Visited before and looking for something new and exciting? This is a great combo adventure to the ghost town of Dyea, a drive to White Pass Summit, and a walk over the Tutshi River on the Yukon Suspension Bridge.
After meeting your guide at your cruise terminal in Skagway, you'll board a comfortable van to start your adventure. Your guide will tell you about some of the historic buildings you'll pass as you drive through the 6-block National Historic District of Skagway. Many of the old buildings, like the train depot and saloons, have been preserved and restored.
Please read over all Restrictions and Notes before booking.
Prepare to be amazed by the majesty of nature as you climb steeply up the famous White Pass nestled in the Chilkat Mountains. This leisurely drive will give you time to take in the towering snow-capped peaks, stunning blue lakes, and thick green forests. The van will stop at vantage points so you can capture some amazing scenery. After passing the summit there will be a stop at the Yukon Suspension Bridge, a pedestrian cable suspension bridge over the roaring Tutshi River. From the bridge, you have great views of the turbulent river. Your guide will entertain you with stories and the history of the Gold Rush as you wander the boardwalk bordered by colorful alpine flowers.
After heading back towards Skagway, you'll drive a short distance along the scenic Taiya Inlet, with its rocky coastline. Here you can spot bald eagles and harbor seals that inhabit this rich tidal estuary as you cross the Taiya River Bridge.
Your naturalist guide will drive you through the park and show you the best places to stop for scenery and nature. All vehicles are equipped with a powerful spotting scope and binoculars to assist with wildlife viewing and you get the best experience. No matter what time of the year you visit Dyea, it offers magnificent scenery, from May to July, you'll be able to see wildflowers at their peak. In late July, the Taiya river fills with migrating salmon and the chance to see bald eagles and brown bears. During September, the cottonwood trees turn yellow and the bushes are covered with berries.
One of your possible stops is Dyea Ghost town which once was a booming town of 8,000 residents. At the end of the 1800s, both towns were thriving and were gateways to the Klondike and the riches of gold prospecting. Due to the fact that Skagway had a deeper harbor, the railway chose that town to build the railway from and Dyea dried up. When the residents all left, moss, ferns, and mushrooms took over the streets and buildings that were once booming with hotels, restaurants, and salons. Take a half-mile walk along the deserted main street – ‘Broadway' - of this now Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park as your guide fills you in on its fascinating history.
Another option is to take a short drive and leisurely walk through the thick spruce forest will bring you to the Slide Cemetery, named after the Palm Sunday landslide that buried dozens of prospectors in an avalanche in 1898. They headed out in search of treasure not heeding warnings that weather conditions could bring a slide. This silent site with its simple wooden markers is a reminder of the hardships the prospectors faced in their search for wealth.
Be sure to bring your camera to capture the amazing scenery and all of the stops on this unique combo adventure. When the time comes to an end, your transportation will take you back to your Skagway cruise terminal.
Note: This is a "guide's choice" excursion, the itinerary might change depending on weather, wildlife, and group interest. This tour does not include a train ride with the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad.
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