The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Skagway > Alaska > United States


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A Classic, Scenic Train Ride

Breathe in that crisp mountain air while rushing through lush, misty forests along ice-met rivers, with majestic peaks in the distance.

Riding an old-timey train is a rare treat and even cures a drizzly overcast day.

The Train Station in Skagway, right down from the cruise ship terminal.

Train Station in SkagwayView All Sizes

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.

The original locomotive that pulled cars over the White Pass back in 1898.

Original Steam Locomotive #52View All Sizes

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.

One of many trestles along the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad.

Classic Scene of Cars on TrestleView All Sizes

Train Entering Tunnel, Mile 16View All Sizes

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.

Trail of 98

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.

The Alaska - British Columbia Border on White Pass Summit

The Alaska - British Columbia BorderView All Sizes

Casey Maintenance Car at CliftonView All Sizes

Summit Lake and the Coast Mountains just past White Pass Summit.

Summit Lake, Coast MountainsView All Sizes

White Pass & Yukon Route Map

The map below is included in the guide given to all passengers. Much of the gritty yet colorful history of the Klondike Gold Rush and the subsequent construction of the railroad is divulged within its pages. For more information visit the official White Pass & Yukon Route website.

Map of the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Source : WP&YR Website

The station at Fraser, British Columbia.

Fraser, British ColumbiaView All Sizes

Steel Bridge, used from 1901 until 1969. The tallest cantilever bridge at the time.

Steel Bridge, used from 1901 until 1969View All Sizes

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). Fares beyond Fraser require a passport.

One of Many TrestlesView All Sizes

Klondike Highway

The Ride Back to Skagway

Much as I enjoyed the train ride, I wasn't heading back the same way. After disembarking at Fraser I met with a bicycling team for a bike ride down the Klondike Highway.