Skagway, Alaska is a popular stop included in almost every cruise that tours the inside passage of Alaska. With a population of only about 920 during the off-season, you would think a small town like this doesn't have much to offer tourists, but Skagway is full of secrets and sights just waiting for you.
(Scroll to the very bottom for a short video of this train excursion!)
It won't take you long to walk through this picturesque town, but there are plenty of things to see and do. My family decided to take the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway excursion when we stopped by on our cruise aboard the Disney Wonder in May of 2014, and it did not disappoint! As you can see in the map below, the rail tour literally picks you up right on the dock by your ship.
While some people see bears and other wildlife on this excursion, on this trip my family did not see any of those things. What we did see, however, was the incredible blue, sunny sky which made for some incredible pictures! It rains quite a bit here, so the weather really was perfect. You sit inside the train, on seats that can flip up and face the other direction, so it doesn't matter what side of the train you sit on, you will have a different view going back down the track.
You are also allowed to stand outside between the cars as well, which is where I spent about 90% of the trip, snapping pictures left and right!
Our particular excursion was the White Pass Summit Excursion, described on their website (found here) as:
This forty mile round trip excursion climbs from tidewater at Skagway to the Summit of the White Pass - a 2,865 foot elevation. The fully narrated tour passes through two tunnels, over sky-high trestles and cascading waterfalls. It’s our most popular rail trip!
The excursion included the following:
- Fares: $119 Adult and $59.50 Child
- Tour Duration: 3 to 3.5 Hours
- No passport required
- All Summit Excursion trains are wheelchair accessible. However, space is limited in lift-equipped cars. Please let us know when reserving your seats if you or anyone in your party will require the lift to get onto the train.
- Complimentary Bottled Water
After the tour we still had plenty of time to explore around town and do a little shopping. There are some pretty neat things to see in Skagway, so enjoy your time here. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments :)
Enjoy this video I took at the summit :)
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