The White Pass Railroad, officially the White Pass and Yukon Route, is Skagway’s signature shore excursion: a narrow-gauge train built in 1898 for the Klondike Gold Rush that leaves from beside your ship and climbs from tidewater to almost 3,000 feet at the Canadian border. The standard White Pass Summit Excursion is a 40-mile round trip of 2.5 to 2.75 hours. In 2026 it cost $155 per adult when booked with the railway, and it needs no passport.

This page is for cruise passengers choosing which White Pass trip to book, deciding whether to buy through the railway or the ship, and wondering where to sit. The one caveat that matters: any trip that carries on past the summit into Canada needs a passport, and a past impaired-driving conviction can get you turned away at the border. Last updated October 22, 2026. Every price, fee and schedule below is dated, and the sources are listed at the end.

The train is the headline among things to do in Skagway, and it’s one of the few Alaska cruise excursions that almost everyone enjoys, rain or shine. Here’s how to pick the right version of it.

White Pass Railroad at a Glance

Decision	Our pick	Why
Best trip for most cruise passengers	White Pass Summit Excursion	2.5 to 2.75 hours, no passport, $155 per adult (2026)
Best for rail fans	Steam Summit Loop	The same climb behind a steam engine, 3 hours, $249 (2026)
Best long day	Bennett Scenic Journey	8 hours and 120 miles round trip with lunch, $289 (2026); passport required
Best way into the Yukon	A rail and bus combination	Train one way, road the other, with time in Canada; passport required
Where to sit	Left side going up	The right side faces the cliff for much of the climb, and you swap at the summit
Book direct or through the ship?	Direct on a long port day, the ship on a tight one	The railway’s fare is the benchmark; the ship’s version buys a guaranteed wait
2027 bookings	Open in early November 2026	The railway had not posted 2027 fares by late September 2026

What’s Changed for 2027

Not much on the tracks, which is the point of a railroad that’s been running the same route since the gold rush. But three things are worth knowing before you book.

• 2027 fares aren’t out yet. The railway says 2027 reservations open in early November 2026. The 2026 fares on this page are the best guide until then; expect small increases rather than big changes.
• The Railroad Dock is still closed to pedestrians. Skagway’s busiest cruise dock sits below an active rockslide and has been closed to foot traffic since summer 2022, so passengers move by shuttle or small boat. The train still boards alongside ships there.
• The slope above that dock is due for work. KHNS reported that the Skagway Assembly has picked a plan to stabilize it, with construction expected between cruise seasons if a federal grant of about $20 million comes through. Dock arrangements could shift in 2027 or later.

The White Pass Railroad Routes, Compared

The railway sells a menu rather than a single ride. For cruise passengers, six options matter. Fares are 2026 adult prices booked with the railway; children 3 to 12 generally pay half, and children under 3 ride free.

Trip	Length	Adult fare (2026)	Passport?	Best for
White Pass Summit Excursion	2.5 to 2.75 hours, 40 miles round trip	$155	No	Almost everyone
Steam Summit Loop	3 hours, 40 miles round trip	$249	No	Rail fans and photographers
Bennett Scenic Journey	8 hours, 120 miles round trip	$289	Yes	Long port days and history buffs
Whitehorse-Skagway One Day Combo	About 10 hours, 28 miles by rail plus a bus leg	$175	Yes	Travelers linking Skagway and Whitehorse
Fraser or Carcross one way	1.75 hours to Fraser, 4.75 hours to Carcross	$108 to Fraser, $210 to Carcross	Yes	Rail and road combinations
Hiker service	Drop-off and pickup at trailheads	Varies	Only for trips into Canada	Hikers with a long port day

1. White Pass Summit Excursion

This is the classic, and the right choice for most cruise passengers. The train climbs from the docks to the summit of White Pass at the border, then comes back down the same way, covering 40 miles in 2.5 to 2.75 hours. You pass the waterfalls, gorges, tunnels and trestles that made the line famous, and you’re back in town with half a day left. The 2026 fare was $155 per adult and $77.50 per child, and the season ran April 30 to October 7, with some date exceptions. It doesn’t cross into Canada, so no passport is needed. Verdict: if you only do one thing in Skagway, do this.

2. Steam Summit Loop

The Steam Summit Loop covers the same 40 miles in about 3 hours, with a steam locomotive doing some of the work. The 2026 fare was $249 per adult, and the child fare was $180 rather than the usual half price, which makes it an expensive family outing. The scenery is identical to the Summit Excursion. What you’re paying for is the smell of coal smoke, the whistle echoing off the gorge and the chance to photograph a working steam engine. Verdict: worth it for rail enthusiasts, a $94 premium over the diesel trip for everyone else.

3. Bennett Scenic Journey

The long day. The Bennett Scenic Journey runs 120 miles round trip over 8 hours, past the summit and across the border to Bennett, British Columbia, where gold-rush stampeders who had crossed the passes built boats to float to the Klondike. Lunch is served, and in 2026 the adult fare was $289, with a season from May 26 to September 12. You need a passport. It only works on a long port call, and even then it leaves little time for anything else. Verdict: the best version of the ride if history is your thing and your ship is in port all day.

4. Whitehorse-Skagway One Day Combo

This rail-and-bus trip links Skagway with Whitehorse, the Yukon capital, taking about 10 hours with 28 miles by train and the rest by road. The 2026 adult fare was $175. It’s designed around travelers moving between the two towns, so check the direction and timings carefully before assuming it fits a cruise call. Most cruise passengers who want the Yukon are better served by a shorter rail-and-bus tour, covered on our Skagway to Yukon page.

5. Fraser and Carcross One-Way Trains and Connections

The railway also sells one-way seats: about 1.75 hours to Fraser, British Columbia ($108 in 2026) and about 4.75 hours to Carcross, Yukon ($210). On their own they’re for travelers heading north. Their real use for cruise passengers is as half of a train-and-bus combination, sold by the railway as Fraser Connections and Carcross and Bennett Connections, with the road leg on the Klondike Highway. You ride the train one way and a bus the other, which gives you two different views of the pass.

6. Hiker Service: Laughton Glacier, Denver and the Chilkoot

The train doubles as a trail shuttle. The railway runs hiker and camper services for the Denver and Laughton trailheads and for Chilkoot Trail hikers finishing at Bennett. The Laughton Glacier trail, reached from a flag stop partway up the line, is one of the best day hikes in Southeast Alaska, but it needs careful timing around the train schedule and a full port day. Our Laughton Glacier and Skagway hikes pages cover the details.

Which Side of the Train Should You Sit On?

Sit on the left side going up. Much of the right side faces the rock wall for long stretches of the climb, while the left looks out over the gorge, the waterfalls and the old trail. The railway’s own FAQ tells riders to watch the left-hand side for the orange mile marker signs, which says a lot about where the action is.

Don’t panic if you end up on the right. Regular riders report that at the summit the seat backs flip for the trip down and everyone switches sides, so right-side passengers get the gorge on the way back. The cars also have open platforms at each end where you can stand for photos, which is where the best pictures come from anyway. Keep a hand on the rail and your camera strap around your wrist.

A few more seating tips:

• Front or back of the train? Cars near the back give you the classic shot of the locomotives curving ahead of you on the bends.
• Window glass fogs up. Bring a cloth, or use the platforms.
• Seats are often assigned by car. On a ship’s tour you may be seated with your group, so ask at boarding if you want a platform-end seat.

What You’ll See on the Way to the Summit

The climb starts in the rail yard at the edge of town and follows the Skagway River valley before cutting up the side of the mountains toward the pass. The railway lists the highlights as Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point, Dead Horse Gulch, tunnels, trestles and the remnants of the 1898 Klondike Trail. In order, roughly:

• The lower valley. Forest, the river and your first look back at Skagway and the ships.
• Denver and Glacier stops. Flag stops used by hikers, with views up side valleys toward hanging ice.
• Bridal Veil Falls. A long ribbon of water across the valley, best after rain.
• Inspiration Point. The big view back down the valley toward Skagway and the water, where on a clear day you can see how far you’ve climbed.
• Dead Horse Gulch. Named for the pack horses that died on the White Pass trail during the stampede. Look for the faint line of the old trail on the far slopes.
• Tunnels and trestles. The line cuts through rock and crosses gorges on bridges, including an old wooden trestle it no longer uses.
• The summit. Bare rock, small lakes and often cloud, at almost 3,000 feet on the Alaska-British Columbia border.

White Pass Railroad Tickets: Book Direct or Through Your Cruise Line?

You can book the same trains two ways: directly with the railway or through your cruise line’s shore excursion desk. The railway’s published fare ($155 for the 2026 Summit Excursion) is the benchmark. Cruise lines resell the trains at their own prices, which vary by line and year, so check both before you decide.

	Book with the railway	Book with your cruise line
Price	The railway’s published fare	Set by the line, usually higher
If the train runs late	Your responsibility to make all-aboard	Lines generally hold the ship for their own tours
Boarding	At the dock; follow the railway’s instructions	Usually right beside the ship with your tour group
Best for	Long port calls and budget-minded travelers	Tight port calls and the Bennett trip

The ship’s guarantee is the real difference. Royal Caribbean, for example, says the ship will wait if one of its own shore excursions is delayed, and won’t wait for guests touring on their own. On a 2.5-hour Summit Excursion with a long port day, that insurance isn’t worth much. On an 8-hour Bennett trip with an early all-aboard, it’s worth a lot.

When to book: 2027 reservations with the railway open in early November 2026, and cruise lines open their excursion bookings on their own schedules. The popular midday Summit departures on busy ship days are the first to go. If you’re comparing the train with other Skagway excursions, such as the helicopter and dog-sled tours, book the train first; it’s the one that sells out.

Boarding at the Dock, and the All-Aboard Math

Skagway has three cruise docks, all operated by White Pass: the Railroad Dock, the Broadway Dock and the Ore Dock. The Railroad Dock has rail service right on the dock, and Broadway Dock passengers board at the end of their pier, so on most days you walk off the ship and onto the train. The railway’s FAQ says cruise passengers can board their rail tours at each of the three piers. Because the Railroad Dock is closed to pedestrians, passengers there get shuttled or ferried to town, but train passengers still board alongside the ship. The Skagway cruise port guide explains the docks in detail.

The timing math is easy for the Summit Excursion and tight for everything longer. Take the trip length, add the time the railway asks you to be at the train, and then add a 45 to 60 minute cushion before all aboard.

Trip	Trip length	Plus boarding and cushion	Port time you need
Summit Excursion	2.5 to 2.75 hours	About 1.5 hours	About 4 to 4.5 hours
Steam Summit Loop	About 3 hours	About 1.5 hours	About 4.5 hours
Bennett Scenic Journey	About 8 hours	About 1.5 hours	About 9.5 hours

Say your ship is in from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with all aboard at 4:30 p.m. A Summit Excursion at any time up to early afternoon leaves room for lunch and a walk down Broadway. A Bennett trip leaving at 8 a.m. would return around 4 p.m., which is too close to call on your own. That’s the case for booking the Bennett trip through your ship, or skipping it.

Do You Need a Passport for the White Pass Railroad?

Only if your trip goes past the summit. The White Pass Summit Excursion and the Steam Summit Loop turn back at the border, so no passport is needed. Every trip that crosses into Canada (to Fraser, Bennett or Carcross, including the rail-and-bus combinations) requires one, and each product page on the railway’s site says so. Check the specific trip before you book.

Three border issues catch cruise passengers out:

• Impaired-driving convictions. A DUI, including one involving cannabis, can make you inadmissible to Canada as serious criminality, wherever the conviction happened. People can apply for criminal rehabilitation five years after finishing their sentence. If this applies to you, stick to the Summit Excursion.
• Cannabis. Taking cannabis or cannabis products, including CBD, across the Canadian border in either direction is illegal without Health Canada authorization. Leave it on the ship, or better, at home.
• Green card holders. U.S. permanent residents have been exempt from Canada’s eTA since April 26, 2022, but Canada says they must carry both a passport and a green card. Travelers of other nationalities should check Canada’s rules for arriving by land before booking.

Is the White Pass Railroad Worth It?

For most people, yes. It’s the most complete introduction to the gold rush story Skagway exists to tell, it takes you somewhere you couldn’t reach on foot, and it works for every age and fitness level. It’s also one of the few Alaska excursions that doesn’t depend on wildlife or a flight window.

The honest downsides: $155 for about 2.5 hours on a busy train isn’t cheap, the summit is often wrapped in cloud, and on a five-ship day the trains are full. The Summit Excursion is also a there-and-back ride. If you want time on the ground in Canada, you need a longer trip. Verdict: book the Summit Excursion unless you have a strong reason to do something else, and treat clear weather as a bonus rather than the point.

Weather on the Pass

Skagway is one of the driest cruise ports in Southeast Alaska, which is good news for a train ride. NOAA 1991-2020 normals for the Skagway airport show summer highs in the upper 50s to mid-60s and far less rain than Juneau or Ketchikan. The summit is a different story: almost 3,000 feet higher, it’s colder and windier and often in cloud, so bring a warm layer even on a sunny day in town.

Month	Skagway average high / low	Rain
May	58.1°F / 42.7°F	1.07 in
June	62.9°F / 49.3°F	1.16 in
July	64.5°F / 52.0°F	1.38 in
August	63.4°F / 51.0°F	2.35 in
September	57.0°F / 46.1°F	3.89 in

Early-season trips in May and June often run past snow at the summit, which makes for the most dramatic photos. Late August and September bring fall color on the slopes and more cloud. There’s no bad month, only different ones.

Accessibility and Traveling With Kids

The railway says the Summit train has a wheelchair lift, but space in lift-equipped cars is limited, so tell the railway (or your cruise line) when you reserve if anyone in your party needs it. Holland America and Princess both list wheelchair-accessible versions of their White Pass tours. The vintage cars have narrow aisles and steps at the ends, so travelers with limited mobility should ask about seating when they book.

Kids tend to love it: tunnels, a real train, and a narrated ride short enough to hold their attention. Children 3 to 12 generally pay half fare and children under 3 ride free (2026), although the Steam Summit Loop charges $180 for children. Our guide to things to do in Skagway with kids has more ideas for the rest of the day.

A Short History of the White Pass and Yukon Route

In 1897 and 1898, tens of thousands of stampeders poured through Skagway and nearby Dyea on their way to the Klondike gold fields in Canada’s Yukon. From Dyea they climbed the Chilkoot Trail; from Skagway they took the White Pass trail, a brutal route that killed so many pack animals that one ravine is still called Dead Horse Gulch. Canada required each stampeder to bring a year’s worth of supplies, which meant relaying loads up the pass for weeks.

The narrow-gauge railroad, begun in 1898, replaced all that. It climbs from tidewater to almost 3,000 feet in about 20 miles, a feat that took blasting, tunneling and trestles across gorges that still look improbable from the window. By the time it was finished, the rush was already fading, but the railway carried freight and passengers for most of the next century and now carries cruise passengers along the same line.

For the rest of the story, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in downtown Skagway covers the stampede, and the Chilkoot Trail is still hiked end to end by backpackers today. Note that the park no longer offers ranger-led walking tours; it has a self-guided tour through the NPS App instead.

Mistakes to Avoid on the White Pass Train

1. Booking a Canada trip without a passport. The railway checks, and so does the border. If your passport is at home, stick to the Summit Excursion.
2. Forgetting the DUI rule. A decades-old conviction can still make you inadmissible to Canada. Don’t find out at Fraser.
3. Dressing for town. Skagway can be mild while the summit is cold, windy and wet. A warm layer and a rain shell go in the bag.
4. Staying glued to the seat. The open platforms at the ends of each car are where the views and photos are.
5. Stacking too much into one day. An 8-hour Bennett trip leaves no room for anything else, and a Summit Excursion plus a helicopter tour needs a long port call.
6. Paying twice for the same view. If your ship is doing a helicopter or road tour up the pass, you may not need the train as well. Read what each tour includes.

How to Build Your Skagway Day Around the Train

The Summit Excursion takes half a port day, which leaves the other half for Skagway itself. A few combinations that work:

• Train plus town. Do the train in the morning, then a self-guided Skagway walking tour of Broadway and the gold-rush buildings in the afternoon. It’s the best value day in Southeast Alaska.
• Train plus dogs. Skagway dog sledding, from summer cart rides to helicopter trips to glacier camps, pairs well with the train if your port call is long enough.
• Train plus air. A Skagway helicopter tour gives you ice and glaciers the train can’t reach. Book the flight early in the day, when weather allows, and the train after.
• Train plus a hike. The trails above town are free and start from the streets.
• Train plus nothing. Plenty of people are happy with the train and lunch. Our guide to the best restaurants in Skagway covers where to eat.

If the train is sold out or not for you, there are good things to do in Skagway without an excursion, and a list of free things to do in Skagway for budget days. For the Yukon by road, see the Skagway to Yukon trips. The Skagway to Haines ferry is another option if your ship is in port all day. The full menu of Skagway excursions, from the train to the ziplines, gets its own comparison page. For the rest of the port, from the docks to the gold-rush sights, see our full Skagway port day guide, and for how the train compares with shore tours in other ports, see our overview of Alaska cruise excursions.

White Pass Railroad FAQ

How much are White Pass Railroad tickets?

In 2026 the White Pass Summit Excursion cost $155 per adult and $77.50 per child booked with the railway. The Steam Summit Loop was $249, and the 8-hour Bennett Scenic Journey $289. Cruise lines resell the same trains at their own prices. The railway opens 2027 reservations in early November 2026, when new fares appear.

How long is the White Pass Railroad excursion?

The standard White Pass Summit Excursion takes 2.5 to 2.75 hours for the 40-mile round trip from Skagway to the summit and back. The Steam Summit Loop takes about 3 hours, and the Bennett Scenic Journey about 8 hours. Allow roughly 1.5 extra hours for boarding and a safe cushion before all aboard.

Do you need a passport for the White Pass train?

Not for the Summit Excursion or the Steam Summit Loop, which turn back at the border. Any trip that crosses into Canada, to Fraser, Bennett or Carcross, including rail-and-bus combinations, requires a passport. Travelers with a past DUI conviction should check Canada’s admissibility rules before booking a cross-border trip.

Which side of the White Pass train is best?

The left side going up. The right side faces the cliff for much of the climb, while the left looks over the gorge and waterfalls. Riders report that everyone switches sides at the summit for the ride down, and you can stand on the open platforms at the ends of each car for photos.

Should I book the White Pass Railroad through my cruise line?

On a tight port call or for the 8-hour Bennett trip, yes, because lines generally hold the ship for their own late tours. On a long port day, booking the Summit Excursion directly with the railway is usually cheaper, and the trip is short enough that the guarantee matters less. Compare both prices first.

Is the White Pass Railroad worth it?

For most cruise passengers, yes. It tells Skagway’s gold-rush story better than anything else, reaches country you couldn’t get to on foot, and suits every age and fitness level. The downsides are the price, full trains on busy days and cloud at the summit, which can hide the view at the top.

Can you combine the White Pass Railroad with a bus tour?

Yes. The railway sells train-and-bus combinations that ride the train one way through the pass and return by road on the Klondike Highway, with options to Fraser, Bennett and Carcross. They take longer than the Summit Excursion and need a passport, so check the timings against your all-aboard time.

Related Alaska Cruise Guides

• Things to Do in Skagway on a Cruise: The Complete Skagway Port Guide
• Alaska Cruise Excursions: The Best Shore Excursions by Port and Type

Sources and How We Checked

We checked the prices, rules, schedules and ship deployments in this guide against the sources below on September 26, 2026, and we log each one in our research database with the date it was checked. Cruise lines change ships, fares and fees every season, so confirm anything that affects your booking with the line or the agency concerned. Alaska Cruise Guide (AlaskaCruise.org) is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with any cruise line, port, tour operator or tourism office, and no one paid to be included.

• Alaska Public Media: Skagway Railroad Dock rockslide
• Canada Border Services Agency: Canada entry – cannabis
• Government of Canada: Canada entry – DUI
• khns.org: Skagway Railroad Dock rockslide
• National Park Service: Klondike Gold Rush NHP
• NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: Skagway weather
• Royal Caribbean: shore excursions
• White Pass & Yukon Route: Skagway docks
• White Pass & Yukon Route: White Pass & Yukon Route
• White Pass & Yukon Route: White Pass & Yukon Route
• White Pass & Yukon Route: White Pass & Yukon Route
• White Pass & Yukon Route: White Pass & Yukon Route

Photo Credits

• White Pass and Yukon Route train at Glacier station: photo by Nils Öberg, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• White Pass and Yukon Route steam locomotive No. 73: photo by Josh Grenier, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
• White Pass and Yukon Route at Ptarmigan Point: photo by YukonExpatriate, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• Passing trains on the White Pass and Yukon Route: photo by Cullen328, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Old wooden trestle on the White Pass and Yukon Route: photo by Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
• Railcars beside a cruise ship in Skagway: photo by GeneMJ530, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
• Carcross Depot, White Pass and Yukon Route: photo by Len@Loblolly, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)