Skagway, Alaska

Skagway is a borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It sits at the very end of the Lynn Canal and is the gateway to the Klondike that was established during the great gold rush days. Famous for the discovery of gold in the late 1800's, Skagway once boasted a population of over 10,000, with another 20,000 gold seekers passing through to strike it rich.

Skagway's streets are bordered with wooden sidewalks and buildings with false fronts, which give Skagway the feeling of an old western town. The city offers historic cemeteries, interesting museums, fantastic parks, and lively saloons. It is fun to visit and an interesting place to explore.

Things to See & Do

* White Pass and Yukon Railroad
* Valley of the Glaciers
* Hiking the Lower Dewey Lake Trail
* Upper Reid falls
* Jewell Gardens

General information

Cruise Season - May - September
Currency - United States Dollar (USD)
Language - English
Land Area - 1,202.7 km²
Population - 1000 approx
Electricity - 110 vlt 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT minus nine hours
International Country Telephone Code - 1 + 907

Port Location - There are two separate docks in Skagway. The first is along side the Lynn Canal directly south of town. The second is basically at the foot of Main Street a short 5-minute walk to the center of town. Usually the smaller ships will dock in town and the larger alongside the Canal. Both are within short walking distance to the center of town.

Transport Links - Unlike most of the other Southeast port towns, Skagway is connected to the mainland by road. Passing through the gold rush towns of Carcross and Whitehorse, the Klondike Highway is a scenic route, allowing visitors to travel by car through the Yukon and into Alaska. Most visitors reach Skagway by cruiseship during summer months, and the city is also a ferry port for the Alaska Marine Highway. Commercial air service is available via nearby Juneau.
Downtown Skagway is quite compact and all of the best sights are reachable by foot.