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Skagway, Alaska Port Review
Skagway On Your Own Shore Excursion
By: Tom Ogg
Cruising Tracy Arm on the Way to Skagway
Overview
Downtown Skagway and Cruise
Ship
Skagway,
the gateway to the Yukon still has that wild west feel to
it. As the staging area for gold prospectors to enter the
Klondike, Skagway's colorful past is alive and well in this
quaint little town at the top of the Lynn Canal. With wooden
sidewalks, false fronted buildings and posts to tie your
horse up to, Skagway is a unique port indeed. As with the
other ports on an Alaskan cruise, the weather can be
unpredictable. Plan for misty rain and cold, but also be
prepared for bright sunshine and hot too. Dress in layers
and you will be ready for whatever you run into.
Cruise Port Location and
Information
Docked at the Pier in
Skagway
Ships dock
alongside the Lynn Canal just south of the city of Skagway.
Docked in Skagway's
Downtown Piers
Some ships will also dock at the piers on the other side of
the canal right by town where all of the smaller ships
(Cruise West) also dock. In 2008, the city of Skagway
introduced a brand new walkway that leads from the ships
into town along the water and inner harbor.
The New Harbor Front
Walkway into Skagway
This new
harbor front walkway eliminates the need to dodge cars,
trucks and buses, as one used to have to do when walking
along the road into town before the walkway. It is about a
ten-minute walk from your ship into the beginning of
Skagway.
The Pond and Stream One
Passes Before Entering Skagway
The walk
into town is beautiful, as you pass the small boat harbor
and then the pond and creek.
Salmon Spawning in the
Skagway Creek
When the salmon are running,
you can see thousands of them in the small creek that feeds
this pond.
Exploring On Your Own
Downtown Skagway
Skagway is
easily done on your own. You will find everything within
easy walking distance and there are also many local tour
operators that are selling local tours and sightseeing
events.
Skagway's Visitor Center
and Museum
The Visitor Center is right downtown and offers a
small museum and lots of information on what to do in
Skagway. Practically all of the shore excursions offered by
the ship are also available for local purchase, so making
advance arrangements may not be necessary in this port.
Shopping Tips
Shopping on Broadway
Skagway offers 6 full
blocks of shopping opportunities on Broadway, the main
street in Skagway.
Skagway Furs
You will find everything
for sale here from furs and jewelry to trinkets and
souvenirs.
The Alaska Tee Shirt Company
and White Pass Railroad Cars
Of course
there is the obligatory tee shirt discounter in Skagway. You
can load up on tons of stuff to take home to the folks that
didn't come on the cruise with you.
Shopping for Trinkets in
Skagway
You will find excellent
buys on local art, jewelry, gold items and lots more.
The Starbucks is Located in
the Building With The Green Awning
Also,
if you are a Starbucks addict, there is a Starbucks directly
across the street from the train station.
Downtown Skagway Shopping
by Horse and Carriage
Note that on the
last two cruises of the season (September) most of the
stores try to clear out their inventory and discounts are
generous and plentiful.
Just One of Skagway's
Jewelry Stores
I am not
sure how it happened, but Skagway is full of jewelry stores
selling everything imaginable. There is even a Diamonds
International and Tanzanite International. One would think
you were in St. Thomas.
One of Skagway's Dinky
Stores
You will
see some completely unique shops on Skagway's side streets.
This store couldn't have been more than 160 square feet.
Another Small Shopping
Opportunity
It is hard
to believe that a shop of this size can actually make money,
but their products are unique enough that they do. Be sure
to explore the side streets for these unique shops.
Port Highlights
The White Pass and Yukon
Railroad
The White Pass and Yukon Route
Railroad was created in the late 1800s to take prospectors
up the White Pass Trail from Skagway to White Horse in the
Yukon. This steep trail was difficult to traverse for
prospectors who had to carry several hundred pounds of
provision in order to be allowed to continue into the Yukon.
As you make your way up the pass it is hard to imagine
prospectors carrying heavy packs to the top. It is indeed
rugged.
The White Pass and Yukon
Route Train Station in Skagway
The White Pass and Yukon train
station is located right as you enter Skagway. You can book
passage on the train either on your ship, or in the train
terminal as seen above. It is the same price either way.
The White Pass and Yukon
Route Train
The train leaves Skagway and
then makes its way up the White Pass trail. At times the
train seems to be hanging onto cliffs by a thread and the
ride is very exciting. You will go through some very
interesting country and the views are exceptional. Hint: sit
on the left side of the train o the way up and the right
side of the train on the way down. Some of the trains will
pick you up at the ship if you book it through the cruise
line.
Taking a Helicopter Tour
Several helicopter tours are
available if you would like to explore the sights around
Skagway. Be sure that the weather is agreeable to you before
you fly however.
Skagway River
If you like to walk, don't
miss the opportunity to see some of Skagway's more
interesting sights. Simply head east on Broadway and then
cut over a street when necessary until you hit the road that
leads towards the Yukon out of Skagway. You will pass the
train yard on your right and then walk over the Skagway
River bridge before you come to Jewel Gardens.
Jewel Gardens
This place is advertised as a
"must see", however, I wouldn't pay the entrance fee of $12
(2008) much less 1/4 of the price to gain entrance. This is
a hokey attraction that you will regret paying for. However,
you can look over the fence and see just about everything
that you would pay to see and it is worth that.
The Skagway Cemetery
Returning back over the
Skagway River Bridge to the train yard, you will see a sign
that indicates the Skagway cemetery is down the dirt road on
your left. This is well worth the time it takes to walk to,
as much of Skagway's colorful past is captured here. Note
that many of the local tours make their way out to the
cemetery, but part of the joy of visiting it is walking
through the forest on the way.
Soapy Smith's Gravesite
One of the grave sites in the
cemetery is for Skagway legend Soapy Smith. Local stories
portray Soapy as a gambling outlaw who stole from miners,
constantly shot people in gun fights and was a general
nuisance to life in Skagway in general before he was shot to
death and subsequently buried here.
Reid Falls
Further up the trail past the
grave yard (you will see a sign in the cemetery) lies Reid
Falls. This is well worth seeing and the 5-minute walk
through the forest is also very enjoyable.
Skagway Museum
Of interest to history buffs
is the Skagway Museum. This museum focuses on the history of
Skagway and a lot of remnants from the prospecting days are
preserved here. Note that the tourism office is also located
in this building
A Skagway Street Car Tour
If you would like to
familiarize yourself with Skagway before focusing on the
things you would like to do, one of the local city tours is
well worth the small investment. These are fun and loaded
with local color.
The Skagway City Museum and
City Hall
Your ship will offer dozens of
shore excursions here, but you can purchase just about all
of them locally and not be traveling by the busload.
Off the Beaten Path
Lower Dewey Lake
For an easy
to moderate hike in the mountains surrounding Skagway stop
at the visitor's center and pick up a hiking map. There are
several trails available for folks to hike, but the one I
can recommend is the trail to Lower Dewey Lake. It is
located up and over the mountain from where the ships dock
on the Lynn Canal and as soon as you cross the ridge and
drop into the valley where this lake is located, you would
think that you are 1,000 miles from civilization.
Hiking Trails Entrance
If you
follow the train tracks up from the road right before you
enter town, you will see a bridge that crosses the creek
about 200 yards from the road. You will also see a trail
that takes off to the right and a box with hiking trail maps
in it. This is the entrance to the various trails. Be sure
to grab a map just in case you get temporarily lost on the
trail.
Lower Dewey Lake Trail
Entrance
About 100
yards up the trail, you will see the entrance to the Lower
Dewey Lake trail. Simply go down the stairs, under the water
pipes (that provide Skagway's water supply from Lower Dewey
Lake) and follow the trail up the mountain. Note that the
trail is quite steep in some places, so take your time going
up. Once you are on top of the ridge, Lower Dewey Lake is
just ahead. It is simply peaceful and beautiful.
Dining & Drinking
Suggestions
The Red Onion Saloon
The Red
Onion Saloon celebrates its past as a bordello. One can
enjoy some Alaskan Amber, lunch and then tour the old
bordello if one chooses. The waitresses are dressed as old
time hookers and there is a piano player playing honky-tonk
music.
The Red Onion Interior
This place is worth a look when you get thirsty. It
is very popular with the cruise crowd, so try to avoid it at
lunch time.
The Skagway Fish Company
The Skagway
Fish Company is located right along side the pathway from
the ships on the way into town. This is a great restaurant
patronized by the locals and it is an excellent place to
dine. If you are going to have lunch or dinner in Skagway,
this is the place.
The Skagway Fish Company
Bar and Restaurant
There is also an excellent bar too and
evening time finds the place very busy. To see exactly where
it is located, check out the picture of the walkway near the
top of this page. It was taken on the water side of the
restaurant.
The Bonanza Bar and Grill
The
Bonanza Bar and Grill is on Broadway and came highly
recommended by locals as an excellent place to dine.
The Bar at the Bonanza Bar
and Grill
We chose to
dine here and had a wonderful meal. I would highly recommend
the halibut and chips. The Alaskan Amber is served ice cold.
“Must Do” List
The White Pass and Yukon
Train Enters the Main Track
I would say
that a trip on the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is a
"must do" Not only is the scenery gorgeous, but the narrow
gauge railway simply hangs on the side of high cliffs to the
amazement of its passengers. It is well worth the price tag
to ride it.
Your ship
will offer several variations of this trip and the best one
is where you ride the train up to White Horse and then
return by motor coach or other means.
Reader
Port Reviews
(Please Click the Review you'd like to read)
JeannineCantin, Great Overview of
Skagway
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