Skagway, AK
August 10th, 2022
Today the ship stops in Skagway for the day. Skagway is a historic city in Southeast Alaska renowned as the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush. It is located at the northernmost end of the Lynn Canal in a narrow glaciated valley.
We decided not to do any of the excursions offered by the cruise ship. Instead, we rented a car and drove up into the Yukon. The primary road from Skagway into the Yukon is the South Klondike Highway, which is part of the larger Klondike Highway that extends to Dawson City. This route is open year-round and travels through British Columbia and the Yukon Territory, passing through historic areas and offering stunning scenery, including the White Pass Summit. A passport is required for entry into Canada, luckily we had our passports, but apparently we were also supposed to register the trip on-line with the Canada App. They scolded us, but let us in anyway.
Ron and Chris joined us for the ride. Ron was excited to see all the rocks in the area and told us of a “desert” that we could visit as well. I was not expecting a desert in the Yukon, but he was right. It was amazing! The Carcross Desert in the Yukon is a unique area of active sand dunes, often referred to as the "world's smallest desert," though it is technically not a true desert due to insufficient aridity. Unlike most deserts I have been to this one was cold!
Entrance to the Carcross Desert
The Bistro
There was one bar/restaurant in the area, so we stopped in for a pint!
A pint in the Bistro with Ron.
Klondike Highway
The Klondike Highway had some interesting bridges we had to cross. Thankfully we made it!
View of our ship as we drove back into Skagway.
We had time after turning in the rental car, so we walked around town and found the Red Onion Saloon Brothel Museum: This historic saloon offers unique walking tours that delves into the town's colorful past, particularly the lives of the "working girls" during the gold rush era. We skipped the museum tour, but it is also a saloon, so we stayed for a beer as well.
Red Onion Saloon and Museum
