Even if trains, history, and nature aren’t your cup of tea on their own, something special happens when the three come together for an Alaska cruise and train experience.
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is a must-see when visiting Skagway, Alaska, especially if you arrive by boat during your Alaska cruise. The town’s success is closely tied to the development of rail infrastructure, which has carried passengers and freight between Alaska and Canada for more than 120 years.
When I took the train from Skagway to the White Pass Summit route, the experience was fascinating and exciting. It provided a narrative history lesson and perspective that remains absolutely unmatched by any other train journey I have ever experienced.
From where it starts to where the route will take you, and how much you’ll have to pay, here’s what you can expect when riding the White Pass Railway, Skagway’s most scenic route into Canada.
History of White Pass and Yukon Route
Construction of the White Pass Train began in 1898 and provided the easiest access to and from Skagway during the gold rush of the early 1900s. Investors from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and more than 35,000 workers worked together to complete the $10 million project in just two years.
Before the railroad tracks were laid, the two main routes over the mountain were the shorter but steeper Chilkoot Trail and the longer but flatter White Pass. Both locations present rugged terrain and brutal conditions for anyone trekking long distances.
Everyone who ventures through one of these two trails in search of gold must carry a ton of supplies for the entire journey, making the hike even more dangerous. After the railroad was built, expeditions became much easier to do and it took stampeders much less time to reach the Klondike region.
After more than 80 years of continuous operation, including winter, the railway was out of service from 1982 to 1988. That’s because of falling metal costs and the closure of mines that produce much of the train’s cargo.
The route reopened to carry tourists in 1988 and currently operates from late April to mid-October, coinciding with the Alaska cruise season. In 1994, White Pass and the Yukon Route were designated Civil Engineering Historic Landmarks, along with the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, among others.
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White Pass Train Prices
Like the mountains that motorbikes travel, taking the train along the White Pass Summit Route is expensive. Tickets for the 2 1/2 to 3 hour tour are $155 per adult and $77.50 per child when purchased online at least 24 hours in advance. Passengers travel 20 miles from Skagway to an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet before turning back at the Canadian border.
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railway also sells tickets to non-cruise passengers for one-way train and camping options, as well as connections through Carcross and Bennett (which starts in Alaska, enters British Columbia, and then enters the Yukon Territory).
If you take the Skagway train tour from a cruise ship, you’ll almost certainly pay more. I purchased the White Pass Summit adult ticket as a shore excursion through Norwegian Cruise Line and it was a great price. Norwegian Air fares currently listed online are $229 for adults and $149 for children, a difference of nearly $80 for adults.
When booking a cruise shore excursion, train travel is longer and more expensive and includes visits to local attractions before or after your train ride, as well as hybrid train and coach rides as far north as Carcross, Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Prices vary by cruise line and specific tours.
How to buy tickets for the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
You can purchase tickets online at the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway website, by calling 800-343-7373 or through your cruise line’s app, website or shore excursion desk. You may be able to buy same-day tickets at the ticket office on Second Avenue in Skagway, but popular train rides often sell out early, especially during peak cruise season. Regardless, you might want to visit the office as it’s also home to The Train Shoppe, which sells a variety of souvenirs and clothing.
Whether you purchase your tickets online or in person, through a cruise line or directly from White Pass and Yukon Lines, you can choose from multiple departure times. Choose one that fits your schedule. If you are booking independently (not through a cruise line), please double check that the time you select coincides with your ship’s port call.
Where does the White Pass train in Skagway go?
The train ride for visitors to Skagway starts at the train tracks, about halfway between the cruise ship terminal and downtown.
From there, the train runs non-stop to one of several locations: White Pass Summit on the U.S.-Canada border, where the train turns around and heads back down to Skagway (most excursions); Fraser, British Columbia, where passengers can transfer to a coach on the Klondike Highway (also a Canadian Customs outpost); and Carcross, Canada’s Yukon Territory, where passengers can explore the historic town, including a Gold Rush general store.
Along the way, passengers can follow the route on a provided map, passing multiple points of interest including a maintenance shop for the rail line, a donated carriage car now rented as an Airbnb, a cemetery, a waterfall, a steel bridge, two tunnels and lookout points, all of which offer great photo opportunities.
What it’s like to ride the White Pass and Yukon Route train
When you book (or receive your ticket, in the case of a cruise booking) we will assign you a meeting point and provide instructions for getting there at the designated time. If you’re departing from a cruise ship and planning to spend some time in town before boarding, note your meeting point in advance to make sure you know how to get there. My traveling companion and I took a wrong turn on the way to the meeting point and might have missed the trip if a kind railway worker hadn’t seen us running with our tickets and offered us a ride.
In addition to the railway’s six brand-new engines (soon to be increased to eight by 2026), the retro nature of its fleet is also impressive. It consists of two steam engines from the first half of the 20th century, 20 diesel-electric locomotives from the 1950s, and 70 restored and replica coaches, one of which is more than 140 years old. Therefore, there is no air conditioning in the coach, so on hot days, passengers may find it a bit stuffy inside. During the trip, the weather was cold and the trip was pleasant.
Although passengers are prohibited from moving between carriages while the train is in motion, they can stand on exterior terraces on either side of each carriage to breathe fresh air and enjoy the sweeping views. Please note that during foggy weather, visibility can be poor and the atmosphere can be eerie; I experienced this on my first train ride in 2013. Ten years later, I took advantage of a break and happened to be here on a clear, sunny day to enjoy the magnificent scenery.
The tour guide (and eventually the conductor) will come by to say hello, check tickets, and sell souvenirs such as DVDs, hats, and photo albums. They can also answer any questions you may have. The guide narrates the journey and provides valuable information about each attraction the train passes on the mountain. If you like the experience, tip the car tour guide a few dollars, or give the conductor more, who will distribute it to the staff.
Every passenger receives a free booklet about the history of the train route. It includes safety rules, a map with a synopsis of each point of interest, fleet information, a preview of what’s available for purchase at the train counter in town, and some puzzles to pass the time. (Some passengers report feeling bored during the ride. If you’re worried, bring a pen to puzzle with.)
bottom line
While I wouldn’t recommend taking a train if you can’t sit still for long periods of time or are afraid of heights, I do think train tours are one of the best things to do as a visitor to Alaska.
If you’re looking for a way to understand the history and vastness of Alaska’s wilderness, a White Pass and Yukon Route train ride is something you can’t miss.
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