Skagway is on the itinerary of just about every cruise ship sailing Alaska’s interior passage. Ours was no exception. There are more things to do in Skagway than hours ashore in this former gold rush town.
The options range from expensive Skagway Alaska excursions to free tours, hikes, and other mini-adventures. And really everything in between.
If you cruising, therefore stopping in Skagway with limited time, you will want to make the most of it. Therefore you will want to know all of your options. These include popular activities like taking a ride on the White Pass railroad, as well as some off-the-beaten-path choices. And while many of these cost money, the page follows with 15 free things to do in Skagway, as promised.
Skagway excursions: Popular activities when arriving via cruise ship
Some of the most popular and best Skagway excursions include riding the famous White Pass Railroad (stunning scenery seen from the last narrow gauge train in North America), dogsledding, or enjoying a traditional Alaskan salmon bake. If you don’t have deep pockets, or if none of these options appeals, there are more than enough free or nearly free things to do in Skagway (see below).
However, if you are arriving in Skagway on a cruise ship, you will want to maximize your limited time here. Basic options include:
Check out these independent Skagway shore excursions
Be sure to check tour details prior to booking. They may pass into Canada and require a passport.
- White Pass Summit bus tour from Skagway:
This 3-hour mini-bus tour is great for those interested in finding out about the gold rush history of Alaska. You see the Gold Rush Cemetery and travel along the scenic White Pass Summit to the Tormented Valley. There are plenty of photo stops along the way. The tour passes through US Customs into Canada, so be sure to bring your passport. Reserve your White Pass Summit bus tour here. - Scenic Taiya River float tour:
This 2.5-hour tour will take you on a 40-minute raft ride down the Taiya River, where you may spot wildlife like bald eagles or bears. Reserve the scenic river float tour here. - Full-day Yukon tour:
Discover Canada’s Yukon on this 6.5-hour shore excursion. Some of the highlights include mountain scenery, green Emerald Lake, Carcross desert, and a visit to the Caribou Crossing Trading post, with its wildlife museum and a dogsled camp. The tour passes through US Customs into Canada, so be sure to have a valid passport. Reserve your Full-day Yukon tour here.
15 Free or Nearly Free Things to do in Skagway
1. Have a look at the snow and ice-cutting train
Sitting right at the end of Broadway, it would be difficult not to see this ice-cutting train car on display as you walk into town from the port of Skagway.
2. Photograph the Skagway Visitor Center (a.k.a. Arctic Brotherhood Hall)
Located in the historic Arctic Brotherhood Hall (Notice the AB on the front), the Skagway Visitor Center is now a destination on its own. The exterior pattern contains over 8,000 pieces of driftwood. One look and you know why this is considered to be Alaska’s most photographed building. Going inside, we were able to get maps and information on all the things to do in Skagway.
3. Learn something new at the daily ranger talks or movie
During the summer, the Park Rangers offer a 30-minute talk on various topics. The topic on the day we were there was Gardening in Skagway, so we opted to skip it. There is also a free daily 25-minute film on the history of Skagway. Both are at the Ranger Visitor Station (2nd and Broadway).
4. Walk the residential streets
We like to turn off the main streets, leave the tourist area, and get the real feel of a town. Had we not done this, we never would have seen this garage.
5. Utilise the free Wifi at the library
The library opens daily at noon, but the Wifi was available just outside starting at 10 am (8th and State). A crowd of locals sitting on the benches alerted us to this freebie.
6. Hike along the tracks and through the forest
The lush green forested area offers lots of hiking opportunities, my favorite of the things to do in Skagway.
7. Hike to Yakutania Point or Dewey Lake
I am not sure why, but we skipped both of these hikes. The first, an easy walk to Yakutania Point, provides a lovely view of the Skagway port and inlet as well as our cruise ship. We were told later that there were whales in the bay on the day we were docked. The hike to Dewey Lake is considered to be more challenging than Yakutania Point. However, once there, it is an easy walk around Dewey Lake. Hiking is one of the great things to do in Alaska in summer.
8. Gold Rush Cemetery
Skagway was a sleepy town until word got out about gold in the late 1890s. For less than two years, the town boomed, growing faster than the infrastructure and without enough doctors. Typhoid, meningitis, and lawlessness wiped out most of those buried here, and the majority of the grave markers we saw are dated 1898. The cemetery is about 2 miles from the port of Skagway.
9. Ried Waterfall
Walking less than a half-mile beyond the cemetery, we came to Ried Waterfall cascading over the rocks much faster than I would have expected.
10. Pan for gold at the Klondike gold fields
We did not pan for gold; we just had a look from a distance. I am sure this is not a free activity. A bit farther from town is the larger Liarsville Goldrush Camp, which offers a 2-hour shore excursion that includes transport and an authentic salmon bake complete with costumed 19th-century characters. Reserve your panning for gold and all-you-can-eat salmon here.
11. Have a coffee, ale, or meal at one of the Skagway restaurants
We discovered the Klondike Cafe, a great little coffee shop. We are coffee drinkers, but others told us the most refreshing beverage in town is a Spruce Tip Ale from the Skagway Brewing Company.
12. Take a free NPS Ranger-led historic walking tour
Numbers are limited. Pick up your tickets at the Ranger Visitor Station. The tour went through the heart of town and was under an hour and very educational.
13. Shopping in Skagway Alaska
We are not shoppers. We travel light and buy almost no souvenirs. However, it’s always fun to window shop along Broadway, the main street. The Native American crafts are plentiful, plus we found some totem poles.
14. Skagway Museum and sculpture garden
More gold rush history and gold nuggets. It was an interesting, although not terribly photogenic, place to visit. We ran out of time and didn’t visit the sculpture garden next door to the museum.
15. Enjoy a meal at the Red Onion and then tour this former brothel
Head upstairs in the Red Onion for an innuendo-laden tour of one of the 70 former brothels in Skagway from the days of the gold rush. Some 15,000 men flooded the town in hopes of finding their fortune. No one found gold in Skagway. The madams may have been the most well-off in the town as they kept half of the girls’ earnings. The working girls charged $5 for 15 minutes of “service”. This was more than a miner’s daily wage. (There was a small charge for this tour).
More Information and Tips for Skagway
- It’s a very short walk from the Skagway cruise port into town.
- There is a city shuttle bus that drives around Skagway offering $5 on/off all day.
- Should you be visiting on July 4th, head to Pullen Creek for the annual Skagway Rubber Duck Derby. If you are there in salmon season, Pullen Creek is also a great place to see the salmon run.
- If you are taking the White Pass Railway, try to get a seat on the left side of the train for the best uphill views. Also, for the best photographs, walk out between the cars.
- We visited Skagway as a cruise port. However, if we went back, we would stay longer. Our first choice for accommodation is the Historic Skagway Inn. This charming bed and breakfast is highly sought after. Be sure to book well in advance. Our second choice is the centrally located Westmark Skagway Inn, rated as the best value in the city.
Other Alaska cruise ports we have visited
We sailed from Anchorage (Whittier) to Vancouver as part of our USA adventure and hit one stunning port after the next. We admired Hubbard Glacier from the ship and visited the beautiful ports of Skagway, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Juneau. See Alaska Cruise Tips: Know Before You Sail for our best recommendations at each port.
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Are there enough things to do in Skagway to keep you busy?
Our recommendations at other Alaska cruise ports:
Nancy
Cool stuff! I have a friend doing an Alaska cruise this summer, so I passed this along to her. Thanks!
Linda (LD Holland)
There are many reasons why I would want to visit Skagway. But finding a long list of free things to do might make me want to stay longer. I love all the things you can see just wandering around the town. But we would definitely head out for some hikes. If we found some gold, it might help us enjoy some of the great food offerings in town.
Rose
I had a friend who rode her bike from Missouri to Alaska and then floated down the Yukon. She was such an adventurer – when I said I would have been afraid of the Yukon she said “It is just a river.” Since that time I have been fascinated about Alaska, and Skagway is certainly part of that.
Ryan K Biddulph
The Red Onion Saloon looks smashing Rhonda. Talk about old skool feel. Like a movie set from a Western. Inspired stuff. Your photos are always eye-popping!
Dave
About how far is it to the waterfalls from the Cruise ship ?
Rhonda Albom
Google maps show it as a bit over 2 miles from the port to the waterfalls.
Agness
Wow! The Ried waterfall seems breathtaking, Rhonda! Is it possible to swim there?
Rhonda Albom
I don’t know, but if it is allowed, I would imagine it is quite cold.
David @ Travelsewhere
Never heard of Skagway before, but Alaska has always intrigued me. That Skagway Visitor Center looks phenomenal, can’t believe it’s just driftwood. Alaska really does seem a great place to get in touch with nature.
Rhonda Albom
It’s not just driftwood, it is covered with driftwood. Sorry for the confusion.
shiju sugunan
Lovely pictures and useful tips. Hope to visit some day.
budget jan
I think your list of free things to do would keep us busy all day. I can’t see us paying for an expensive tour. I love the look of the country and those buildings are so cute they don’t look real!
Swati & Sam
The place seems to be amazing. The train looks stunning. I think, it would be fun to watch it in working condition. The waterfall looks beautiful.
Jenna
We went to Alaska this past winter for the first time and absolutely fell in love with it there! We didn’t go on a cruise or make it to Skagway, but we will definitely have to add it to our list for our next trip there! Sounds like a fantastic place. I would love to do some of the hiking in the area and Ried Waterfall looks beautiful!
Rhonda Albom
I am not sure I would want to go to Alaska in the winter. I am a summer girl.
Rob+Ann
That seems like a lot more than I would expect in Skagway! I think the history would be nice, but some of the scenery you can hike through is just amazing. That waterfall would be tops on our list. Thanks for opening our eyes!
Travelera
So many possibilities, they look amazing and all free, that’s great!
Hope you had a great weekend and all the best for this new week!
Rhonda Albom
All free or nearly free. We did pay a token amount for the brothel tour, but it was too unique to skip.
Tamara Elliott
Great write up- goes to show that there’s always something for everyone in each place, even if you don’t like doing the traditionally adventurous activities popular in an area. Skagway reminds me so much of the neighbouring Yukon!
Heather
I’m so happy I stumbled across your article. We’re hoping to do an Alaskan cruise next fall. We usually opt not to do the cruise ship excursions and rather explore the ports solo. This detailed guide is absolutely perfect and there’s more than enough to do to fill a full day. Excellent tip about the hiking trails and the free Ranger-led walking tour, two activities that would top my list. Hoping to have enough time to visit Skagway Brewing Company and try their Spruce Tip Ale! If not on a cruise, I can see wanting to spend a least a few days in Skagway.
eileen g
this is a great post. I’m sure lots of people pay for those more expensive excursions because they don’t know what else to do. This is very helpful and some of those things look fun and interesting.
Barbara
This place looks like a movie set of a western movie. I would love to go there and see the salmon run. I bet the salmon is delicious there.
Trisha Velarmino
I love the “Utilise the Free Wifi at the Library” hahaha. I need that! And yes, I love free tours or ways to explore. One must be aware that when you travel, you don’t have to always shell out a lot of money to explore the place!
Rhonda Albom
We needed the free wifi, we were on a cruise ship.
Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields
David and I drove to Skagway from Whitehorse. It was a last minute decision but we are so glad we did it. It is a fascinating town. Because we had a car we were able to reach the old gold mining town of Dyea, near the beginning of the Chilkoot Trail. There is almost nothing left of what was once a boom town but there are plenty of ghosts and lots of adtmosphere.
Jim ~ Reflections Enroute
Skagway is also a stop on the Alaska ferry system. It’s definitely good for a few hours before hitting the road north. #wkendtravelinspiration
sara | belly rumbles
Wow Skagway looks like an interesting little town to visit. That ice cutting train looks pretty fierce. A visit to the red onion seems a must do. Can’t believe there were over 70 brothels back in the good old gold rush days!
Sharon
What a fun place to visit! I love that old cemetery especially. And the train! I’ve wanted to go to Alaska but I’m not a fan of cruises. I would enjoy this land-based Alaskan adventure!
Miranda
Love tips of free activities! Hiking and seeing the waterfall is definitely my cup of tea!
Kelly & Dusty
Oh, this looks absolutely up our alley! Love your pictures.
April Berry
My family and I love finding free stuff to see and do on our travels. Alaska is definitely on our travel wishlist… although it is probably a few years down the road yet. Thanks for sharing your experiences! I enjoyed hearing about your adventures and seeing the pictures. A brothel tour? Now, that is a different tourist experience!
Keri | Ladies What Travel
I’d never heard of Skagway before but it looks cool! The ice train is amazing! My friend is going to Alaska for her main holiday this year so I’ll be sending this post to her!
Paul F. Pietrangelo
Hi Rhonda. Since I’ve been looking at John Heald’s videos about The Legends cruise to Alaska, I’ve been thinking about a cruise to Alaska. It’s just the cold I’m not sure. I always think about a cruise with sunshine and heat. We’ll see. If I did, I would take the train excursion myself. I really enjoyed you blog about Skagway. See ya my friend.
Cruisin Paul
Rhonda Albom
It’s not that cold in the summer, it’s just not hot.
Lauren Bonheim
What great free things to do in a place known for being expensive! That train looks so intense. I’d definitely want to go see that! 😀
Harmony, Momma To Go
I would love to get to Alaska I’d love to cruise there!
Leanne
Wow, Now that’s another world! Not sure this little Aussie will ever get to Alaska, but your photos are definitely gorgeous enough to whet the appetite.
Nancie
What a fun day! There seems to be a little bit of everything in Skagway. I love the visitor’s center and the snow train.
Lexa Cain
The Skagway Visitor’s Center is awesome with it’s 8000 driftwood pieces! I really enjoyed your pics though I shudder to think about the diseases running through that town when there were 15k men and only a few, very busy prostitutes in the Red Onion. Yikes!
Rhonda Albom
The visitor center is much more impressive live than in photos. As for the girls, there were 70 brothels in the prime of the gold rush.
Peter Korchnak
Free is a good price! Skagqay looks like one of those sleepy little towns that gets run over by cruise ship crowds every once in a while – in and of itself a great free thing to watch (did that in Fira, Santorini). That snow/ice cutter on the train looks badass, like something out of Snowpiercer.
Amanda
That ice train looks amazing – I never knew such a thing existed!!! Thanks for all the great tips. I will get to Alaska one day!!!
Megan Indoe
I’ve always wanted to go to Alaska, and I am sure we will in the near future! I love how much character Skagway has! From the western store fronts to that crazy looking ice cutting train! I never heard of such a thing but it sort of looks like some crazy movie prop! Also, the view of the mountains is also a huge bonus! Great to know that there are so many free things to do as well!
Claudia
so many great suggestions you have. I am especially interested in the hikes! I am saving the hike to Dewey Lake 🙂
Jessica @ Independent Travel Cats
Wow that visitor center is amazing! Sounds like there is a lot to do in the town – definitely a place we’d like to stop whenever we get to Alaska.
Rhonda Albom
There is plenty to do in Skagway. I would love to go back someday.
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Hi Rhonda … don’t blame you for missing out on the $ tour bits … much more interesting to go off the beaten track … those rail springs are fascinating, as too the rushing waterfall … and then the cemetery … sad but always interesting to spend time in … looks a good place to walk around … cheers Hilary
Marvin
Nice post about Skagway! When we visited we took the train to the Yukon and then wandered the streets looking for geocaches and interesting stuff. Would have loved to have had this guide then!
Rhonda Albom
We geocache at home frequently, but we never think to do it when we travel. Fun idea.
beatravelling
Alaska is definitely on my US tour, which is coming up someday 🙂
Joanne Tracey
Not only hadn’t I heard of Skagway, but I also hadn’t heard of Lightroom. Off to google both!
L. Diane Wolfe
What a variety. I love the snow cutting train. I think the hiking trails and waterfall would beckon me.
Sandee
Have some friends that just moved to Alaska. I’ll miss them, but they love it there. Avid fishermen the both of them.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Melanie
LOVE this post!! Alaska is super high up on our bucket list (fingers crossed for sometime within the next year), so this is SUPER helpful! That hike looks awesome and had me sold at cemetery and waterfalls! Thank you!
Jill
We spent three days in little Skagway – we took the train, watched the movie at the Historical Park, and a spent an entire rainy afternoon at the Skagway Brewing Company. At first, we were quite taken aback by how small it was and didn’t think we would be able to keep busy for our stay but it grew on us and it was one of my favorite stops on our ferry tour of Alaska.
Rhonda Albom
I would love to have spent more time in Skagway. It does feel as though there would be more than enough to do for days, so I am glad you confirmed this.
bettyl - NZ
Thanks for the great tour! I’m not sure I will ever get there but I will definitely keep your post in mind 🙂
Anna
Looks like a very interesting place! I’ve never been to Alaska and I’d love to visit Klondike!
As for the ice cutter it reminds me of the machines they use to dig tunnels so I guess the ice is super thick!
Tanja (the Red phone box travels)
I wish I could visit it. looks great! I haven’t heard of a snow train:)
Rhonda Albom
I don’t think that type of train is still in use. They found that a plow on the front of the train is actually more efficient.
Mary {The World Is A Book}
We stopped in Skagway during our cruise and did the White Pass Railroad excursion. It was beautiful. This meant we didn’t have enough time to fully explore the town other than walking around and shopping. We’d love to return and explore this beautiful area one day soon.
Stefani
I love Skagway! It was my favorite out of all the places we visited in Alaska. We spent our time there touring the town (including the resident campground where our tour guide lived) and drove up to the Canadian border to see the one and only Welcome to Alaska sign. I hope to return again someday.
Steve Simon
Love the photos and scenery, the bit about the innuendo cracked me up LOL
Rhonda Albom
There was a lot of innuendoes. So many that I wondered if we should have brought our tween and teen on this tour.
Tonya {The Traveling Praters}
I loved Skagway! If I could have stayed in that port throughout our entire cruise, I would have. All other ports paled in comparison. My family hiked to the cemetery, back to town and to Yakutania Point- which was incredibly beautiful. We walked back just in time to see the seals arriving with the tide to feast on the salmon.
Freya
It looks so beautiful over there, lovely photos. Great tips as well, I for sure hope to visit one day.
Joyce
Beautiful scenery. I’m glad you had fun.
Andrew
What’s on the front of that train? Was it used to clear snow on the tracks?