The Best Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska: Top Skagway Excursions for Adventure Seekers

There’s no shortage of exhilarating activities to take part in when you’re visiting Alaska. From hiking to biking to helicopter rides, find out the best things to do in Skagway, so you can make the most of your trip here. Bri Mitchell has outlined all the top tips for you in this article.

There are so many great things to do in Skagway, Alaska—it’s an outdoor adventurer and nature lover’s paradise.

Chris and I absolutely loved visiting Skagway during our trip to Alaska. We’d go back in a heartbeat, and highly recommend anyone travelling along the western coast of Canada or the United States considers making it a stop on their trip. Its natural beauty is unfettered, and it attracts the types of people who crave adventure, the rugged wilderness and the best that Mother Nature has to offer.

Skagway is a little seaside town in Alaska, which is completely landlocked by Canada. It's nestled deep in the fjords of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve near the Taiya River, and it’s surrounded by too many glaciers to count.

After travelling to so many awe-inspiring parts of the United States, like the stunning state of Montana, incredible waterfalls of the northeast, or the most beautiful national parks in the country, it’s no question that the state of Alaska is beautiful like no other.

Because of its location, you can either drive a long and winding highway from Canada’s Yukon Territory, take the scenic train from Whitehorse, YK to Skagway, or arrive by ship, or cruise ship. Since it’s a tricky place to get to overland, most visitors who come to tour Skagway end up arriving by ship.

However you find yourself arriving to Skagway, it is an incredible entry point to experience some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders this region is home to. Think glacial lakes, flowing rivers, scenic hikes, historic trains, glacier views and an historic town to boot—Skagway has it all!

Please note that this article contains affiliate links. Simply put, we may receive a small commission from some of our recommendations at absolutely zero additional cost to you.

A Brief History of Skagway, Alaska

Skagway was originally inhabited by the Tlingit people, the indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Skagway’s original Tlingit name, “Skagua,” means “Home of the North Wind.” Tlingit communities continue to live in the region of southeast Alaska today.

Visiting Skagway nowadays, you’ll notice a very different history has a stronghold here. Prospectors of the late 1800s descended on Skagway in droves during the Klondike Gold Rush. Today, the National Historic District of Skagway has been designated to preserve buildings from this time period. It covers six blocks in town, and aims to keep the late 1890s feel of the town alive and well. There are more than 20 buildings that are historically protected in town.

Skagway is home to around 1000 people year-round. This number nearly triples every summer, during its highest months of the tourist season. Tourism is the number one economic provider for Skagway, with visitors attracted to its historic downtown area, outdoor activities, and access to nearby natural attractions like Glacier Bay National Park.

What Weather to Expect in Skagway, Alaska

Skagway Alaska is home to long, cold winters and short, mild summers. The town gets an average of 66 cm (26 inches) of precipitation per year, most of which is snow in the winter.

In all likelihood, you’re visiting Skagway in the summer months. From June to August, the days are a balmy 10 to 21 degrees celcius (50 to 70 farenheit). There doesn’t tend to be much rain during this time of year, and Skagway is home to the inviting and long 20-hour-days of sunlight.

The spring and fall months (March to May and September to November, respectively) are similar to each other, with temperatures ranging from -7 to 10 degrees celcius. It can be cool and rainy or snowy during the shoulder times of these seasons. The leaves on the trees tend to change colour in late September or early October, if you’re planning a fall foliage trip.

Winters are very cold in Skagway, and can hover around zero degree celcius, but plunge down to -15 or even -20. You likely won’t be able to do most of the things to do in Skagway listed here if you are visiting in the winter, so consider yourself fairly warned.

One of the few activities you can do in the winter time is go on a dog sledding tour in various points around town. That’s a highly recommended activity for visiting in the colder months.

The Best Ways to Experience Nature in Skagway

The beautiful wilderness and natural beauty of Skagway makes it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Not all of these nature activities made it on our “best list”, but if they’re activities that match what you’re looking for, feel free to jump on them!

If you’re looking for exciting ways to get your adrenaline pumping, or you just want to get up close and personal with Mother Nature, here are some of the best outdoor activities and things to do in Skagway:

Hiking: There are many hiking trails in Skagway, ranging from easy to challenging. Popular hikes include the Chilkoot Trail, Lower Dewey Lake Trail, and the “AB” (Arctic Brotherhood) Mountain Trail.
Kayaking and Canoeing: Kayaking and canoeing are great ways to explore the rivers and coastlines around Skagway. You can rent kayaks or canoes, or join a guided tour.
Whitewater Rafting: The rushing rivers from the surrounding glaciers make for some of the best white water to raft along. Depending on the water levels during your visit, you can find several different whitewater tour providers in town.
Scenic River Float: This is a great activity option for those who are less interested in the thrill of outdoor adventure, but want to relax and take it all in from the water.
Wildlife Viewing: Skagway is the home of bears, eagles, moose, and mountain goats. You can join a guided wildlife tour, or take a hike and try your chance at seeing them on your own. (Please note, as always, that you should never plan to interact with, touch or feed any wildlife. Know the precautions for encountering wildlife on your own in advance. To name a few, bears and moose can charge or chase at you.)
Fishing: Skagway is a popular spot for fishing. If you are a dedicated fisherperson, there are plenty of opportunities to catch salmon and trout, along with other fish in the rivers and lakes in the region.
Biking: Skagway has several bike rental shops and has scenic bike trails and roads like the Dyea Road and the Klondike Highway.
Scenic Drives: The Klondike Highway and the White Pass Summit are popular scenic drives. They offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers.

If you’re planning on visiting Skagway overnight, then it’s important to note that Skagway is a very small town with limited accommodations. It’s important to book your stay ahead of time. I’d recommend using the map below to help find a place to stay well in advance of your trip.

Skagway Excursions from Your Alaska Cruise

With over a million visitors annually, Skagway is a popular tourist destination. The majority of visitors arrive by cruise ship. If you’re reading this and considering taking a cruise to Alaska, then I’d recommend you read all about our experience discovering Alaska on our Discovery Princess Cruise.

If you are already taking an Alaskan Cruise, and are trying to determine the best Skagway excursions to take, I have good news! On this list of the top things to do in Skagway, each of these experiences can easily fit into a day shore excursion.

While your cruise ship can often offer you amazing excursions to take, sometimes it’s worth doing a little work to find your own guided tour. If you’d like to book your own tour, independent of the cruise ship, you can find an excellent list of Skagway excursions to be booked on your own here.

The Top Things to do in Skagway, Alaska

When you’re planning for things to do in Skagway, Alaska, there are a ton of great options that are perfect for day trips. The nice thing about Skagway is that it’s so compact, that there’s no need for a car rental to get around. You’ll be fine walking and taking the train.

If you’re planning on staying in this stunning area longer, then there are definitely a few more options that will fit the bill for you, but all of these activities will fit nicely into a day.

Explore the Town of Skagway

The historic town of Skagway is well worth taking some time to walk around. You can either take a guided walking tour of town, which is an excellent option, or you can walk around on your own.

If you want to get your bearings, it’s a great idea to start your visit by heading to the Visitor Center in town. Broadway Street is the heart of downtown Skagway. It’s lined with restored buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s, which are now home to several shops, restaurants, and places to get homemade baked goods, like cookies and cakes.

There are two historic buildings worth checking out in downtown Skagway. The first is the Skagway Museum and Archives. It’s a great place to learn about the town's history, and its role in the gold rush history on the gold rush trail of the region.

Another historic place to stop at is The Red Onion Saloon. It’s a cosy, historic saloon and brothel, which offers tours of its original spaces and brothel rooms. They also serve delicious food and drinks in their restaurant. Arctic Brotherhood Hall is another historical building worth checking out while you’re in town.

If you’re in the market for something to eat or drink, Skagway Fish Company has an excellent variety of fresh seafood, with an outdoor patio overlooking the harbour.

Skagway Brewing Company has fantastic craft beers, and has a great selection of pub food, too. Skagway Spirits Distillery is another place to stop by for a sip. It’s relatively new on the scene, but makes their own vodka and gin crafted cocktails on site.

If you’re looking for a great three-hour tour to take during your time in Skagway, I’d highly recommend taking this mini-bus tour that takes you around the town of Skagway, and drives up to the White Pass Summit.

Take a Ride on the White Pass Rail

This historic train ride is one of the most popular things to do in Skagway. A ride on it will take you on a scenic journey through stunning rivers, gorges, mountains and glacial views.

On top of the stunning vistas it offers, physically being on the historic train cars is another marvel in itself. It is a must-do on a visit to Skagway.

The railway is both a National Historic Site of Canada, and a National Historical Landmark in the United States. It was built in the late 1800s so that miners could access the mountains during the Klondike Gold Rush. It runs from Skagway to Whitehorse, Yukon.

The railway was a feat of engineering at the time of construction. Workers faced challenging terrain, extreme weather conditions, and dangerous avalanches as they worked on it. If you take the train from Skagway, you’ll pass the Gold Rush Cemetery on your right hand side as you’re pulling out of the station. Many people lost their lives attempting to find gold and strike it rich in Skagway.

Riding on the train, you’ll see just the type of terrain they had to work with. Some of the seemingly precarious bridges that were built, alone, are amazing to see in use today. Despite the challenges, the railway was completed in just over two years, and opened for business in 1900.

To take a ride on this historic train on the edge of the historical parks, start by heading to the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad Depot. It’s about a ten minute walk from the centre of Skagway town.

Take a Self-Guided Nature Hike From Town

For the nature enthusiasts looking for a self-guided approach to travel Skagway, there is an easy hike you can take to Lower Dewey Lake from town. It takes around 1.5-2 hours to hike, and there are several nice picnic spots and viewpoints along the way.

The hike begins with a climb up a wide trail that leads through the coastal forest. The trail eventually forks, and you’ll turn right to take you on an uphill trail that offers scenic views of Skagway, and eventually leads to Dewey Lake.

The trail gets a little more flat as you approach the lake, and you’ll see signs directing you to the Lower Dewey Lake Loop. Following this loop, you'll walk along the shore of the lake, cross a boardwalk, and take a more rough trail on the other side. To return to the trailhead, you need to keep left as you near the northern end of the lake and rejoin the main trail.

This is a great little hike, and an excellent way to get your dose of nature for the day. To take this trail loop, head to the parking lot at the end of 2nd Avenue. The trail begins right after the parking lot.

Go on a Hike through the Laughton Glacier Trail via Scenic tRAIN

This day trip combines the beauty of the White Pass train with the natural wonders of a hike. This hike also requires a little more skill in terms of getting there than the Lower Dewey Lake Loop. In order to access the Laughton Glacier Trail, book a ticket to take the White Pass Rail to Glacier Station on your own.

The train ride will take you past beautiful viewpoints through the mountains. Glacier Station isn’t exactly a “station”, but more of a stopping point for the train. Once the train leaves you, you’ll see a sign for the “Laughton Glacier Trail”, which you’ll follow through to the hike.

The hike goes along the Skagway River. It’s home to bears, moose, and bald eagles, among other animals I didn’t personally see or hear of any bears on our hike, but staying mindful of bears in Alaska is always a must.

Make sure you note that this hike is not a loop, so once you make your way up to see the glacier (the path might be flooded depending on water levels, so you may only get as close as Mother Nature will let you), take the same path down so you can catch the train back to town. You can turn around at any time, but the full hike can take 2-6 hours, depending on how far you go.

Take a Helicopter Ride Over Laughton Glacier

This is another incredible and unforgettable experience when you’re looking for the best things to do in Skagway. Helicopter tours take off from downtown Skagway. Since Skagway is quite literally surrounded by glaciers and mountains, you will pass so many mountains, glacial lakes, rivers and glaciers during your flight that it will be hard to keep count.

We took a tour with Temsco, and began with a safety briefing and overview at their depot in Skagway. We were in the air in no time, and this experience truly took our breaths away.

We started by taking off over the fjord at the base of Skagway, and then rounding out over Dewey Lake, before continuing on over several mountains and glaciers. The piece de resistance was flying over the Laughton Glacier, to get an up close and personal view of it. Between the glacier and the rivers flowing from it, it was a memorable experience.

Other Things to Do In and Near Skagway

After you’ve enjoyed your time in Skagway, depending on whether you’re headed on a cruise or travelling on your own, there are definitely some other exciting places to visit in this section of Alaska.

Visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Visitor’s Centre. The centre is located in the middle of historic Skagway, and offers visitors a window into the past of the Klondike Gold Rush, and the promises (and often fantasies) of a better life it offered to everyone who took part in it.
Go hiking along the White Pass Trail (also known as the “ Dead Horse Trail ”) between Alaska and British Columbia. Some of the hikes on this list offer a taste, but if you’re looking for a true wild experience, then hiking this pass is exhilarating. It isn’t advised to attempt this hike alone as a tourist. Definitely hire a local guide, or go with a group.
Head to Anchorage and Denali National Park. Since Anchorage is the capital of Alaska, and Denali made it on our list of the most beautiful national parks in the United States, then heading to this corner of Alaska is a must.

Rest Your Feet After Trying All the Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska

Once your day (or days) of visiting Skagway are behind you, you’ll really need to take a moment to soak it all in. If you’re leaving Skagway by sea, make sure you prioritize spending time on the aft deck as you take off. The views pulling out of little Skagway nestled among the surrounding mountains is a sight to behold, especially as sunset nears.

As you pull away, you’ll see glaciers on glaciers on glaciers. Depending on the time of year, you may even see some pods of dolphins bringing you back out to the water.

Your time scoping out the best things to do in Skagway will have meant that you found some time to reconnect with nature, and yourself, in the process.