Skagway was built in a hurry. During the Klondike Gold Rush, it exploded from a muddy tent city to a major supply hub almost overnight. Thousands of stampeders passed through on their way to the Yukon, and the town still wears that history. The streets are laid out like they were expecting more boom times. The buildings lean into the frontier look because they don’t have to pretend.

Today, Skagway cruises deliver you to a port with real historical weight and sharp natural contrast. Mountains rise fast behind the docks, and glaciers aren’t far off. For many guests on Alaska cruise itineraries, this stop offers the best mix of story and scenery — and a lot of ways to experience both.

Key takeaways

Skagway, Alaska, excursions center on Gold Rush history, iconic rail journeys and access to dramatic mountain scenery.

The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad is the core experience and a defining highlight of Skagway.

Excursions range from scenic and cultural to active and adventure-focused.

Many tours combine rail, road and historic sites for broader regional access.

Princess® Cruises offers curated excursions designed to maximize time ashore in Skagway.

Iconic rail experiences in Skagway

The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad was blasted directly into the mountains in the late 1890s, and it’s still in use (for historic sight-seeing, not gold prospecting). Skagway built itself around this railway; its narrow-gauge tracks run along cliffs and through tunnels carved to provide fast access to those places where gold was most likely to be found. Today, a lot of Alaska excursions use it as a foundation. And while the Alaska Gold Rush may not have had many ‘winners,’ modern guests who ride the rail enjoy an undeniably rich experience.

1. Ride the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Excursion: White Pass Scenic Railway. 

This 40-mile round trip climbs nearly 3,000 feet from sea level, with views of waterfalls, deep gorges and old trestles. The train cars are restored to match their Gold Rush-era design, and guides narrate key points as you climb toward the White Pass Summit. It’s one of the most popular excursions in Skagway, Alaska, and works well if you’re looking for a slower-paced scenic ride.

A green and yellow locomotive pulls classic passenger cars along a mountainside blanketed in pink wildflowers with rugged peaks rising in the background.
All aboard in Skagway as the scenic railway curves through vibrant wildflowers and alpine slopes.

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2. Upgrade to premium rail seating and narration

Excursion: White Pass Scenic Railway - Luxury Class

The same excursion but even more comfortable. Luxury Class seating includes leather chairs, light refreshments and access to a larger outdoor viewing platform. Guides provide more personal narration, and the car holds fewer guests (meaning no one has to jostle to capture the perfect picture). This option suits travelers who want extra comfort or better photography access.

A historic passenger train curves along a rocky mountainside at sunset with dramatic clouds and snowcapped peaks in the distance.
Chase golden hour in Skagway as a vintage railway rolls beneath towering peaks and glowing clouds.

3. Combine rail travel with Yukon scenery

Excursion: Yukon Expedition & White Pass Scenic Railway

This trip likewise covers the same rail segment but adds a drive overland into Canada. Stops include alpine lakes, the Tormented Valley and Wild Adventure Yukon — with time to explore a petting zoo and museum. This tour provides more regional variety and a chance to see Klondike routes from both land and rail.

A green and yellow locomotive pulls vintage railcars along a rocky mountain pass with steep cliffs and snowcapped peaks in the background.
Climb toward White Pass Summit as the Skagway train hugs dramatic cliffs and snow-dusted peaks.

Gold Rush history and historic Skagway

Skagway is compact, walkable and packed with actual frontier history. Some of the same buildings from 1898 still stand. These excursions go deeper into the stories behind them.

4. Explore Skagway’s past with local storytellers

Excursion: Local Connections: Skagway Street Car City Tour with Storyteller

The Skagway Street Car City Tour uses vintage-style buses and guides in period dress to cover major landmarks around town. Stops include the Gold Rush Cemetery, residential neighborhoods and historic overlooks. This tour is good for guests who want cultural context with minimal walking.

A bright yellow historic street car drives down a main street lined with colorful wooden buildings and mountains in the background.
Cruise through downtown Skagway aboard a vintage yellow street car.

5. Experience Gold Rush legends and folklore

Excursion: Local Connections: Ghosts & Goodtime Girls Walking Tour Created by Madam Jan

This walking tour focuses on the rougher side of Skagway’s past. Guides in costume lead you through former red-light districts, ‘haunted’ buildings and the saloon once run by a local madam. It ends inside the Red Onion Saloon’s upstairs brothel museum. This one is best for guests who like character-driven history and don’t mind a little edge… or having to explain to their kids what a ‘madam’ is.

A quiet street in Skagway lined with pastel wooden buildings, American and Alaska flags and mountains rising in the background.
Stroll through downtown Skagway where colorful storefronts line the historic streets.

Scenic drives and cross-border views

If you prefer views from a vehicle rather than a train car, these excursions take you out on the Klondike Highway. The route climbs past waterfalls and mountain lakes toward the Canadian border, often using the same general corridors that the stampeders once favored.

6. Travel the Klondike Highway to the summit

Excursion: To the Klondike Summit

This short-format tour follows the highway up to the White Pass Summit. Guides point out Gold Rush-era trails and natural landmarks along the way, including Pitchfork Falls and Moore Bridge. The minibus format allows for more flexibility and photo stops.

A two-lane highway stretches through dense evergreen forest toward a towering mountain with patches of snow under a clear blue sky.
Hit the open road on the Klondike Highway with snowcapped peaks rising ahead.

7. Visit the Yukon and the suspension bridge

Excursion: Experience the Yukon & Suspension Bridge

This longer tour crosses into Canada and stops at the Yukon Suspension Bridge. The walk across spans the Tutshi River, high above the water (we’d tell you not to look down but what good would that do?). Other stops include Wild Adventure Yukon and the town of Carcross. The tour blends road access with light activity and local interpretation.

Visitors walk across a long suspension bridge spanning a rocky canyon with a turquoise river flowing below and dense evergreen forest surrounding the cliffs.
Cross the Yukon Suspension Bridge for heart-pounding views above rushing glacial waters.

8. Pair scenic travel with regional cuisine

Excursion: Klondike Summit, Suspension Bridge & Salmon Bake

This version of the suspension bridge tour includes a stop for a salmon bake at Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp. You can explore the replica tent city and try local flavors before returning by road. It’s a good option for anyone who knows that adventure works up a bear-worthy appetite.

A canvas tent labeled Press sits among tall trees with a wooden chair and rustic furnishings inside, recreating a historic Gold Rush campsite.
Step back to Gold Rush days at Liarsville Trail Camp in Skagway.

Adventure and outdoor activities

For guests who want more movement — or more adrenaline — these excursions cover active ways to experience Skagway’s rainforest and coastal terrain.

9. Zipline through rainforest landscapes

Excursion: Grizzly Falls Ziplining Expedition

This tour begins with a drive to Grizzly Falls, then transitions to an off-road vehicle before reaching the mountaintop course. Suit up for ten ziplines and several suspension bridges, and prepare to fly over a dream landscape of forest and waterfalls. This is one of the most active excursions in Skagway, Alaska (and don’t fret: safety gear is included).

A group of helmeted visitors stands on a wooden platform built into a forested cliff with zipline cables stretching out over dense green trees.
Gear up and soar through the treetops on a Skagway zipline adventure.

10. Combine aerial bridges and ziplines

Excursion: Adventure Park & Ziplines

What’s more exciting than a zipline? How about a zipline preceded by a ropes course? At the adventure park outside town, you get to navigate balance beams, loops and raised platforms — followed by the rush of zipline segments. It works well for families or groups.

A helmeted participant wearing a harness navigates a ropes course attached to cables and wooden beams surrounded by tall trees.
Clip in and conquer Skagway’s adventure park high above the forest floor.

11. Explore coastal waters by raft

Excursion: Ocean Raft Adventure

Skip across the water like salmon heading upstream. The Ocean Raft Adventure puts guests in dry suits aboard a fast, open inflatable vessel. The tour hugs the coastline of the Lynn Canal and offers close-up views of waterfalls, cliffs and marine life (seals, sea birds and the occasional whale are possible sightings). It’s a small-group experience that stays low to the water and moves quickly between stops.

A small motorized raft carrying passengers in orange life jackets speeds across calm water near steep rocky shoreline covered with trees.
Feel the spray on a Skagway ocean raft adventure racing past rugged coastal cliffs.

Lakes, trails and glacier adventures

Skagway’s surroundings reward a closer look, whether you’re paddling a mountain-framed lake, following a trail toward a glacier or exploring by helicopter and bicycle. These excursions offer different ways to experience the region’s water, ice and rainforest.

12. Paddle through mountain scenery on Chilkoot Lake

Excursion: Chilkoot Lake Kayak Experience

Take a scenic ferry ride to Haines, then head onto Chilkoot Lake with professional kayak guides. A safety briefing and an introduction to paddling help you settle into a stable kayak before exploring the mountain-framed water. Watch for bald eagles, waterfowl and other wildlife along the shore, with sightings always left to nature. No kayaking experience is necessary, though paddling makes this an active outing. It’s a way to slow down and see Alaska at water level, one paddle stroke at a time.

A white kayak bow points forward across a calm, glassy lake. Forested mountains rise on both sides, partially covered by low clouds and mist. The water reflects the overcast sky, creating a serene, cool-toned scene. The perspective from the kayak suggests quiet outdoor adventure and peaceful exploration.
Explore Chilkoot Lake by kayak, surrounded by forested mountains and calm water.

13. Hike toward Laughton Glacier with rail access

Excursion: Laughton Glacier Hike & White Pass Rail Adventure

Ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to Glacier Station, then trade your train seat for a hiking trail. Guides lead a strenuous 6- to 8-mile round-trip trek along the Skagway River, through subalpine rainforest and over rocky terrain toward Laughton Glacier. The landscape changes as you climb, with sweeping views near the ice and a train ride back to Skagway afterward. Plan for a full day and plenty of time on your feet: this adventure is built around the hike.

A vintage train rounds a rocky mountain curve with snow-streaked peaks and low clouds rising behind the White Pass Summit in Alaska.
A White Pass train winds through rugged mountain scenery near Skagway.

14. Fly to remote glacial terrain

Excursion: Glacier Discovery by Helicopter

Cars, trains and buses are great and all, but if you want the eagles’ eye view of the Great Land, you’ve got to take to the skies. Helicopter tours depart from the waterfront and fly over mountains and glaciers before landing on one of several icefields. Once landed, you’ll take a short walk with guides to learn about the glacier environment. The landing zones vary by weather, but the views from the air and on the ice are consistent highlights.

View from inside a helicopter as a passenger looks out at a vast blue glacier and snow-covered mountain peaks near Skagway, Alaska.
Soar above Alaska’s icy wilderness on a Skagway helicopter tour.

15. Cycle through the temperate rainforest

Excursion: Rainforest Bicycle Tour

Work off some of those cruise calories. This guided bike tour starts inland near Dyea and follows flat terrain through forest and tidal flats. Guides point out wildlife and historic sites, including the Chilkoot Trailhead. The route is about five miles and includes frequent stops. It’s a fun and healthy way to see the landscape up close.

A cyclist wearing a helmet rides along a gravel trail through a dense forest near Skagway, Alaska with mountains in the distance.
Pedal deep into the wild on a scenic Skagway bicycle tour.

Planning Skagway, Alaska excursions on a cruise

Skagway is a key port on many Alaska cruise itineraries, and that means excursions often fill up fast. In every case, booking early increases your chances of getting preferred times and formats. 

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your time ashore:

  • If you’re interested in a rail excursion, book it as early as possible (they tend to be the most popular)
  • Book helicopter tours with flexibility in mind, since flights can be canceled due to weather
  • Pack a valid passport if your excursion crosses into Canada
  • Dress in layers so you’re ready for temperature swings, including wind and rain
  • Consider a backup excursion if your top choice is weather-dependent
  • Check the excursion duration — many return with time to explore the town on foot
Aerial view of Skagway, Alaska featuring a marina filled with boats, waterfront docks and forested mountains rising in the background.
Discover Skagway’s scenic harbor framed by towering Alaska peaks.

Plan your Skagway experience with Princess

Yes, Skagway was built in a hurry. But when you visit with Princess® Cruises, you don’t have to rush it. Princess offers curated experiences that make smart use of limited port time without feeling crammed or chaotic. And whether you're drawn to history, heights, hiking or a little bit of everything, these Alaska shore excursions are built to match how you like to take it all in. You’ll cover more ground, hear better stories and leave with a sharper sense of the land and culture that make Alaska so unique.

The Majestic Princess cruise ship sailing in Skagway National Historic Park, surrounded by scenic Alaska mountains and lush greenery.
The Majestic Princess sailing in Skagway National Historic Park, offering breathtaking views of Alaska’s rugged landscapes and rich history.
Princess® Cruises has the best excursions to visit Skagway, Alaska

Skagway, Alaska excursions FAQs