White Pass & Yukon Route

Built in 1898 to open the Klondike region of Yukon Territory to gold seekers, this narrow gauge railway, originally stretching from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, was completed in 1900—just in time for the Klondike Gold Rush to be over. It took the labor of 35,000 men, using only black blasting powder and crude tools to battle the elements and treacherous landscapes, to hew out the 110-mile narrow gauge line. The railway hauled freight and passengers for over 80 years before closing down in 1982 after a dramatic fall in world ore prices. But WP&YR persevered and reopened its doors six years later as “The Scenic Railway of the World,” providing rail excursions to tourists from all over the world. In 1994, WP&YR was named an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, joining the likes of the Statue of Liberty and the Panama Canal in this prestigious honor. Today, guests experience the breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, trestles & tunnels from the comfort of vintage rail cars. Hear a fully narrated tour of the White Pass featuring tales of villainous gun-slingers and good-time girls, or would-be gold seekers struggling towards the Yukon, and see with your own eyes the untouched, pristine beauty of the Pacific Coastal Mountains. Trips depart from Skagway, AK, Fraser, BC, Carcross, YT, & Whitehorse, YT, between early May and late September each year. The White Pass & Yukon Route is Alaska’s most popular shore excursion and a favorite on many Alaska/Yukon travelers’ must-see lists.