Skagway is a time capsule — a gold rush boomtown that mushroomed to 20,000 people in 1898 when the Klondike Gold Rush drew prospectors from across the world, and collapsed nearly as fast when the rush ended. What remains is a National Historic Landmark district of preserved Victorian buildings, the stories of the tens of thousands of men who struggled over the mountain passes to the Yukon, and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway — one of the most dramatic narrow-gauge railways ever built, still operating and still extraordinary.
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway was built in 1898–1900 to carry prospectors and supplies over the Coast Mountains to the Yukon goldfields. It climbs nearly 3,000 feet in 20 miles, clinging to cliff faces, crossing over gorges on trestle bridges, and passing through tunnels blasted from solid granite. The views from the train window — of the Lynn Canal far below, of the steep mountain faces, of the Dead Horse Gulch where horses by the thousands perished carrying goods over the pass — are genuinely breathtaking. This is one of the most extraordinary railway experiences in North America and VV Shore Things rates it as one of the top-priority Alaska excursions.
The Historic District
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park encompasses Skagway’s historic downtown — four blocks of Victorian commercial buildings on Broadway Street that look almost exactly as they did in 1898. The Park Service runs excellent interpretive programs in several of the buildings. The Skagway Museum in the McCabe College building has the most comprehensive collection of gold rush artifacts. The Days of 1898 Show — a slightly campy but genuine piece of Skagway tradition — performs the saloon entertainment of the rush era.
Hiking the Chilkoot Trail
The Chilkoot Pass was the most famous route of the Klondike Gold Rush — the trail the prospectors climbed to reach the Yukon. The Canadian border is at the summit. A guided Chilkoot Trail hike from Skagway reaches the lower portions of the trail with views of the pass and the historic aerial tram ruins still visible on the cliffs above. The full trail is a multi-day backcountry experience; VV Shore Things offers guided day hike versions of the lower sections.
Glacier Point Wilderness Safari
Accessible by boat from Skagway, the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari takes small groups to a remote wilderness camp for a combination of kayaking in glacial waters, hiking through old-growth forest, and wildlife watching. This is one of the most genuine Alaskan wilderness experiences accessible from any VV port and is significantly less well-known than the railway.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- The White Pass Railway is the definitive Skagway Shore Thing. Book the train immediately when Shore Things open. It is the most popular experience in Skagway and sells out weeks before sailing.
- The Yukon excursion extends the railway to Carcross. Some Shore Things extend the train journey all the way to Carcross in the Yukon — one of the most remote communities accessible from any VV port. The extra time is worth it.
- Skagway rewards the walker. The historic downtown is small and entirely walkable from the dock. After the railway, walk Broadway Street and spend an hour in the NPS visitor center before returning to the ship.
Ready to Ride the White Pass?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway from Skagway is one of the most memorable experiences in the VV Alaska network.
Book your Virgin Voyages cruise at CruisePlanner.pro — and ride the train that conquered the mountains
