Help with Skagway ?'s

[silvercrikhix]

We have a couple of questions about Skagway. We are there from 7am to 9pm. Thank you for any input! :)

 

a} We have been leaning toward the "must do" train trip. The 3 hour one that is up and back without getting off. We can't do the 8 hour routes as we have a flightseeing trip over to Glacier Bay for sometime during the day (when the weather is best, says the pilot-probably 1pm, it is 1 hr 20 min). We are now seriously considering skipping the train and renting a vehicle and driving ourselves around the area. Will we regret NOT doing the train and driving ourselves instead?? :confused:

 

b} How is it for parking in Skagway for shopping, restaurants, etc...? Is it hard to find a place to park?

[GHChik]

We were in Skagway in June 2010 on Caribbean Princess. We did the White Pass train trip and enjoyed it very much. Very low key. Narrated tour. We prefer that to renting a vehicle and having to do the navigating ourselves. We booked directly through The White Pass website. It is a little pricey, but their season to make money is pretty short;)

 

Downtown Skagway is pretty small and rustic looking (there is a Starbuck's there;) It is an easy walk from the ship.

 

Have a wonderful time. We sure did!

[rayliang]

a) when taking the train, especially in the morning, there is a chance that you will be fogged in the morning and not be able to see much during the train ride up to Fraser. That is what I saw when I was in Skagway late August 2011. Fog lifted in the afternoon.

 

I recommend renting a car. If you don't want to self navigate, call or e-mail Dyea Dave and see if they can get you a guide. I hired one last year and rented a van for my family. We drove all over the place, and all the way up to Emerald Lake & Lake Bennet. We also drove to the beginning of the Chilkoot Trail & go see what's left of the town of Dyea. She charged us $25 / hour, which I thought was alright.

 

b) parking in Skagway is easy to find, no worries there whatsoever.

[kamac56]

We rented a car in Skagway and loved it and will do it again in aug. There are a few books out there with murray's guide I believe it's called and it gives you places to stop for photo ops etc. We drove to emerald lake and on tbe way back pulled over to watch a bear with her cubs (can't do that on the train).

Parking is not an issue in Skagway the whole town is only three to four blocks long. So the car is a real nice option to get around and see more of the area.

[silvercrikhix]

Thank you for your responses, we really appreciate your input! We would be bummed to spend $500 for 4 on the morning train only to see fog, so it looks like a rental vehicle would be better. We had heard about the fog issue and it really would stink! Thanks again!

[rayliang]

~$500 for a train vs. $100 / car / day + $150 / guide / 6 hour... its almost a no brainer to me :)

[silvercrikhix]

Thank you, again for the information. We have made a reservation with Green Jeep Tours for a 4 Door Jeep from 8am to 8pm. We can then go to a bunch of places at our whim. They provide ALOT of extras with their daily rental! Should be a fabulous day!

[rayliang]

Fair warning, those jeeps are not the most comfortable thing in the world :)

[Northern Aurora]

If you are renting a car or jeep, consider also going to Dyea. Dyea was the other gold rush community and is the site of the start of the Chilkoot Trail. The Chilkoot Trail was the land route to the Klondike gold fields. The famous photos of the stampeders climbing the ice stairs to the summit of the pass, where the Canadian Mounties checked their provisions, were taken on the Chilkoot Trail.

 

Dyea was abandoned after the completion of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, but a few people still live there. Since people still hike the Chilkoot Trail the National Park Service has a campground and has also marked some of the remnants of the old buildings. It is only a few miles from Skagway, and is a pretty drive on a nice day.

[TheCalicoCat]

We are taking a private tour - car only - with Becky of Beyond Skagway.

[silvercrikhix]

Fair warning, those jeeps are not the most comfortable thing in the world :)

 

Yep, thanks, rayliang! The 4 door is a bit bigger than the Wrangler 2 doors are. We actually own a Jeep 2 door Unlimited (a bit longer and wider) and it is our 3rd Jeep. We are however, trading it in the spring as, alas, we are getting a bit old and like some more comfort now! We will sure miss the 4x4 convertible!! We wish someone would come up with a more comfortable 4x4 convertible! :D

 

If you are renting a car or jeep, consider also going to Dyea. Dyea was the other gold rush community and is the site of the start of the Chilkoot Trail. The Chilkoot Trail was the land route to the Klondike gold fields. The famous photos of the stampeders climbing the ice stairs to the summit of the pass, where the Canadian Mounties checked their provisions, were taken on the Chilkoot Trail.

 

Dyea was abandoned after the completion of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, but a few people still live there. Since people still hike the Chilkoot Trail the National Park Service has a campground and has also marked some of the remnants of the old buildings. It is only a few miles from Skagway, and is a pretty drive on a nice day.

 

Thank you, we are planning on that drive! Seems to be a popular scenic coast drive with possibility of some critters, too! We have heard some people have seen porpoises and other wildlife, so that would be a plus, too! Let's hope for great weather :).