Skagway (Alaska)

Skagway is an Alaskan cruise port located on the northernmost point of Inside Passage. The town has population around 1,000 and lies in the narrow plain of Skagway River (at the head of Lynn Canal).

Skagway is also the northern terminus of Alaska Marine Highway (abbre AMH, state-operated ferry service). The settlement was familiar to thousands of gold rushers as the gateway to the Alaskan goldfields. It offered the shortest route to Klondike, but it was far beyond from being the easiest one. The gold rush was a blessing for Skagway and by 1898 the town became the largest in Alaska (with population ~20,000). When in 1900 the gold yield dwindled, Skagway's population of mostly miners shifted to Nome.

To serve the tourist influx during summer, Skagway's population doubles. Port Skagway (locode USSGY) is among the most popular Alaskan cruise ship stops. For mainly tourism purposes is operated the White Pass Yukon Route (abbrev WPYR) gauge railroad. This service runs throughout the summer months only. The railroad is also used for shipping copper ore from Alaska's interior.

Of all the tourists (around 1 million annually), roughly 3/4 are cruise ship passengers. Most tourists come here to visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, as well as for the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails. The town has a historical district with around 100 gold rush era authentic buildings.

In June 2018, Carnival Corporation (via the subsidiary company Holland America-Princess Alaska Tours) entered into a deal to purchase "White Pass and Yukon Route" division of the company TWC Enterprises Ltd. The deal included Skagway's White Pass port, also railroad (White Pass Scenic Railway) and retail operations. The money transaction was scheduled for July 31.

Skagway's most popular "shore excursion" options for cruise tourists include Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (30-min live presentations given by a ranger), Yakutania Point (overlooking Tailya Inlet, walking and hiking), Dewey Lake Trail hiking (the Lower loop has length 2,5-mi/4-km, the Upper loop has length 3 mi/5 km).