Chilkoot Trail Hike, Float & White Pass: 6-Hour Skagway Tour

Walk the Gold Rush trail, then float back down the river it shaped

A six-hour guided tour from Skagway that strings together three distinct landscapes: the first two miles of the Chilkoot Trail through rainforest, a calm float down the Taiya River in an 18-foot raft, and a drive to White Pass Summit for views of glaciers and the Alaskan border. The tour includes a naturalist guide, trekking poles, rubber boots, life jacket, riverside snack and hot beverage, and operates year-round with a minimum group of four.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike, float, and scenic drive

• Explore Skagway downtown and residential area
• Visit Skagway Overlook for photos
• Drive 10 miles to Dyea Valley
• Hike first two miles of Chilkoot Trail
• Receive safety briefing and gear
• Float 45 minutes on Taiya River
• Enjoy riverside snack and hot beverage
• Drive through Tongass National Forest
• Stop at Denver Glacier overlook
• Visit Summit Lake area
• Drive to White Pass and see International Falls
• Photo stop at Welcome to Alaska sign
• Return to Skagway

The experience

The day starts in Skagway's downtown, where your guide walks you through the town's Gold Rush history before heading to the Skagway Overlook for views across the Chilkat Mountains to where the Skagway River meets the Pacific. A 10-mile drive along the coast takes you to Dyea Valley, an old settlement now returned to nature. Watch for seals and eagles on the way. Your guide shares the area's natural and human history as you travel.

At the Chilkoot Trail trailhead, you hike the first two miles through lush rainforest alive with birds, wildflowers and animals. This was the main route stampeders took during the Klondike gold rush over a hundred years ago, and your guide weaves that history with natural details as you walk in their footsteps. The hike ends at the Taiya River, where you'll get a safety briefing, rubber boots, life jacket and rain poncho if needed. Your 45-minute float in the stable 18-foot raft drifts past granite fjord walls, snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers as the forest gives way to fields of beach greens and wild fireweed. At the takeout, you'll have riverside snacks (homemade cookies and a hot beverage) with time for photos before loading back into the van.

From there, you drive into the 17-million-acre Tongass National Forest and up to White Pass, which straddles the Alaskan and Canadian border. You'll see Denver Glacier hanging above Summit Lake, surrounded by old growth forest with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad running below. A stop at the Welcome to Alaska sign marks the border before you head back down to Skagway. The tour operates in all weather. Dress for conditions and bring a valid passport.

What’s included

• Professional naturalist guide and driver.
• trekking poles and rubber boots.
• life jacket and rain poncho if needed.
• riverside snack of homemade cookies.
• hot beverage.
• all transportation between stops in the van and the 18-foot raft.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 27 Apr 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (7 to 12 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Physically demandingNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Alaska Mountain Guides Adventures, inc. Chilkat Guides Ltd

Is this one for you?Groups of four or more book together on a fixed schedule, so you'll travel with other visitors rather than as a private party. The combination of hiking, floating and driving means you're moving through three different landscapes in one day, which works well for travelers who want variety without the logistics of arranging separate outings.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 12 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Chilkoot Trail and why does it matter to Skagway's history?

The Chilkoot Trail was the main route stampeders took to reach the Klondike gold fields during the gold rush over a hundred years ago. On this tour, you walk the first two miles through rainforest, following the same path those fortune-seekers forged, with your guide sharing the stories and natural history of the route.

How much of the Chilkoot Trail do I actually hike on this tour?

You hike the first two miles of the trail, which ends at the Taiya River put-in site where your float trip begins. The hike winds through lush rainforest and takes you to the point where the trail meets the water.

What happens during the float down the Taiya River?

After your hike, you board an 18-foot raft for a calm 45-minute float down the Taiya River. During the drift, you'll see granite fjord walls, snow-capped peaks, hanging glaciers, and fields of wild fireweed as the forest opens to the coast. Your guide shares natural history and geology along the way, and the float ends with riverside snacks and a hot beverage.

Do I need any special gear or equipment for this tour?

The tour provides trekking poles, rubber boots, life jacket, and rain poncho if needed. You'll need to bring a valid passport and wear clothing appropriate for the weather, as the tour operates year-round in all conditions.

What will I see at White Pass Summit?

At White Pass, you'll see glacially carved valleys and peaks that straddle the Alaskan and Canadian border, including Denver Glacier hanging above Summit Lake and surrounded by old growth forest. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad runs in the foreground, and you'll stop at the Welcome to Alaska sign on the border before returning to Skagway.