The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
Skagway > Alaska > United States
A Classic, Scenic Train Ride
Breathe that crisp mountain air while rushing through lush, misty forests along ice-met rivers, with majestic peaks in the distance.
Riding a train is a rare treat and even cures a drizzly overcast day.
A Must-See, Must-Ride
If visiting Skagway it’s custom to ride the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. A brisk 75-minute ride up rugged terrain with tight turns and steep grade at times. The gorgeous Coast Mountains opposite the train make up a prominent spectacle.
Fitted with seemingly tattered, fragile-looking buttresses, bridges and trestles, the ride is surprisingly smooth for a rustic railroad blasted out of tough granite. Along the way the train ascends steep grades up to 3.9%, climbing nearly 3,000 feet in only 20 miles. Some of the turns are quite sharp — one of the capabilities of a narrow-gauge track.
Trestles and Tunnels
The train passes through a couple of narrow tunnels along the way, allowing passengers to briefly breathe the same heavy smoke that generations of travellers dealt with in times past. This is all part of the authentic experience and only heightens the appreciation for the fresh mountain air upon exiting each tunnel.
The Trail of ‘98
Along the way the original Trail of ‘98 can be seen below on the opposite site of the river valley near White Pass Summit, just prior to the unmanned international border station.
Fraser and Beyond
Passengers can opt to travel only up to White Pass Summit and return, or farther to Fraser (27.7 miles), Bennet (40.6 miles) and Carcross (67.5 miles).
Passports are required for all fares to Fraser and beyond. For more information visit the White Pass & Yukon Route website.
The Ride Back to Skagway
After disembarking at Fraser I met with a bicycling team for a bike ride down the Klondike Highway.
Tags Railroad, Mountains, Valleys
Alaska Series | All United States Locations
- Halibut Fishing near Homer
- Salmon Fishing on the Kenai River
- Exploring Kenai Peninsula
- Ferry from Valdez to Whittier
- Port Valdez
- Driving through Alaska
- The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
- Biking the Klondike Highway
- Mount Roberts Tramway
- Whale Watching in Alaska
- To Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter
- Cruising up the Inside Passage
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