HAL Cruise Tour - Best Skagway Excursion

[vernettm]

Two couples, very active and adventurous, looking for ideas of what to do in Skagway. Read several forums. Have a few ideas (Alaska Sled Dog Adventures, (alaskasleddog.com) and The Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing combo tour is a budget-buster but it's a unique way to experience the glaciers. Available on board as well as through Temsco Helicopters (907-983-2900) that I have to look into, but hoped a current posting may give some tried and true ideas. Based upon our itinerary (Zaandam cruise tour #8), it looks like we are in Skagway with free time from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., so have some free time. Any suggestions?

[qqqsal]

There are a couple of lakes you can hike to. I think they are called Lower and Upper Dewey Lake. I went to the lower one and had a wonderful time. There's a visitor's center you can check with for finding the trailhead. It's very close to the downtown area. Happy cruising.

[Budget Queen]

There are plenty of GREAT Skagway touring options- go with what is of interest for you. The glaicer dog sledding gets nothing but RAVES- if of interest- skimp elsewhere and GO. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] As for the Dewey trailhead- between 3rd and 4th across the tracks. Take a look at the Park Service visitor center (there is a Skagway visitor center too). Free stuff that will only enhance your visit. Located at Broadway and Second.
[url="http://www.nps.gov/klgo/schedule.htm"]http://www.nps.gov/klgo/schedule.htm[/url]

[columbus]

This is the best... Get a hold of Southeast Tours and try their Emerald Lake Yukon horseback our family went and we are still talking about it as well as showing all the pictures to who ever will look at them (AGAIN).

The drive into the YUKON is magnificant the driver filled us in on all the history as we traveled and the horseback ride was out of this world. Emeald Lake form the backhills is breathtaking. The guide was also great, we hiked up a mountain then glassed for muntain sheep, which we saw. Back at the ranch after the tour, we hung out and told stories and just visited with the Yukon people in a cool old cookhouse, it was so much fun and we really got away from all the people and congestion.

I hope this helps those with an adventurious spirit. Have fun.

[vernettm]

thanks for the advice - will look into everyone's suggestions.