Chilkoot Trail Hike, Float, and Summit Drive

Explore this historic Gold Rush town's charming downtown, quaint residential area, and small-town amenities as your expert guide regales you with it's history and fun facts. Does Skagway truly not have a doctor? Where do local children go to school? How many people live here year-round?

Take a look at the town of Skagway and the Skagway River from a higher perspective! Stop at the Skagway Overlook for scenic photo opportunities of the town, confluence of the Skagway River with the Pacific Ocean, and the Chilkat Mountains in the distance.

Enjoy a 10-mile drive along the coast to the beautiful Dyea Valley, home to an old gold rush settlement, which has now returned to nature. On the drive to the float tour, you may spot seals and eagles, and your driver will share some information on the area's history and nature.

Begin hiking at the trailhead of the Chilkoot Trail, the centerpiece of the gold rush history in Skagway. This world-famous trail was the main route to the riches of the Klondike during the gold rush. Now a tranquil place of incredible beauty, the trail winds through a lush rainforest alive with birds, animals and wildflowers. Your guide will weave an entertaining mix of natural history and Klondike folklore about the gold-hungry stampeders who forged this route over 100 years ago as you follow in their footsteps.

Your hike will end at the Taiya River put-in site for your float experience. A safety briefing will be provided and rubber boots, life jackets, and panchos (if raining) will be handed out to all guests. Your 18-foot raft awaits for the calm scenic float back to Dyea. During this approximately 45-minute float, you will see the forest give way to fields of beach greens and wild fireweed, and the granite walls of the fjords rise steeply to snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers. Your guide will enthrall you with natural history, geology, and Gold Rush history along the way. At the end of the float, enjoy a riverside snack of homemade cookies and a hot beverage with countless picture-perfect moments before loading up in the van and heading to the White Pass Summit.

Enter into the serenity and beauty of the 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest. Within the Tongass, you will find a plethora of flora and fauna -- with none of the crowds!

Stop by the overlook for the glorious hanging Denver Glacier on your way up to the beautiful Summit Lake. Its surrounded by glorious old growth forest with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad running in the foreground.

Drive to the incredible beauty of the glacially carved valleys and peaks of the White Pass, which straddles the Alaskan and Canadian border. Look for the rushing waters of International Falls marking the border in this no-mans-land between customs houses. We'll stop for a photo opportunity at the Welcome to Alaska sign, then head back down to Skagway!