The sleepy little town of Skagway is located miles northeast of Juneau just west of the Canadian border at British Columbia. The island features a typical maritime climate; cool summers and mild winters. Summer temperatures range from 45 to 67 while the winter temperatures average 18 to 37. Skagway gets less rain than most of the other parts of Southeast Alaska.
The population is just over 900 year-round inhabitants. During the summer, the port becomes a popular stop for cruise ships. The White Pass and Yukon Route railroads operate tours for tourists throughout the summer season.
Skagway is connected to the road system via the Klondike Highway. The Klondike Highway was completed in 1978 and allows access to the United States, British Columbia and the scenic Alaska Highway. Skagway is also one of the ports-of-call for the Alaska’s ferry system.
Many tourists visit the amazing Davidson Glacier. This glacier is just 26 miles from of Skagway. Many tourists extend their trips a day in order to visit the glacier. Daytrips are available through nearly all of the city’s tour companies.
Skagway holds onto its gold mining past through a number of events throughout the year. The 1898 Gold Rush took place in Skagway and many of the landmarks from that year still stand today. Tours of the city are available in the area. Even if you decide to explore on your own, you will have an amazing time. Take a break from exploring the town and surrounding areas and relax with some shopping. The town features a number of amazing shops that are home to Alaskan arts and crafts. Many visitors to the area take home amazing Alaskan art to remember their trip to this amazing city. Local artists pepper the streets in the summers and sell their artwork to visitors.
More Skagway Reading
Convention & Visitors Bureau
City Website
Skagway News
Chamber of Commerce
Skagway Museum