Skagway Hike: White Pass Trail with Naturalist Guide

Hike through alpine forest and reach a snack stop overlooking Skagway valley and Lynn Canal

A three-hour guided hike in the White Pass alpine forest above Skagway, starting with a town tour and a drive up the Klondike Highway. Your naturalist guide stops frequently to point out native plants, wildlife and glacial features, and each hiker carries binoculars to spot mountain and river scenery up close. Midway through, you rest at an overlook with views across the Skagway valley and down to Lynn Canal, where snacks and water arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Skagway tour and alpine forest hike

• Guided driving town tour of Skagway
• Drive up White Pass on Klondike Highway
• Learn Klondike Gold Rush history
• Begin 2-hour hike in alpine forest
• Stop to observe flora and fauna
• Use binoculars for mountain and river views
• Enjoy snack at overlook with valley views

The experience

The day starts with a guided driving tour through Skagway itself, where your guide covers the town's Klondike Gold Rush history before heading up the Klondike Highway toward White Pass. The route climbs into the Tongass National Forest, and from the trailhead you spend the next two hours on foot through alpine terrain ringed by snow-capped mountains. Your naturalist guide stops frequently along the way to explain the native flora and fauna, and to describe the glacial history that shaped the landscape. Each group is outfitted with binoculars so you can see the mountain and river scenery in detail as you move through the forest.

Midway through the hike, you reach a final overlook where the group stops for snacks and water. From that spot you look back across the Skagway valley, down to White Pass, and out to Lynn Canal. The hike is moderate in pace but requires a high level of physical fitness. The operator recommends stable, closed-toed shoes, layers for warmth, and rain gear, since the tour operates in all weather. A minimum of four guests is required for the tour to run.

What’s included

• Guided driving tour of Skagway.
• naturalist guide throughout the hike.
• binoculars for each hiker.
• bottled water and snacks at the midway overlook.
• trekking poles.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the drive up the Klondike Highway.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 27 Apr 2027

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 demandingPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot 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 stay at a minimum of four people, so you'll hike with other travelers rather than as a private party. This is a moderate-to-strenuous hike suited to travelers comfortable with two hours of sustained walking at altitude in mountain terrain.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years). Children under 6 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 Klondike Highway and why does the hike go up it?

The Klondike Highway is the road that climbs from Skagway toward White Pass, the mountain pass that connects Alaska to Canada. Your guide uses the drive up the highway to share history of the Klondike Gold Rush and the natural history of the region before you reach the trailhead.

How much of the day is spent actually hiking versus driving and touring?

The hike itself takes two hours through the alpine forest. Before that, you spend time on the guided driving tour of Skagway and the drive up the Klondike Highway to the trailhead, so the full experience is three hours total.

What kind of wildlife or plants might I see on the trail?

The guide points out native flora and fauna specific to the White Pass alpine forest and explains the glacial history of the area. The binoculars help you spot mountain and river scenery in detail, though specific species depend on the season and conditions on the day you hike.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather, so rain, wind or cold does not cancel the hike. Dress in layers and bring rain gear, as conditions in the White Pass mountains can change quickly.