Plan your trip to Skagway, Alaska — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.
Top things to do in Skagway
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. A narrow-gauge marvel built in 1898, this heritage railway climbs 2,888 feet through sheer gorges, past Bridal Veil Falls and Dead Horse Gulch, to the White Pass Summit — a 40-mile round trip that is the most popular excursion in Skagway. Extended journeys run all the way to Bennett, British Columbia, following the…
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Alaska's most-visited national park (roughly 850,000 visitors a year) preserves a six-block historic district of restored 1898 saloons, hotels, and warehouses, along with the ghost town of Dyea and the Chilkoot Trail. The free visitor center, housed in the original White Pass & Yukon Route depot, runs ranger programs…
Chilkoot Trail. Often called 'the world's longest museum,' this 33-mile backcountry trail from Dyea to Bennett, British Columbia, follows the exact boot-worn path of the 1898 gold rush stampede — passing rusting boilers, discarded sleds, and evocative alpine scenery. Most hikers allow three to four days; a permit from Parks Canada…
Arctic Brotherhood Hall. The most photographed facade on Broadway is encrusted with 8,883 pieces of driftwood pressed into its front in 1899 by members of a gold-rush fraternal order — a genuinely eccentric piece of frontier folk architecture and one of Skagway's most enduring icons.
Red Onion Saloon & Brothel Museum. Operating since 1898 first as a bordello and now as a working saloon and Alaska's only preserved brothel museum, the Red Onion offers guided tours of its ten original upstairs rooms led by costumed madams, alongside craft cocktails and live music downstairs. The evening walking tours weave in the stories of Soapy…
Gold Rush Cemetery & Reid Falls. A 1.5-mile flat walk from downtown brings you to the 1898 cemetery where con artist 'Soapy' Smith and his nemesis Frank Reid — who killed each other in a notorious wharf shootout — lie buried a short distance apart. A short spur trail beyond Reid's grave leads to a 300-foot cascade tumbling through a moss-draped…
Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition. An off-road Unimog truck hauls guests 11 miles to historic Dyea where a 10-line zipline course soars over glacial waterfalls and old-growth Tongass National Forest canopy, with the longest run stretching 750 feet at up to 45 mph. Four suspension bridges add dramatic pauses for photography between lines.
Dyea Ghost Town & Slide Cemetery. Ten miles northwest of Skagway, Dyea was once a rival boomtown of equal size — then the railroad bypassed it in 1900 and it vanished within months. Today crumbling cabin foundations, wharf pilings, and the sobering Slide Cemetery (where 47 avalanche victims from April 1898 are buried) make for one of the most…
Best time to visit Skagway
Mid-May through mid-September; July for warmest weather, September for Klondike Road Relay and reduced crowds. The full visitor season runs May-September when the White Pass & Yukon Route train operates, the Days of '98 Show runs daily, and hiking trails are accessible. July offers peak warmth (avg high 65°F). May and September are shoulder months with lighter cruise crowds while most attractions remain open
Skagway weather by month
Month
High (°F)
Low (°F)
Notes
Jan
28
21
cold & wet
Feb
29
21
cold & wet
Mar
32
24
cold & wet
Apr
42
35
crisp & wet
May
52
43
cool & changeable
Jun
62
51
mild & wet
Jul
65
56
mild & wet
Aug
64
55
mild & wet
Sep
56
48
cool & wet
Oct
44
37
crisp & wet
Nov
32
26
crisp & wet
Dec
29
21
cold & wet
Getting to Skagway
Downtown Skagway is almost entirely flat and entirely walkable — every restaurant, bar, and historic site on Broadway is within a 10-minute stroll of the cruise docks or ferry terminal. For Dyea (10 miles out), rent a car from Avis on 2nd Avenue & Spring Street, take the SMART Bus ($2 one-way / $5 all-day), or book a shuttle. No Uber or taxi service exists.
SGY Skagway Airport — 2 min drive
JNU Juneau International Airport — 0 min drive
WHX Whittier Airport — 0 min drive
Where to stay in Skagway
Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.
Historic Downtown / Broadway Corridor. The walkable heart of Skagway, where historic inns and B&Bs sit a block or two off Broadway, putting visitors within minutes of the train depot, national park visitor center, cruise docks, and every restaurant and bar in town. The best choice for… Good for: First-time visitors, couples, culture-seekers, cruise passengers.
Dyea Valley. Nine to ten miles northwest of town, the pristine Dyea Valley is where the Chilkoot Trail begins and the ghost town of Dyea spreads across a tidal flat. Cabin-style lodges here (most notably Chilkoot Trail Outpost) offer an immersive wilderness atmosphere —… Good for: Hikers, backcountry adventurers, nature lovers, romantic escapes.
Harbor & Railroad Dock Area. Clustered around the small-boat harbor and railroad dock, this area suits RV travelers and campers who want convenient ferry and train connections along with views of cruise ships and Lynn Canal. Pullen Creek RV Park is the anchor here, with full hookups and… Good for: RV travelers, budget-conscious visitors, ferry passengers, families.
Where to eat in Skagway
A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.
Local favorites & classics
Bonanza Bar & Grill. Downtown (3rd Ave & Spring St) · American / seafood bar — A go-to year-round spot for both locals and visitors, with a broad menu spanning chowder, fish and chips, burgers, salads, and pizza. A…
Klondike Doughboy. Downtown (326 3rd Avenue) · Desserts / snacks — Famous for plate-sized Alaskan fry bread dusted with cinnamon sugar, made fresh to order and selling 350–500 pieces daily in peak season. Also carries…
Salty Siren. 205 Congress Way · 4.8★ (339 reviews)
Skagway Spirits Distillery. 941 Alaska St · 5.0★ (144 reviews)
Cafés, bakeries & casual
Skagway Brewing Company. Historic Downtown (4th Avenue) · American pub / Alaskan seafood — The town's most beloved dining institution, open year-round and serving hand-crafted ales alongside local halibut, salmon, and…
Skagway Fish Company. Waterfront (Congress Way, near cruise terminal) · Fresh Alaskan seafood — A seasonal waterfront fixture since 2001, known for halibut fish and chips, wild-caught king crab legs, and raw oysters…
Salty Siren Eats & Tap House. Waterfront / Downtown · Alaskan seafood, tap house — A sister venture to Skagway Brewing Co., reopened for summer 2026 with a focus on locally and responsibly sourced seafood: Alaska Golden King…
Woadie's South East Seafood. Downtown · Fresh Alaskan seafood, casual walk-up — A Navy-veteran-owned walk-up counter serving poke bowls, halibut sandwiches, Dungeness crab, King crab, and fresh oysters from Kake, Alaska.…
Skagway Brewing Company — Glacial Coffeehouse. Historic Downtown · Coffee, pastries — Skagway's go-to morning stop for espresso drinks and fresh pastries, popular with both locals and visitors looking for a quick, quality breakfast before…
Lucy's Bakery. 565 Broadway · 4.7★ (146 reviews)
Fine dining & Michelin
Red Onion Saloon. Historic Downtown (201 Broadway) · American bar food / cocktails — The 1898 landmark serves local brews, handcrafted cocktails (including the notorious 'Reindeer Fart' shot), and bar food in a…
Chop House at Lake Lucille. 1300 W Lake Lucille Dr · 4.6★ (595 reviews)
Olivia's Bistro & Bar. 655 Broadway · 4.5★ (235 reviews)
The Sittin' Sasquatch. 648 Broadway #197 · 4.6★ (204 reviews)
Peppers. 306 2nd Ave · 4.9★ (145 reviews)
Railroad Dock. CMWG+CG · 4.5★ (161 reviews)
A 7-Day Skagway Plan
Day 1 — Arrival & Gold Rush Streets. Arrive in Skagway and check in to your lodging, then take a self-guided stroll down Broadway Street to absorb the remarkably preserved 1898 boomtown streetscape. Stop at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park visitor center to pick up maps and orient yourself with a short…
Day 2 — White Pass Railroad & Alpine Views. Board the narrow-gauge White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad for the signature summit excursion, climbing 2,865 feet through tunnels, over trestles, and past Dead Horse Gulch to the Canadian border. Bring a camera — the views of Lynn Canal and the Coast Mountains are…
Day 3 — Chilkoot Trail & Stampeder Spirit. Drive or take a shuttle the short distance to the Chilkoot trailhead in Dyea and begin hiking the lower portion of the famed Chilkoot Trail, the route stampeders used to haul a year's worth of supplies over the pass. The forest section to Finnegan's Point (roughly 5 miles…
Day 4 — Ziplines, Falls & Forest Adventure. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast in town, then head out for the Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition — a multi-line canopy tour that sends you soaring over old-growth rainforest and a dramatic waterfall cascade. The guides are knowledgeable and the views of the surrounding…
Day 5 — Golden Circle Scenic Highway Drive. Set out early on the South Klondike Highway for the breathtaking Golden Circle Drive, heading north through dramatic mountain passes to the Canadian border and onward into Yukon Territory. Stop at the summit viewpoints along the Alaska Highway corridor and cross into…
Day 6 — Gold Panning & Cemetery Legends. Join a gold-panning session at Klondike Tours for a hands-on introduction to placer mining — guides demonstrate proper panning technique and every participant gets to keep whatever color they find. It is equally fun for families and adults, and the stories of the original…
Day 7 — Taiya Inlet, Tides & Farewell. Spend your last morning kayaking or taking a guided boat tour on the Taiya Inlet — several local outfitters offer morning paddles that hug the shoreline below the glacially carved peaks. Watch for harbor seals, bald eagles, and the occasional humpback whale passing through Lynn…
Events & festivals in Skagway
Buckwheat International Ski Classic (Second Saturday of March). Annual cross-country ski race on groomed trails at Log Cabin, BC, organized by the Log Cabin Ski Society. Includes adult distances and a 5K for children; participants often race in themed costumes.
Skagway Spring Festival (April (mid-April; 2026 edition opened April 17)). Annual festival including the Skagway Arts Council's International Folk Festival, Spring Show of Winter Artwork, Disc Golf Tournament, and town-wide Clean Sweep litter cleanup.
North Words Writers Symposium (Late May). Annual creative-writing event featuring workshops, panel discussions, readings, and keynote Alaska-Northwest authors.
The Days of '98 Show (Mid-May through mid-September (daily performances tied to cruise-ship arrivals)). Klondike Gold Rush-themed musical theater show performed at Eagles Hall, Skagway, since at least the 1920s. Widely cited as Alaska's longest-running theatrical production. Depicts the story of Soapy Smith through…
Independence Day Street Party (July 4). Annual old-fashioned Independence Day celebration on Skagway's downtown streets with music, games, and street food.
Klondike Road Relay (September (2026 dates: September 11-12)). Annual 175 km running relay race starting in Skagway, Alaska and finishing in Whitehorse, Yukon. Broken into 10 legs; draws approximately 2,000 participants. Organized by Sport Yukon.
Skagway Fall Festival (October). Annual celebration of art, music, and community life in the north.
Skagway Yuletide Celebrations (First Friday of December through mid-December). Annual holiday celebration beginning with a tree lighting on the first Friday in December; includes artisan bazaars, quilt shows, photos with Santa, dances, open houses, and live music.
Skagway travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Skagway?
Mid-May through mid-September; July for warmest weather, September for Klondike Road Relay and reduced crowds.
What are the top things to do in Skagway?
Top experiences include White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, Chilkoot Trail, Arctic Brotherhood Hall, Red Onion Saloon & Brothel Museum.
Which airport is closest to Skagway?
Juneau International Airport (JNU) is the nearest, about 0 minutes away.
Where should I stay in Skagway?
Popular areas to base yourself include Historic Downtown / Broadway Corridor, Dyea Valley, Harbor & Railroad Dock Area.
How do I get around Skagway?
Downtown Skagway is almost entirely flat and entirely walkable — every restaurant, bar, and historic site on Broadway is within a 10-minute stroll of the cruise docks or ferry terminal.