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 Lower Reid Falls is a short hike from the Gold Rush Cemetery. It is named for the man who gave his life for the honor of Skagway.
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Skagway Alaska, History and Natural Beauty Abound
Skagway Alaska. In the Native Tgingit tongue the name means "home of the north wind," however, it is glacial ice that formed this coastal valley during the last ice age. What the receding ice left behind is the largest and deepest fjord in North America. Skagway Alaska sits nestled at the northernmost point of this natural wonder.
In 1898, this distinctive geography made Skagway Alaska the perfect port destination for gold miners hoping to strike it rich in the mighty Yukon Territory. In the largest Gold Rush ever seen in North America, 100,000 men and women landed on the shores of Skagway Alaska and neighboring town Dyea in a spectacle of greed, lust, and good-old western-style shootouts. Jack London described Skagway Alaska as "a little better than hell on earth."
Skagway Alaska, White Pass & Yukon Railroad
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The view from the Yukutania point trail near Skagway's airport terminal. It is an easy one-mile hike with spectacular vistas.
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In 1898 construction was completed on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, making Skagway Alaska the only port destination of note for the Yukon, and turning Dyea into little more than a ghost town. What once was an arduous and dangerous 6-month long journey through untamed wilderness was now as easy as simply purchasing a train ticket. For decades, the railroad was the lifeblood of Skagway Alaska, but today visitors are getting more in touch with its natural splendor and ecological diversity.
Skagway Alaska was the first incorporated city in Alaska. Today it boasts some of the most dramatic terrain in all of Southeast Alaska, and some of the friendliest people. The Klondike Highway connects Skagway Alaska with the Alaskan Highway making it one of only three Alaskan towns that have access to the "lower 48" via road.
Skagway Alaska's Modern Day Economy
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Mount Harding and its glacier, dwarf historic Downtown Skagway Alaska.
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A modern day economic boom is presently underway in Skagway Alaska. Annually, over a million visitors spend at least a day walking its famed boardwalks, most of which arrive by cruise ship. Some visitors choose to stay even longer and hike the Chilkoot Trail, the arduous path that brave men and women followed on their way to the Klondike during the Gold Rush.
Many are beginning to find the hidden secrets of this little northern town. While Skagway Alaska still boasts a quaint shopping district, it is the unspoiled natural terrain easily accessed by road and trail that sets it apart from other Southeast Alaska destinations.
Humpback whales cruise the shoreline, bald and golden eagles soar overhead, and world-class fishing is only a cast away. Hiking trails are within walking distance from downtown Skagway Alaska, making the "frontier" within reach of the casual visitor.
Lodging, fine dining, and RV services are available in town. Tours of the White Pass, the Yukon Territory, and the land in and around Skagway Alaska are available by various vendors. Adventure and ecological tours are becoming ever more popular and are available by booking in advance.
When visiting Alaska, spend a little extra time in Skagway. It will be the highlight of your adventure.
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Small Boat Harbor Congress Way Skagway, AK 99840 
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