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Skagway Basics

Skagway, the first city incorporated in the Alaska territory, is located at the head of the Taiya Inlet, in the north end of the Lynn Canal. By road or train, Skagway is less than 20 miles from the US-Canadian border. The town's official population is only 800 inhabitants, but that number swells to over 2,000 during the summer months.

The mainstay of Skagway's economy is tourism. In 2011, a projected 750,000 tourists will make a visit to Skagway--the vast majority of them coming on the roughly 350 cruise ships that visit the city between May and September.

Skagway enjoys a maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Due to its location in the temperate rainforest of Alaska's Inside Passage, Skagway enjoys moderate temperatures year round. Summer is the nicest time of the year to visit the town, as the daily high temperatures hover in the mid-60s F, and there's plenty of daylight to be enjoyed.

First Impressions

Skagway enjoyed its place in the sun just before the turn of the 20th century, as the town was the transportation nexus for tens of thousands of prospectors suffering from gold lust. But while the Klondike Gold Rush was short lived, the town of Skagway lives on, year after year reintroducing the world to the beauty of its location as the gateway to the Yukon.

Little Skagway--only 4 blocks wide and 16 blocks long--has the true feel of a frontier western town: clapboard one and two story buildings with false fronts, 19th century architecture and sidewalks built out of timber planks. Broadway Street, Skagway's main drag and historic district, hosts most of the town's commercial activities.

When the cruise ships arrive in the summer months, the population of the town swells appreciably, particularly on those days when four or five ships moor at the town's docks, sending more than 10,000 passengers and crew into the downtown streets and tourist spots throughout the area. It's akin to a human salmon run in August--it gets mighty crowded.

Many passengers who have taken cruise vacations in Alaska have said that Skagway is their favorite port--and with good reason. The scenery is spectacular, the Skagwayans are proud of their town and full of Alaskan hospitality, the history of the place is on display wherever you look, and the activities available in and around the town are fun, educational and enjoyable.

Many of the people you'll meet during the summer months are not full time residents of Skagway; they're imported to help manage the businesses that are dependent on tourism. Don't forget to leave a tip, as they're probably paying for their college tuition.

Your ship will dock at one of the city's docks--the Broadway Dock, which is situated at the end of Broadway, the Railroad Dock, which is at the southern end of the town, or at the Ore Dock, which is located at the end of Main Street. Some smaller ships dock at the Ferry Dock. It's a short walk to the town's shopping, dining and historic areas.

Time Zone

Skagway is on Alaska Time, nine hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or eight hours during daylight savings time. Daylight savings time begins on the second Sunday of March, and ends on the first Sunday of November.

Language

English is universally spoken in Skagway.

Currency

The U.S. dollar is the official currency in Alaska. Canadian dollars are accepted in Alaska as well. You'll also find Canadian coins circulating freely in the state, and are accepted at par to their U.S. counterparts.

Banks and ATMs

ATM machines in Skagway are pretty scarce, since the town's year-round population is only around 800 people. There's only one bank in town, which is found at the following location:

Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo has a branch with an ATM located at 601 Broadway Street.

Another ATM machine can be found at the following location:

Westmark Hotel: is located at 3rd and Spring Streets.

Our Skagway ATM map shows you the locations of Skagway's ATMs.

Weather

Skagway enjoys a maritime climate, with cool summers and mild winters. Due to its location in the temperate rainforest of Alaska's Inside Passage, Skagway enjoys moderate temperatures year round.

Skagway enjoys only 85 days of clear weather each year. Situated within the shadow of the mountains, Skagway receives less year-round than is typical of Southeast Alaska. Rainfall is pretty minimal during the summer months, with light mist and showers more common than heavy downpours. June and July are the driest months, with an average of just over one inch of rain falling each month.

It never really gets hot in Skagway, except on those few days each year when the temperature exceeds 80° F (27° C). During the summer season, expect average highs in the mid-60s F (high-teens C), and evening lows in the high 40s F (about 9° C).

Skagway Average Temperatures
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High - F	27	33	40	50	59	65	68	65	57	47	35	31
Avg High - C	-3	1	4	10	15	18	20	18	14	8	2	-1
Avg Low - F	18	22	27	33	40	47	50	49	44	37	26	22
Avg Low - C	-8	-6	-3	1	4	8	10	9	7	3	-3	-6

Skagway Average Precipitation
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg, Inches	2.2	2.0	1.4	1.1	1.4	1.3	1.2	2.3	3.6	1.6	2.3	2.8
Avg, mm	55	50	35	27	35	32	29	59	92	117	58	70

Skagway Average Daylight Hours
	Jan		Feb		Mar		Apr		May		Jun		Jul		Aug		Sep		Oct		Nov		Dec
Avg Daylight Hrs	7.2		9.4		11.8		14.4		16.8		18.3		17.6		15.4		12.9		10.3		7.9		6.4

Skagway Weather Forecast, AK

Keeping In Touch

Internet Cafes

You can find internet access in Skagway at the following locales:

Northern Exposures Photo Shop, located at 377 2nd Ave., offers 5 internet-linked computers. Tel: (907) 983-3767.

Port of Call, located next door to the Northern Exposure, at 375 2nd Ave., offers internet access along with money transfers, international food, calling cards and phone services. Tel: (907) 983-9503.

The Skagway Bazaar, located at 6th and Broadway, offers Wi-Fi connectivity at the building's coffee shop. The building also houses a few jewelry stores and a bakery that sells enormous freshly baked cookies. During the summer months they come hot out of the oven every 20 minutes.

To see the locations of Juneau's Internet Cafes/Wi-Fi locations, see our Map of Skagway Internet Cafe/Wi-Fi locations.

Finding US Newspapers

The free Skagway News, published twice each month, as well as the Juneau Daily News, can be found in select locations in Skagway.

Kindle Connectivity

In Skagway, you can download your Kindle newspaper and magazine subscriptions, as well as books and selected blogs, through AT&T's 3-G coverage in the city.

Local Holidays & Festivals

Look for the following local festivals, holidays and events taking place in Skagway in 2012:

New Year's Day, January 1.

Backcountry Bash & Ball, March 10 to 12.

26th Annual Buckwheat Ski Classic, March 24. Look for 10K, 25K and 50K cross country ski races along a breathtaking White Pass Mountain course which gold seekers traversed during the Gold Rush of 1898. For amateurs and professionals.

Seward's Day, March 30. Commemorates the signing of the treaty by which the United States bought Alaska from Russia.

Good Friday, April 6.

Easter Sunday, April 8.

25th Annual International Folk Festival, April 20.

3rd Annual Craft Brew Festival, April 21.

2nd Annual Skagway Marathon, June 9. The inaugural Skagway Marathon will take runners from Skagway up the Dyea Road to West Creek and back.

International Softball Tournament, July 2 to 4. Teams from Alaska and Canada compete for the title.

Independence Day, July 4. They have fun in Skagway on the nation's independence day.

Pat Moore Memorial Game Fish Derby, July 12 to 15. This event enables families, kids and anglers a chance to get out in the fresh ocean air and fish for cash prizes and gift certificates from local merchants.

Klondike International Road Relay, September 7 to 8. This 110-mile race starts Friday evening in Skagway and continues all night along the road, ending in Whitehorse, Yukon on Saturday afternoon. Teams of 10 members from all over the world compete in this event.

Alaska Day, October 18. Anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory and the raising of the U.S. flag at Sitka in 1867.

Thanksgiving Day, November 22. A day to give thanks for the things one has at the close of the harvest season.

Yuletide & Santa Train, December. Activities include the lighting of the tree followed by open houses at the AB Hall and Park Service visitor center. The annual Yuletide Ball is held on one evening, and many additional activities and contests take place, including dancing, shopping and walking around a gold rush town.

Christmas Day, December 25. The most important Christian holiday.

Cruise Lines Making Port

Skagway is the third most popular Alaskan destination for the seasonal Alaskan cruise ship trade, which extends from May through September. It's not unusual to have up to six ships visiting Skagway at any one time. In 2012, Skagway will host just over 715,000 cruise ship passengers sailing on 354 ships. If you'd like to see which cruise ships are scheduled to make port in Skagway, check out our Skagway Cruise Ship Schedule - 2012.

The following cruise lines make port in Skagway: