Skagway, AK Road Trips

1 Skagway Visitor Center, 205 Broadway, ☏ +1 907 983-2854, [email protected]. (updated Nov 2021)

Start by stepping away from any buildings and turning 360 degrees for an impressive view of the nearby peaks that enclose Skagway. 1 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) 2 Skagway Centennial Statue, 271 Broadway (in front of the Visitors Center). Remembers the miners coming to Skagway in the Gold Rush. (updated Oct 2018) 3 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. 4 Footbridge to Yakutania Point & Smuggler's Cove (south of airport terminal off First Ave). Trails, exercise course, picnic spots. 5 Skagway Sculpture Garden (8th and Spring Streets). 6 Skagway Overlook, Mile 2 on Dyea Rd. Turnoff and platform.

1 Klondike Electric Bicycles, 398 5th Ave (Corner of 5th and State St.), ☏ +1 907 983-2453. Offers electric bike rentals and tours as well as electric car daily rentals. 2 Mountain Flying Service (Glacier Bay Flightseeing), 132 2nd Ave (at the airport), ☏ +1 907 766-3007. Mountain Flying Service does charter flights and flightseeing out of Skagway and Haines primarily. They have a spectacular plane with very large windows for flightseeing. Paul the pilot has been flying tours in the area longer than anyone else. 3 Skagway Float Tours, 299 Broadway St, ☏ +1 907 983-3688, toll-free: +1 877-983-2512, [email protected]. Outdoor adventure while hiking along the Chilkoot Trail followed by a float down the glacial fed Taiya River. $75-100. (updated Apr 2020)

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. 1 Skagway Fish Co., Congress Way (in the red building), ☏ +1 907 983. FISH. Halibut fish and chips, Alaskan king crab. 2 The Smokehouse Alaska, 205 Congress Way (in the aqua building), ☏ +1 907-983-2469. More upscale and overlooking the small boat harbor.

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

1 Sgt. Preston's Lodge (6th and State), ☏ +1 907 983-2521. 40 rooms. 2 At The White House, 8th and Main St, ☏ +1 907 983-9000. 3 Pullen Creek RV Park, toll-free: +1 844-983-3884.

1 Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) (Alaska Ferry), toll-free: +1-800-642-0066. Connects Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Kake, Sitka, Juneau, Haines, and Skagway in the southeast panhandle of Alaska. Some trips operate to Bellingham, Washington or Prince Rupert, British Columbia. (updated Dec 2018) The most common way to get to Skagway is by boat, whether cruise ship or Alaska Marine Highway ferry. 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. 2 White Pass and Yukon Route, 2nd Av, toll-free: +1-800-343-7373, [email protected]. 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 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.