Klondike COrridor Gold Rush tours 

Tin Cup greets you in Juneau, the capitol city of Alaska. Surrounded by spruce tree covered mountains and the sparkling Gastineau Channel, it is an unparalleled jumping off point on our journey up the Klondike Corridor. A point of departure for some 1898 stampeders heading to Skagway and on to the gold fields, it is the original lands of the Haida-Tlingit. We’ll view all of Juneau’s beauty from 1,800 feet with a ride on the Goldbelt Tram then enjoy a Klondike-themed opening dinner and interactive show. (Overnight accommodations in Juneau.)

Note: You'll arrange your own air transportation to Juneau but Friends of the Klondike Corridor is happy to advise and assist you in any way. Please plan to arrive at the Juneau airport by 4pm.

With a full day in Juneau, there’s much to explore! History comes alive at Juneau’s world-class Alaska State Museum where we’ll learn more about the first inhabitants of the region and the gold mining origins of the city. Our visit to the astounding Mendenhall Glacier will inspire a reverence for the power of nature. Some gold panning practice at the AJ Mine and Gastineau Mill will help us appreciate the difficulties faced by the Klondike Gold Rush stampeders. And our walking tour of downtown Juneau featuring the Russian Orthodox Church, the State Capitol Building, the Governor’s Mansion, and the majestic Whale Project sculpture will further our appreciation for the history and beauty of Alaska. (Overnight accommodations in Juneau.)

We'll take a stunning ferry ride up the Lynn Canal from Juneau to Skagway.  Following the route navigated by the steamers during the Klondike Gold Rush, we'll recreate the stampeders’ ship adventure as we gaze upon a landscape that has changed little since the Tlingit people plied these waters in expertly built canoes. When we arrive in Skagway, “the Gateway to the Klondike,” we step into a town that had a booming population of 8,000 to 10,000 in 1898! Today it is a quaint tourist destination surrounded by towering mountains. This afternoon, we’ll explore the waterfront and take in the “Days of 98” show to learn about one of Skagway’s more notorious residents, Soapy Smith. We’ll cap the day off with excellent food and Alaska-themed libations at the Skagway Brewing Company.  (Overnight accommodations in Skagway.)

Skagway will immerse us in the history of the Klondike Gold Rush. Our first stop today, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park with its interactive exhibits, will spark our historical exploration. We’ll step into our character roles on the waterfront, imagining what those stampeders encountered when they first stepped upon the shores of Alaska. Our tour of National Park sites and other historic buildings associated with the Klondike Gold Rush including the Moore House and the Rapuzzi House, will immerse us in Skagway’s past. In the evening, after enjoying some delicious local seafood, we’ll visit the historic Red Onion Saloon and learn more about Skagway’s lively Gold Rush history. (Overnight accommodations in Skagway.)

Today the serene natural landscape and provocative history of Dyea awaits. Thousands of stampeders journeyed from Skagway to Dyea then up and over the Chilkoot Trail. Dyea, originally a native Tlingit village then, was transformed almost overnight. It became a wild and wooly boomtown with over 150 businesses in 1898. Nature has reclaimed Dyea making it a serene outpost and a reflection of a time before thousands came searching for gold. On our way to Dyea, we’ll stop at the Gold Rush Cemetery and see where Soapy Smith, his adversary, Frank Reid, and other notable Skagway citizens are buried. We’ll also enjoy the wide range of activities offered at Alaska 360, including gold rush training camp. In Dyea, we’ll explore the original townsite, stroll along the river and walk a portion of the Chilkoot Trail. Before heading back into town, we’ll have an authentic Klondike dinner at the Chilkoot trailhead reliving those exciting but tense moments experienced by the stampeders as they readied to embark on the perilous journey ahead. (Overnight accommodations in Skagway or Dyea.)

Today we embark on one of the most spectacular rail journeys in the world, the White Pass Summit Excursion. Built after the Klondike Gold Rush, the route follows the stampeders’ alternative method of getting to the goldfields. The White Pass was a route that was less steep but no less daunting. Inspired by the rush to the Klondike goldfields, the rail line, which began construction in 1898, is a major feat of engineering which you will witness firsthand. The 67.5-mile, five-hour trip will offer incredible views, taking us through Fraser, British Columbia, all the way to Lake Bennet and Carcross in the magnificent Yukon Territory.  

Lake Bennet was where the Klondike stampeders began their journey down the Yukon River after traversing the Chilkoot Trail.  We’ll recreate the struggle to build a boat so many faced here on gorgeous Lake Bennet then explore historic Carcross. We’ll enjoy a bite at Carcross Commons, browse the wares in the Matthew Watson General Store, and explore the story of the first people of this area at the Haa Shagóon Hídi Cultural Center. We’ll then journey north by passenger van with stops at the Carcross Desert and Emerald Lake on our way to Whitehorse-the capital of the Yukon. (Overnight accommodations in Whitehorse.)

Named after the formidable rapids that resembled giant white horses, Whitehorse is the lively capital of the Yukon. In 1898, stampeders, in their homemade boats, navigated the treacherous waters here on their way to Dawson City. There’s much to do in Whitehorse as we explore history and recreate the Klondike Gold Rush at the MacBride Museum, the Yukon Transportation Museum, and Parks Canada's S.S. Klondike. We’ll learn about the indigenous people of this land at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, glimpse the power of nature at Miles Canyon, and have up close wildlife encounters at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. 

In the evening, we’ll enjoy Klondike character fun and a chef prepared dinner at Caribou RV.  (Overnight accommodations in Whitehorse.)

After a filling breakfast of sourdough pancakes, it’s off to Dawson City on the North Klondike Highway, passing through some of the most remote wilderness you’ll ever witness. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, moose, and caribou on this incomparable six-hour journey which takes us through the ancestral lands of many First Nations of the Yukon. Our first stop on this route is Lake Laberge where the Yukon River widens out for 31 miles. Trumpeter Swans are often seen here. We’ll stop for vittles and giant cinnamon buns at Braeburn Lodge. Continuing our drive beside the mighty Yukon River, a stop at Five Finger Rapids will reveal one of the major obstacles on the water route to the north. After a quick stop at the always fun Moose Creek Lodge, we’ll stop to view the expansive Tintina Trench, one of the great views in all of the Yukon. As our memorable day ambling through the Yukon comes to a close, one of the most eclectic towns in all of Canada and the place where dreams of finding gold glimmered for those thousands of stampeders in 1898, Dawson City, awaits.  

After absorbing some of the ambience of this historic and well-preserved town, we’ll enjoy a hearty evening meal. Those who are of a mind, can cap their evening with a Sourtoe Cocktail at the Jack London Grill. (Overnight accommodations in Dawson City.)

Still maintaining a Klondike Gold Rush look and feel, Dawson City is where the gold was found and the story began. Thousands of stampeders made it here while many more did not. To relive that story in vivid detail, we’ll don our costumes and roleplay 1898 in various locations during our time here.  Our day starts with a walking tour of Writer’s Row where we’ll visit Jack London’s cabin and see how his time in the Klondike inspired two of his most popular works, “White Fang” and “The Call of the Wild.” Next stop, Robert Service’s cabin, where we’ll hear a few of the poems which immortalized the gold rush era. Then it’s out to Discovery Claim, the actual site where a Tagish man named Skookum Jim found the glittering yellow metal that set off the mass migration north. We’ll pan for actual gold nearby at Claim #6 on Bonanza Creek and roleplay the hardships and obsession of working to strike it rich. (You can keep what you find.) On our way back into town, we’ll drive up to the Midnight Dome and take in an astounding view of Dawson City and the bordering wilderness expanse. Like stampeders who’ve struck it rich, we’ll wrap up our day in Dawson City with a rousing show at Diamond Tooth Gerties. (Overnight accommodations in Dawson City.)

Our tour’s grand finale is a day filled with history and interactive fun as we walk the plankboard sidewalks of a town founded upon the lure of gold. Our day begins with a stroll along Front Street, the Broadway of the North in 1898, where we’ll enjoy eclectic shops and intriguing history. The Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre will provide us with a greater sense of the history of the First Nation of Dawson City, the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in. Next, a tour of the S.S. Keno will remind us of the days of the steamers while a boat ride on the Yukon will give us an up-close view of this mighty river. 

After lunch we’ll take a Parks Canada walking tour of Dawson City’s many preserved historic structures as we roleplay and imagine Dawson City during the Klondike Gold Rush. Stops will include Arizona Charlie’s Palace Grand Theatre, the Red Feather Saloon, the former post office, and the Bank of British North America. To wrap up our Dawson City exploration, we’ll visit the Dawson City Museum browsing its world-class exhibits and preserved artifacts including historic locomotives.

Our amazing Klondike Gold Rush tour will conclude with a Yukon-themed closing dinner and one last roleplay to put a wrap on the mini–Klondike Gold Rush movie we’ve created.  (Overnight accommodations in Dawson City.)

As we say our “see you again soons” and depart company at the Dawson City airport, each of us will carry a new sense of wonder and curiosity. As Tin Cup and many others will attest, one trip to Alaska and the Yukon is never your last. The region seeps into your soul in a glorious way and thankfully never leaves. As Tin Cup always says, “Ya Gotta Get on Up Here!” And in this case, “Ya Gotta Get back Up Here.”