3-Hour Summit Tour in Skagway: Gold Rush Cemetery & Alpine Valley

A sub-arctic Alpine valley where the mountains dwarf everything below them

A 3-hour guided tour of Skagway climbs the Klondike Highway to White Pass Summit and descends into Tormented Valley, a remote alpine basin where the scale of the landscape distorts perspective. Port pickup is included. A live English-speaking guide narrates Gold Rush history at the cemetery and along the route, with photo stops at the Welcome to Alaska sign, waterfalls and the Skagway Overlook. Passport required at booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Skagway highlights and summit tour

• Visit Gold Rush Cemetery
• Hear Gold Rush stories
• Travel Trail of ’98 via Klondike Highway
• See waterfalls and mountain peaks
• Stop at Welcome to Alaska sign

The experience

The tour starts at the Gold Rush Cemetery, where your guide brings the era to life with stories of early pioneers and the outlaw Soapy Smith. From there, the route climbs the Klondike Highway toward White Pass Summit, following the Trail of '98 through mountain terrain. Waterfalls and peaks frame the drive up. At the summit itself, the Welcome to Alaska sign marks a major photo stop and a turning point in the landscape.

Tormented Valley is the destination that makes this tour distinct. The name describes what happens there: the sub-arctic Alpine terrain distorts scale so completely that mountains and ridges appear dwarfed and strange. It's a place most Skagway visitors never see, and the effect is disorienting in a way no photograph quite captures beforehand. The Skagway Overlook on the return gives a final vantage point over the inlet and the ships anchored there.

You travel in a 24-passenger mini-bus with bucket seats and large windows built for sightseeing. Port pickup is included, so if you're arriving by cruise ship, the driver meets you at the dock and returns you in time for re-boarding. Bring your passport. It's required for entry into the White Pass area. The tour runs three hours total.

What’s included

• Port pickup and return.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• entry to the Gold Rush Cemetery and Tormented Valley.
• photo stops at the Welcome to Alaska sign, waterfalls and the Skagway Overlook.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 29 Apr 2027

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Klondike Tours

Is this one for you?The live guide narrates in English throughout, so you follow the Gold Rush stories and the landscape history comfortably. If you're arriving by cruise ship, port pickup means you don't arrange separate transport to the trailhead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What is the Gold Rush Cemetery and why does the guide spend time there?

The Gold Rush Cemetery holds graves from Skagway's boom years, including the outlaw Soapy Smith. Your guide uses the cemetery as the starting point to tell the history of the Gold Rush era and the early pioneers who shaped the town.

What makes Tormented Valley different from other stops on the tour?

Tormented Valley is a remote sub-arctic Alpine basin where the scale of the mountains and ridges distorts perspective so dramatically that everything appears dwarfed and strange. It's not a typical scenic overlook. The landscape itself feels disorienting.

Do I need a passport for this tour?

Yes, a current valid passport is required on the day of travel. US citizens may substitute a current US driver's license with a birth certificate instead.

Is pickup from my cruise ship included?

Port pickup is included in the tour price. At booking, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time so the driver can time the return correctly.

What photo opportunities are built into the route?

The tour includes stops at the Welcome to Alaska sign at the summit, waterfalls along the Klondike Highway, and the Skagway Overlook, where you can photograph the town and the ships in the inlet below.