Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
291 Broadway, Skagway, Alaska
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park preserves the history of Skagway’s gold rush days. During the boom of the 1890s gold rush, Skagway’s population swelled from just a handful of residents to over 10,000 lured by the possibility of gold. Visitors can follow in the footsteps of these prospectors by visiting historic buildings, trails, mines, and even saloons built during the boom.
There are many ways to explore the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Start by watching a short film about Skagway’s gold rush history at the visitor center, and then take a ranger-guided tour of the Skagway Historic District, including such sights as the Mascot Saloon and Jeff. Smiths Parlor Museum.
If you have more time, hike along the Chilkoot Trail, take a float trip down the Taiya River, or take a ride on the scenic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. Opt for a gold rush–themed tour to see many of the top Skagway and Yukon attractions all in one day.
Ranger-led walking tours are free, and tickets can be reserved in advance online.
A permit is required to hike the entire Chilkoot Trail in the summer.
Many tours enter Yukon, Canada, so don’t forget your passport.
The park visitor center, Mascot Saloon, and Skagway walking tours are wheelchair and stroller accessible.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center is located in the White Pass & Yukon Route depot on the corner of Broadway and 2nd Avenue in downtown Skagway. Most visitors arrive in Skagway via cruise ship, and public bus service is available from the port to many downtown attractions. A shuttle service runs to the Chilkoot Trail and Dyea townsite.
The park visitor center and most attractions are open daily from early May through late September; during the winter season, the museum operates shorter hours and closes on Sunday and public holidays. Ranger-led tours are only offered during the summer months, and tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis; book tickets ahead of time online or arrive before 10am during the busy summer months to ensure a spot on a tour.
The Chilkoot Trail is known as “the world’s longest outdoor museum.” This 33-mile (53-kilometer) trail was the major route from the coast to the Yukon goldfields in the late 1890s, and is a popular backpacking trail today. Day hikers can explore the US portion of the trail from Dyea, but a permit is required to hike the Canadian side of the trail.
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