest for stunning views of the Davidson Glacier. Finally, hop on a canoe and paddle around a mountain lake to get up close and personal with an ice wall. With so many activities rolled into one, this is sure to be one tour that you never forget!
Junior Ranger Activity Center
If you’re traveling with kids and are wondering what to do in Skagway, Alaska, look no further than the Junior Ranger Activity Center. Led by the National Park Service, this activity center offers a variety of hands-on exhibits and learning experiences that your kids are sure to love!
From historical artifacts to animal furs, dress-up clothes, coloring pages, and Victorian-era games, these activities are not only educational but fun as well. Kids even have the chance to become Junior Rangers if they complete specific tasks throughout the center.
Go hiking
Go hiking It goes without saying but hiking is one of the top things to do in Skagway. The area offers several different trails ranging in difficulty and distance. For those who prefer short and easy hikes, there are several 1-2 hours hikes to choose from, including Lower Dewey Lake, Yakutania Point, and Lower Reid Falls.
If you have more time to explore, consider hiking Sturgill’s Landing, a moderate hike with stunning mountain and lake views. And for more experienced hikers looking to spend a few days in the wilderness, there’s the Chilkoot Trail. This 33-mile trail was once a major travel route during the height of the Gold Rush.
Pitchfork Falls
Pitchfork Falls Cascading down the mountain for more than 2,000 feet, Pitchfork Falls is a majestic waterfall that flows into the Skagway River. Located about seven miles outside of town, the waterfall is a popular destination and stopping point for many local tours.
Depending on the tour you take, you may have the chance to see the falls up close and learn about the flora and fauna in the area. Other tours, including the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, will offer the opportunity to view the falls from afar.
Float the Taiya River
Floating down the Taiya River is definitely one of the most relaxing Skagway, Alaska, things to do. The gentle river, which lies just outside of Skagway, flows inland for more than 17 miles, offering stunning views of the Alaskan scenery. On a float tour, you’ll have the opportunity to hop aboard a raft and sit back and relax as your guide provides in-depth information about the history of the area, including the Gold Rush.
As you meander down the river, be sure to keep an eye out for wildlife, as seals, bears, and bald eagles are known to frequent the area.
Gold Rush Cemetery
Gold Rush Cemetery A cemetery may not seem like an obvious addition to your travel itinerary, but trust me when I say it is one of the best things to do in Skagway, Alaska, especially if you’re a history buff. As the oldest cemetery in Skagway, the Gold Rush Cemetery is not only historical but also intriguing.
For here, you’ll find the resting place of several notable individuals from the Gold Rush era, including con man Jefferson “Soapy” Smith and Martin Itjen, who helped promote the Gold Rush during its early days. If you visit the cemetery as part of a tour, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about these characters and the lives they led.
Jeff Smith’s Parlor Museum
Another excellent destination for history buffs is the Jeff Smith’s Parlor Museum. The former home of con man Jefferson “Soapy” Smith, this building was used for various purposes until 1935 when it was turned into a museum. Today, it is regarded by many as one of the most historical things to do in Skagway, Alaska.
Here you’ll find a variety of artifacts dating back to the Gold Rush era, including several taxidermy animals, glassware, paintings, and manikins. If you take a formal tour of the building, you’ll even have the opportunity to learn more about the building’s history and the story behind the infamous “Soapy” Smith.
The Days of ’98 Show
The Days of ’98 Show is, without a doubt, one of the most entertaining things to do in Skagway, Alaska. Open since 1923, the theater has for almost a century now offered an amusing set of performances that tell the story of one of Alaska’s most notable Gold Rush outlaws – Jefferson “Soapy” Smith. Complete with comedy, song, and dance, the ’98 Show is a great way to learn more about the history of Skagway, its outlaws, and the impacts of the Gold Rush. If you plan on attending this show, be sure to purchase your tickets in advance, so you can get a good seat!
Skagway Museum and Archives
If you’re interested in learning more about Skagway’s history – beyond the role it played during the Gold Rush – be sure to check out the Skagway Museum and Archives. Set in a late 1890’s building, the museum once served as a school, courthouse, and jail. Today, the museum houses several artifacts from across the ages, including mammoth tusks that date back to the prehistoric times.
The museum is also home to several historical records and photos that provide valuable information about Skagway’s history.
Captain William Moore Cabin
The Captain William Moore Cabin is certainly one of the most historical Skagway, AK things to do. Built in 1887, a decade before the Gold Rush, this cabin was the first building ever to be constructed in Skagway. It served as the home for Captain William Moore, who settled the land in anticipation of the pending Gold Rush.
Today, the cabin has been restored to its original conditions and provides a first-hand look into the lives of the town’s initial settlers. In addition to the structure itself, you’ll be able to glimpse several artifacts when you tour the cabin, including a variety of relics left behind by the native populations.
Davidson Glacier
Without a doubt, one of the best things to do in Skagway, Alaska, is visit the Davidson Glacier. Located across the Chilkat Inlet, the glacier is easily reach by boat or helicopter. If you opt to take a cruise to the glacier, you’ll have the chance to spot a variety of marine life, including sea lions, dolphins, and whales.
Meanwhile, a helicopter ride will offer you incredible aerial views, as well as the opportunity to land at the top of the glacier. No matter how you get there, you’re sure to have an incredible time exploring this massive glacier!
Have you checked out any of these things to do in Skagway, Alaska? Let me know your favorites in the comments!
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