The 13,191 acres of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park stretch from the Southeast Alaska community of Skagway north along the Canadian border.
Accessibility: Skagway is accessible by plane, the South Klondike Highway and Alaska Marine Highway System ferries. History: The park commemorates the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897 – 1898, when tens of thousands of gold prospectors made their journey over the Chilkoot Pass to Canada’s Yukon goldfields in hopes of making their fortune. The miners were required to have a year’s worth of supplies, causing them to make several trips over the rugged, 33-mile trail.
The downtown Skagway Historic District became a national landmark in 1962 and joined the national register in 1966. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park joined the national register in 1976 and the Chilkoot Trail became a national landmark in 1978. The park was designated as an international historical park by presidential proclamation in 1998.
Unique features: There are 15 restored, Gold Rush-era buildings in the Skagway Historic District, including the Mascot Saloon, White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad Depot and Moore House, which was the first structure built in Skagway.
Nearby, the infamous 33-mile Chilkoot Trail begins at Dyea, a now deserted town site that thrived from 1897 to 1898.
A portion of the White Pass Trail, another popular gold rush route, is also in the park.
Temperature: Summer temperatures in Skagway are regularly above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, while wintertime temperatures dip into the teens. Conditions vary in other areas of the park, such as the Chilkoot Trail, where elevation and greater snowfall create more extreme conditions.
Activities and attractions: The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park offers a balance of history and outdoor adventure. Take a ranger-led walking tour of the Skagway Historic District and old Dyea town site. Explore the Moore House and watch the 30-minute film, “Days of Adventure, Dreams of Gold” at the visitor center. Then, go on a day hike and make camp at the Dyea Campground. Or make plans for a multi-day journey on the Chilkoot Trail.
Fees: The ere are no entrance fees for Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. However, permits are required for hiking the Chilkoot Trail and camping in the Dyea Campground.
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