Holland America Skagway Inn

Catch the spirit of the Klondike Trail in Skagway

One of the most popular destinations in Alaska’s Inside Passage, Skagway has a rich and colorful history that is readily apparent in its historic false-front shops, restored buildings and turn-of-the-century style. In 1896, gold was found in the Klondike region of Canada’s Yukon Territory and thousands of miners flocked to Skagway in hopes of making the 500-mile trek into Canada, primarily along the Chilkoot Trail, and striking it rich. The population of Skagway boomed and by 1898, it was the largest city in Alaska with a population between 8,000 and 10,000. Remnants of the Gold Rush era still abound, and today, the town primarily survives on tourism with more than 400 cruise ships a year docking in Skagway.

While winters are relatively quiet, influx of summer tourists turn Skagway into a modern-day boomtown. Stroll along Broadway Avenue where historic buildings and locals in period costumes transport visitors back in time. National Park Service rangers lead a free, 45-minute walking tour of Skagway’s historic district five times a day, stopping at buildings like the first cabin built in town, the Mascot Saloon Museum and the Red Onion Saloon, one of Skagway’s most popular watering holes with a provocative and colorful past.

The Skagway Museum & Archives is another popular attraction, featuring the city’s most treasured artifacts, memorabilia, photographs and historical records. Along with Gold Rush artifacts, the museum also has an excellent Alaska Native collection where you can learn more about the Tlingit people who inhabited the area around present-day Skagway starting in prehistoric times.

The more adventurous traveler won’t want to miss out on exploring some of Skagway’s excellent trails. Local trailheads within walking distance from downtown take hikers to waterfalls, lakes and even the graves of some of Skagway’s most notorious Gold Rush-era residents. The nearby Tongass National Forest offers hikes to glaciers and stunning glacial lakes, and backpackers can depart from Skagway on one of Alaska’s most popular backpacking adventures along the Chilkoot Trail.

Whether you are catching a ride on the historic White Pass & Yukon Route railroad to view waterfalls, gorges and majestic views, or learning more about the colorful Gold Rush days, Skagway is a destination sure to have something for every traveler.

Holland America Skagway Inn is adjacent to the town’s historic district and within walking distance of the cruise ship piers and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.