Skagway Excursion Guide

Skagway is one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in Southeast Alaska. This historic town is full of reminders of its Klondike Gold Rush past, from its old storefronts to the colorful buildings and characters you'll find around downtown. The following are excursions I have personally experienced and would be happy to recommend.

Skagway White Pass Railroad Summit Excursion & Train Tour

This is my go-to tour for people visiting Skagway for the first time. It’s easy to see why the White Pass train is so popular. The scenic ride up toward White Pass is a relaxing way to see the mountains and enjoy the scenery without having to worry about driving.

Along the way, the narration shares stories about the Gold Rush and points out the mile markers and other sights, which gives you a better sense of what the journey was like during that time. I also enjoyed the slower pace of the train ride. I’m someone who likes to sit back and gaze out the windows, so this was right up my alley. And if you're like me and become a merchandise shopaholic, you can pick up one of the hats they sell on the train.

Grizzly Falls Ziplining Adventure

If you’re traveling with a group of adults or older kids and want something more active, I would recommend this ziplining excursion. One of the parts I remember most was the off-road Mercedes Unimog ride to the ziplining site. It was a fun way to start the adventure.

Once you arrive, the staff gets you geared up and gives you time to practice riding and braking before heading out on the course. After that, you’ll zip over waterfalls and cross suspension bridges while taking in the surrounding scenery. Between the Unimog ride, the views, and the zip lines themselves, I thought it was a really fun way to spend a few hours in Skagway.

Skagway Glacier Helicopter Tour

As someone who works in the Alaska tourism industry and has been on several glacier helicopter tours, I found this tour to be one of the most convenient ways to get onto a glacier. The helicopter base is right next to the cruise ship docks and within walking distance, so I didn’t have to spend much of my limited vacation time traveling by road.

The ride to the glacier was beautiful. From the air, I could see Haines surrounded by valleys and mountains, which was something I really enjoyed seeing from that perspective. When we landed on the glacier, I was surprised by how much there was to look at. The glacial ice and the different features of the landscape were impressive up close.

We had about 40 minutes to walk around on the glacier, which gave me plenty of time to take photos and really take it all in without feeling rushed. Pro tip: don't forget to ask if you can try the glacial water. I forgot my water bottle but my tastebuds still remember the experience.

Skagway Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Adventure

If you’re interested in trying dog sledding in Alaska, this is an excursion I enjoyed. It was actually the first dog sledding tour I went on in Alaska, so I still remember how excited I was to meet the dogs and go for a ride.

The dogs have a lot of energy when you first meet them, and it was fun to see how eager they were to get going. Each dog has its own personality and its own place on the team. After the ride, the mushers introduce you to the dogs and explain more about dog sledding and their experiences working with them.

I also enjoyed the presentation because it gave me a better understanding of the role dog mushing has played in Alaska. Make sure to leave yourself a little extra time at the end to meet and pet the puppies and look around the souvenir area. I definitely spent some time doing both!

By Minji | Alaska Shore Excursions

Minji is the Digital Marketing Manager at Alaska Shore Excursions and has been with the company for 9 cruise seasons. During that time, she’s had the opportunity to experience many of the excursions she writes about and work closely with both guests and local tour operators. She’s taken two Alaska cruises and has traveled to Alaska several times by air. After spending so much time there, Alaska has become a second home to her.