A Gold Rush boomtown frozen in 1898 — ships dock steps from a National Historic Landmark where narrow-gauge railways, mountain trails, and Klondike saloons fill one of Alaska's longest shore days.
⚓ All ships dock downtown (no tender)🕒 Typical call: 7–10 hrs💵 US Dollar (USD)🗣️ English🚂 Iconic White Pass Railroad excursion
Docking
Broadway, Ore, or Railroad Dock — all downtown
Walk to center
2–15 min depending on berth
Best For
History · Railroad · Hiking · Flightseeing
Don't Miss
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
📄 Take this port with you
A printable port guide — key info, things to do & tips. Includes an editable “My Day in Port” box for your ship times & booked excursions.
Skagway has four downtown docks — Broadway, Ore, Railroad Forward, and Railroad Aft — all within a flat 15-minute walk of the historic district. No tendering required.
Docking & getting around
1
Broadway & Ore Docks — walk off into townShips at Broadway Dock step directly onto the National Historic Landmark district — the NPS Visitor Center is 2 minutes away. The Ore Dock is equally central. Both are an easy flat stroll to all of Broadway's attractions.
2
Railroad Dock — short shuttle may be requiredThe Railroad Dock (Forward and Aft) sits about 0.75 miles south of downtown. A November 2024 rockslide damaged nearby infrastructure; until repairs are complete, cruise lines may run a complimentary shuttle from gangway to Congress Way near town. Check your ship's daily program. The walk is flat and takes 10–15 min on foot.
3
SMART Bus and on-foot navigationSkagway's municipal SMART Bus runs a Dock-to-Downtown loop whenever ships are in port (7 AM–9 PM). Fare is $3 one-way or $5 all-day. The entire historic district is a compact flat grid — walking is genuinely the best way to explore it.
4
Rail, van, and flightseeing excursions depart nearbyThe White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad depot is on 2nd Avenue near the docks, and on-dock rail service is available at some berths. For the Chilkoot trailhead or the ghost town of Dyea (9 miles north), book a tour van or taxi — both easy to arrange dockside.
💡 Pro move: Up to four ships can be in port simultaneously in peak season. Broadway gets crowded by mid-morning; start with trails or the cemetery, then do the shops after lunch.
Piers & Tendering by Cruise Line
All cruise ships dock at one of four downtown piers — no tendering. Ships at the Railroad Dock (furthest berth) may use a complimentary shuttle due to ongoing rockslide mitigation work near the dock.
The White Pass train is the marquee experience, but Skagway delivers strong hiking, Gold Rush history, glacier flightseeing, dog sledding, and a famous downhill bike run — plenty to fill an 8–10 hour call.
Iconic
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
The narrow-gauge railway that hauled stampeders in 1898 — now an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The 3-hour round trip to White Pass Summit (2,888 ft) delivers cliff-edge trestles, Bridal Veil Falls, and panoramic views of the White Pass corridor. No passport required for the summit excursion (stays in US territory). Longer options to Fraser BC or Carcross YT require a valid passport.
⏱ 3 hrs round-trip🚂 Seated excursion📷 Iconic views🛂 No passport for summit
Skagway's entire downtown is a free NPS unit. The Visitor Center on Broadway covers the 1897–98 stampede in depth; ranger-led walking tours depart daily. The Mascot Saloon Museum (NPS) preserves an authentic Gold Rush-era bar right on Broadway. Gold Rush Cemetery with Soapy Smith's grave and nearby Reid Falls are a 1.5-mile flat walk from the dock.
Ride the bus or train up to the White Pass Summit, then freewheel 15 miles downhill back to Skagway on the historic South Klondike Highway. Mostly downhill with fjord and valley views the whole way. Guided tours include bikes, helmets, and a safety briefing — one of Skagway's best-value excursions.
The legendary 33-mile Chilkoot Pass trail — called the world's longest outdoor museum — starts 9 miles from town at Dyea. Day visitors hike the lower few miles through rainforest past early Gold Rush artifacts and turn back well before the first campsite. A taxi or tour transfer to the Dyea trailhead ($20–30 each way) is required.
Floatplanes and helicopters offer 30–60 minute flights over Skagway River valley, Meade Glacier, and the Brady Icefield. Helicopter glacier landings — sometimes combined with dog sledding on the ice — are among Alaska's premium shore experiences. Highly weather dependent; book early.
Glacier dog sledding combines a helicopter flight to a snow camp with a husky-led sled run — one of Alaska's most memorable shore excursions. Dryland dog sledding (wheeled carts, summer camps near town) is a more accessible option that still lets you meet working sled dogs and mushers up close.
⏱ 2–4 hrs🐕 Dogs & mushers💎 Glacier option is premium
Skagway is one of Alaska's best walking ports — the flat historic grid, riverside trails, and Gold Rush Cemetery are all reachable on foot from any dock.
Broadway Historic District Stroll
~1.5 km · 45–60 min · flat/easy
Walk Broadway end to end through the preserved Gold Rush townscape. Highlights: NPS Visitor Center (free), Arctic Brotherhood Hall with its 20,000-piece driftwood facade, the Mascot Saloon Museum (NPS, free), and the Red Onion Saloon — an actual 1898 brothel turned bar. Flat and fully walkable from any dock.
~3 km round-trip · 1–1.5 hrs · easy flat road walk
A flat road walk north of town leads to the cemetery where con man Soapy Smith and his nemesis Frank Reid are buried metres apart. Continue past the cemetery entrance to Reid Falls — a pretty 40-ft cascade. A local landmark easily done without a tour or taxi.
~3 km round-trip · 1–1.5 hrs · moderate (steep ascent)
A short but steep climb through Sitka spruce forest behind the railroad depot leads to a quiet alpine lake ringed by peaks. The steepest thing you'll do in Skagway, but brief — the lake panorama with town and fjord views below is worth every step. Trailhead is a 5-min walk from the dock.
Climate normals for Skagway, Alaska, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
Month
Avg High
Avg Low
Rainy Days
Sunrise
Sunset
Jan
31°F / -1°C
25°F / -4°C
19
8:44 AM
3:37 PM
Feb
28°F / -2°C
21°F / -6°C
15
7:36 AM
4:55 PM
Mar
33°F / 1°C
26°F / -3°C
17
7:16 AM
7:04 PM
Apr
42°F / 6°C
35°F / 2°C
17
5:45 AM
8:18 PM
May
53°F / 12°C
44°F / 7°C
14
4:26 AM
9:30 PM
Jun
61°F / 16°C
51°F / 11°C
17
3:43 AM
10:20 PM
Jul
66°F / 19°C
57°F / 14°C
16
4:11 AM
10:01 PM
Aug
64°F / 18°C
55°F / 13°C
19
5:19 AM
8:49 PM
Sep
56°F / 13°C
48°F / 9°C
19
6:31 AM
7:19 PM
Oct
45°F / 7°C
38°F / 3°C
20
7:41 AM
5:51 PM
Nov
35°F / 2°C
28°F / -2°C
19
7:57 AM
3:33 PM
Dec
31°F / -1°C
24°F / -4°C
21
8:54 AM
2:58 PM
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Insider Tips
🚂
Book the White Pass train before you sail. It fills weeks ahead in peak season. Independent tickets at whitepassrailroad.com are often cheaper than cruise-line prices. No passport needed for the standard summit excursion — it stays in US territory. Longer Yukon tours to Fraser BC or Carcross YT require a valid passport for everyone.
🪨
Railroad Dock passengers: check for shuttle notices. A November 2024 rockslide damaged infrastructure near the dock; a complimentary shuttle to Congress Way may be running. Your ship's daily program will have current info. Broadway and Ore Dock passengers walk straight into town.
🚌
SMART Bus runs dock-to-downtown all day. Skagway's municipal loop operates 7 AM–9 PM whenever ships are in port. $3 one-way or $5 all-day pass — handy if your berth is Railroad Dock Aft or you're tired after a long hike.
🌤️
Skagway is drier than most Inside Passage ports. It sits in a mountain rain shadow — more likely to get sun here than in Juneau or Ketchikan. Still bring layers; the train summit and mountain excursions get chilly even in July.
🐟
Best eats: Skagway Fish Co. near the docks for fresh Alaskan fish and chips. Sweet Tooth Cafe on Broadway for classic diner breakfast. Skagway Brewing Co. on 4th Ave for craft beer and pub food post-hike. Klondike Doughboy on Broadway for the local deep-fried specialty.
🆕
The NPS historic district is completely free. Visitor Center, ranger walks, Mascot Saloon Museum, Gold Rush Cemetery, and Broadway itself cost nothing. The White Pass Railroad and guided tours are where the spend adds up — budget accordingly.
Getting Around
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
🚗 Ride-share: ❌ Not available — use taxisUber and Lyft do not operate in Skagway. No traditional taxi service either.🚍 Hop-on hop-off: ❌ No HOHO bus
🚶 Walking
Free
Downtown Skagway is extremely compact — the cruise docks are steps from the historic district. Most attractions, shops, and restaurants are within a 5-10 minute walk.
🚌 SMART Bus (City Shuttle)
$3 one-way / $5 all-day
The Skagway Municipal and Regional Transit bus runs every ~15 minutes along Main Street (7 AM–9 PM on port days), connecting docks to downtown and nearby attractions like Jewell Gardens and Reid Falls trailhead.
🚐 SMART On-Demand Shuttle
$5–$15 per person
On-demand service for destinations beyond the regular route (Gold Rush Cemetery, Dyea Road, US/Canada border). 24-hour advance booking recommended for pickups outside normal hours.
🚌 Historic Street Car Tour
Varies (tour)
The Skagway Street Car Company runs narrated 90-minute tours on restored 1920s-era buses — a fun way to see the town's Gold Rush history rather than just getting around.
🚲 Bicycle Rental
Approx. $30–$50/day
Several local outfitters rent bikes, ideal for exploring the flat downtown area or riding out toward the Gold Rush Cemetery and Dyea Road.
Cruises Calling Here
Upcoming cruises that call at Skagway, Alaska, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
