Klondike Electric Bicycles
Start your Ebike tour here at Klondike Electric Bicycles, located at the corner of Fifth and State in the heart of the Skagway historic district. After checking in, you will be briefed on how to safely operate our fleet of electric bikes and provided a helmet. Our bikes are an amazing way to experience Skagway and the surrounding areas in a fun, accessible, and family friendly way. With both pedal assist and twist throttle,our bikes will propel you up to 20 mph and will provide you with exciting memories. The shop also offers a fun gift shop featuring over 30 Alaskan artists and makers. The building itself was built in 1899 by Si Tanner and has served as the first jail in Skagway as well as various mercantile stores and bakeries over the years.
Skagway Waterfront and unofficial Ship Registry
Introduction to SkagwayA great way to start your Ebike adventure in Skagway is a visit to the Skagway waterfront. Park your Ebike at the end of Congress Way, close to the start of the Railroad Dock. This dock alongside the cliff face was the original location of the "Moore Dock and Wharf" Take a moment to peruse the rock face and notice all paintings that memorialize the first visit of a ship to Skagway. The oldest is said to date back to 1908.Skagway's BeginningsThis history of Skagway goes back 10,000 to 15,000 years. The original stewards of this land are the "Tlingit" people. These original costal inhabitants created a rich history in the area living a sustainable life intertwined with the land and its bounty. For thousands of years they thrived in the neighboring valleys often trading with other First Nation peoples living on the other side of the costal mountain range. Eventually, the trading routes they used to traverse the steep mountain passes would be coveted by gold prospectors as an entry point for access to the interior of Alaska, and the Yukon Territory.After sporadic inroads made by American and Canadian prospectors a formal investigation into this trade route was made in 1886. One of the members of the survey team was an intrepid steamship captain called William Moore. Moore saw the potential in the land and realized that it's topography lent itself to there on day being a train route created over the pass.As a dreamer an entrepreneur, Moore seized the opportunity to stay behind and carve out a homestead for himself. Naming the valley "Mooresville" he started modestly with a single cabin, a sawmill, and wharf. He had big dreams, and just needed thousands of people to pass through town on their way north to make them a reality. 10 long years later those dreams came true with the discovery of gold in the Klondike. In 1897 thousands of men and women flowed into the valley at the inception of the Klondike Gold Rush.
Centennial Park and WP&YR Railroad Exhibit
Centennial Park offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with two of the White Pass railroad's most unique artifacts, The Rotary Snowplow, and Engine "52" this first to ever makes its way down the freshly laid rails here in Skagway.The White Pass and Yukon Route - Gateway to the KlondikeAfter the discovery of gold 700 miles to the North the great Klondike Gold Rush began. This migration of over 100,000 men and woman to the newly discovered gold fields of Bonanza Creek turned the small homestead of "Mooresville" into the boomtown of "Skagway" The influx of people became impossible for Moore to manage and the new stampeders essentially took over the town and changed the name to Skagway, which in the Tlingit language means "rough and windy place" As the population increased and the White Pass and Chilkoot trails were overrun by prospecters, the immediate need for a railway came into focus. Miners and all of their supplies needed to be moved and moved quickly.In 1897, three separate companies were organized to build a rail link from Skagway to Fort Selkirk, Yukon, 325 miles (523 km) away. Largely financed by British investors organized by Close Brothers merchant bank, a railroad was soon under construction. A 3 ft (914 mm) gauge was chosen by the railway contract builder Michael Heney. The narrow roadbed required by narrow gauge greatly reduced costs when the roadbed was blasted in solid rock. Even so, 450 tons of explosives were used to reach White Pass summit. The narrow gauge also permitted tighter radii to be used on curves, making the task easier by allowing the railroad to follow the landscape more, rather than having to be blasted through it.Construction started in May 1898, but they encountered obstacles in dealing with the Skagway city government and the town's crime boss, Soapy Smith. The company president, Samuel H. Graves (1852–1911), was elected as chairman of the vigilante organization that was trying to expel Soapy and his gang of confidence men and rogues. On the evening of July 8, 1898, Soapy Smith was killed in the Shootout on the Juneau Wharf with guards at one of the vigilante's meetings. Samuel Graves witnessed the shooting. The railroad helped block off the escape routes of the gang, aiding in their capture, and the remaining difficulties in Skagway subsided.On July 21, 1898, an excursion train hauled passengers for 4 miles (6.4 km) out of Skagway, the first train to operate in Alaska. On July 30, 1898, the charter rights and concessions of the three companies were acquired by the White Pass & Yukon Railway Company Limited, a new company organized in London. Construction reached the 2,885-foot (879.3 m) summit of White Pass, 20 miles (32 km) away from Skagway, by mid-February 1899. The railway reached Bennett, BC on July 6, 1899. In the summer of 1899, construction started north from Carcross to Whitehorse, 110 miles (177 km) north of Skagway. The construction crews working from Bennett along a difficult lakeshore reached Carcross the next year, and the last spike was driven on July 29, 1900, with service starting on August 1, 1900. By then much of the Gold Rush fever had died down.
Moore Homestead
A Bold PredictionIn 1887, Captain Moore first visited this quiet valley that the local Tlingit Natives call "Shghagwei," which means rugged or windplace. Due to the numbers of prospectors working in Alaska and the Yukon, Moore predicted that there would be a major gold strike and foresaw the importance of this valley as a gateway to the interior goldfields.To make money on this future gold rush, he and his son Ben homesteaded 160 acres here and began making improvements to the land. Over the next ten years they built a wharf and sawmill to support their homestead claim and began opening the White Pass Trail. Their 1887 log cabin, still preserved next to the Moore House, remains the oldest structure in Skagway.Cultures Merge On The FrontierWhile making improvements to the land and working in canneries around southeast Alaska to earn money, Ben met his future wife, Klinget-sai-yet Shotridge. She came from a prestigious Tlingit family, and their marriage in 1890 provided the means for an alliance and friendship with the Native peoples of the area. The couple moved to Skagway in 1896 and lived in the one-room log cabin for a short period of time.Shotridge, whom Ben renamed "Minnie Elizabeth Moore," bore them three children: Bernard Jr. ("Bennie"), Edith Gertrude, and Frances Flora. While relations between the Moores and the local Native community were strengthened by this marriage, relations between Ben and his father were strained by it. Captain Moore did not approve of the marriage, and this tension was an early sign of more difficult times ahead.A Growing Family In A Growing TownIn 1897 Ben and Minnie built a new one-and-a-half story wood frame house directly in front of their original cabin. They enlarged the house several times over the next few years as their family size and personal wealth increased. By 1904 the house had evolved to its appearance in the above photograph, which helped guide its future restoration by the National Park Service.The growth of the house and the family mirrored the growth of Skagway. As the gold rush boomed, more than 10,000 people flocked to Skagway on their way to the gold fields. The Moores profited from their investments, selling timber to stampeders from their sawmills and charging ships to dock at their wharf. Their bank accounts were further enhanced by settlement of a land claim lawsuit against the city, partially reimbursing them for land taken away by stampeders in the early days of the gold rush.New StrugglesBen Moore and his family faced new pressures as a result of the gold rush. New Skagway residents brought their prejudices with them, and looked down upon the Moores' interracial marriage. The Moores were rarely invited to social events in town and the children were sent to boarding schools in Washington State, perhaps to avoid the racial epithets they likely heard around town. Ties with Ben's father weakened as Captain Moore filed a lawsuit against Ben to gain title to part of the land. Meanwhile, relations with Minnie's Tlingit family were dissolving as Minnie adopted Victorian clothing and attempted to raise her children in Victorian society.Ben and his family eventually sold their interests in Skagway and moved to Washington State, but could not escape the trouble that followed them. Ben and Minnie divorced in 1909, and Ben died in 1919 after losing most of his fortunes in poor real estate investments. Minnie remarried but took her own life in 1917. While her life ended in tragedy, she deserves respect for the hurdles she overcame and empathy for leaving behind family ties and her Tlingit heritage.
Skagway Museum and Municipality Offices
The McCabe College building, currently occupied by the Skagway Museum and City Hall and Skagway Museum, was built in 1899 of native granite brought from Clifton on the WP & YR railroad. The Methodist school, named for Bishop McCabe, was Alaska’s first institution of higher education. Facing financial difficulties, private McCabe College closed after only three terms. From 1901 until 1956, the building served as the U.S. Court House with the U.S. Marshal’s office and jail on the first floor. District Court was held on the second floor in the former chapel of McCabe College. In 2000, the City of Skagway completed a new addition to the venerable McCabe building. The Skagway Museum, open daily in the summer, is a fascinating storehouse of Skagway history from the gold rush to present and a great value with an entry fee of only $2.
Vintage Locomotive
Hidden Gem Photo StopHidden behind the parking lot for city hall you will find a great photo opportunity! Equiped with a wooden staircase that leads up to the engineers cab, this vintage locomotive will be a highlight of your Alaska photo slideshow. This workhorse of a locomotive once transfered all manner of freight over the pass on the way to Whitehorse, Yukon. Now it rests as a reminder of the transportation boom that established Skagway as the "Gateway to the Yukon."
Navigational Aid
Marker to have navigation avoid construction zone. Nothing to see here!
Gold Rush Cemetery
Only the Good Die Young?On a sloping hillside beside the fabled White Pass Trail lies Skagway's oldest final resting place, The "Gold Rush Cemetery." Most famous for the grave of Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith, the notorious wild west con-man, this cemetery boast a rich history. Going back to 1898 the markers here tell the story of Skagway's founders, and pioneers. From the famous shootout on the Juneau wharf that solidified Frank Reid as the hero of town, to the unique story of "unknown man" that blew himself us during a botched robbery this unique piece of Skagway history should not be missed!
Lower Reid Falls
Park your bikes at the "Gold Rush Cemetery" and stroll upwards along the path following the signs to "Lower Reid Falls" A small elevation gain of 50ft over the course of the short trail will lead you to the spectacular site of "Lower Reid Falls" Named after Frank Reid, the hero of Skagway gold rush days, this waterfall is a highlight for both nature lovers and instagrammers.
Skagway Overlook
Enjoy The View!Perched high up on the hillside, enjoy magnificent views of Skagway, the Lynn Canal, and the Twin Dewey Peaks from the Skagway Overlook. There is also a restroom here if you need a pitstop! Look out across our narrow Skagway valley and see for yourself just how small and compact Skagway really is. Skagway has a winter population of 600-700 people and a summer population of close to 3000 people. With only 4 streets that run the entire length of town and 23 cross streets, this town has seen a lot since its beginnings in 1897. The tallest peaks opposite side of the valley are around 5200' tall. Notice that there are three distinct plateaus or tiers as your eye moves up the mountain. These were carved out by 3 periods of glaciation. Atop the first plateau is Lower Dewey Lake, and farther up near the top is Upper Dewey Lake. Both are accessible by hiking trail, but both trails are considered strenuous and difficult.
Nakhu Bay Conservation Area
At the Northern most point of Nakhu Bay (Long Bay), you will find the Nakhu Bay Conservation area. Originally owned by longtime resident Bud Matthews, this unique beach and conservation area is now owned by the Municipality of Skagway. Bud had a history of allowing "Skagwegians" to enjoy the views and solace of this place as well as harvest driftwood and seaweed from the beach. After transferring the property to the city, it was his wish to keep using the land for those purposes.
Taiya River Estuary Viewpoint
The Taiya River received its name when the Tlingit word Taiya became noted as a common usage for the body of water in 1868.The Taiya River is historically significant with its role in the Klondike Gold Rush. The river's terminus, the Taiya Inlet, was also home to the Klondike boom town of Dyea which was the start of the Chilkoot Trail. The sediment from the Taiya River in the Taiya Inlet made a deep-water dock in Dyea impossible.This was one (but not the only reason) for the construction of the White Pass and Yukon Route taking the Skagway- White Pass route instead of the Dyea-Chilkoot Pass route which effectively sealed the fate of both the Chilkoot Trail and the town of Dyea. The Taiya was also a key component of transportation during the gold rush days. During the winter the river would freeze over allowing significantly easier transportation (especially with sledges and pack animals) than the overland trail. This was especially true when the Taiya went into a canyon between Canyon City and Pleasant Camp and the overland trail was especially difficult.Today the Taiya River is a centerpiece of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park and the Chilkoot Trail it protects. It's also the recipient of rafting tours based out of Skagway and has an andaromous fish population that is popular with fishermen. It has a watershed council, the Taiya Inlet Watershed Council partially dedicating to its protection and its recreational users.Often times, wildlife such as eagles, seals, fox, lynx, and bears can be sighted in the area.
Chilkoot Trail Outpost
Ready for a Break?Built from the ground up by longtime Dyea residents Frank and Kathy Hosford, the Chilkoot Trail Outpost is a great stopping point on your Ebike adventure. With a full bar, and restaurant, this wilderness paradise makes a great lunch spot on your tour. If you are lucky enough to visit on a day that Kathy herself is behind the bar, she will regale you with stories of Dyea's past and tell you what she feels the word "Skagway" truly means. You'll love this stop so much, you will want to comeback next year and stay in one of her amazing cabins.
Chilkoot Trail Trailhead
When news of a gold strike in the Klondike reached the ears of the world, tens of thousands of hopeful gold seekers arrived in Skagway, Alaska. They soon encountered their first obstacle – the Coast Mountain Range. Following old trails that had been used by First Nations people for centuries, they found a route through the mountains, now known as the Chilkoot Trail. The prospectors had to haul a mandatory one ton of supplies over the pass, requiring multiple trips on a treacherous mountain trail.Today, hikers can retrace the rugged and beautiful 33 mi. (53 km.) trail from Dyea, near Skagway, to the shore of Lake Bennett. The route is lined with alpine lakes and century-old gold rush artifacts. Co-managed by Parks Canada and the U.S. National Parks Service, the Chilkoot Trail is Canada’s largest National Historic Site. Most people take three to five days to complete the journey.
Slide Cemetery
Tragedy on theTrailOn April 3, 1898, the Palm Sunday Avalanche struck the Chilkoot Trail, the route taken by ambitious prospectors from the Gold Rush port of Dyea to the Klondike gold fields. The catastrophe caught countless “stampeders” by surprise; those who perished were interred in what is now the only cemetery inside the Klondike Gold Rush National Park.The Palm Sunday Avalanche was actually a series of multiple, successive snow slides that struck the area north of Skagway. Despite spring weather conditions conducive to avalanches—prompting vocal concern from locals and seasoned veterans alike—eager gold hounds failed to heed the warnings. Once the slides began, those trapped in the danger zone found it difficult to escape.Due to the spotty records available in Gold-Rush-era Alaska, the death toll ranges from 48 to almost 100; the identities of the deceased vary almost as wildly as the body count. What is known is that those victims who were discovered among the 30-foot-deep, ten-acre avalanche found their final resting place in a new cemetery in Dyea Township, colloquially known as the Slide Cemetery.After the Palm Sunday Avalanche, traffic on the Chilkoot Trail vanished, and Dyea quickly turned from boomtown to ghost town. The Slide Cemetery is a remaining testament to the area’s historical significance.
Dyea Townsite
Boomtown DyeaDyea's real boom began in the fall of 1897. When word of the wealth of the Klondike strike splashed onto the world's newspapers in mid‑July 1897, traffic up the Inside Passage grew to a frenzied pace. For months, jammed boatloads of prospectors disembarked in Dyea and streamed north over the Chilkoot Pass. Few people remained in the area very long. As late as September 1897, Dyea was still nothing more than the Healy & Wilson trading post, a few saloons, the Tlingit encampment, and a motley assemblage of tents. In October, speculators mapped out a townsite, but Dyea's biggest growth did not begin until the Yukon River system started to freeze up and the winter storms slowed traffic on the Chilkoot Trail. Without the ability to dash up the trails, people began spending more time in Dyea and it became more town-like.A Busy Business DistrictDuring the winter of 1897-1898, Dyea was large in size and multifaceted in function. The downtown area was about five blocks wide and eight blocks long. At the height of its prosperity, the town boasted over 150 businesses, with the large majority of them being restaurants, hotels, supply houses, and saloons.Manufacturing was limited to two breweries. Attorneys, bankers, freighting companies, photographers, steamship and real estate agents were also plentiful. To care for your health, there were drug stores, doctors, a dentist, two hospitals, and three undertakers. Although the town doesn’t appear to have had any type of formal government, a Chamber of Commerce developed as did a volunteer fire department (but without a building) and a school that ran from May 1898 – June 1900.To connect with the outside world, the town had two newspapers (the Dyea Trail and the Dyea Press) and two telephone companies, one that ran its line up the Chilkoot Trail to Bennett and the other that ran its line to Skagway. There were also two wharfs, many warehouses and freight sorting areas, and a sawmill. The town also had one church, of the Methodist-Episcopalian denomination.Dyea's DownfallDyea competed on fairly even terms with Skagway through the winter of 1897‑1898, but in the spring, Dyea began to lose its competitive edge. On April 3, 1898, there was a massive snow slide, known as the "Palm Sunday Avalanche" on the Chilkoot Trail. This disaster happened north of Sheep Camp and killed over 70 people. This brought worldwide negative publicity and some travelers steered away from Dyea. The opening of the Yukon River brought a mass exodus from the town as the stampeders left for Dawson.The construction of the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad, which began in Skagway in May 1898, funneled most new stampeders to Skagway. Freight destined for the tramways of the Chilkoot Railroad & Transport Company continued to pour through Dyea, but few passengers filed into town. Finally, the replacement of the Klondike Gold Rush with the Spanish-American war in the nation’s headlines, spelled Dyea’s doom.Beginning with the fall of 1898, Dyea began to fade away. In late 1898, the onslaught of winter snows slowed and then halted tramway operations. By the spring of 1899, portions of the Long Wharf were no longer usable. In late July 1899 a forest fire burned the U.S. Army Camp at the Dyea-Klondike Transportation Company. The troops permanently moved to Skagway. By the summer of 1899, the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad purchased the aerial tramways over the Chilkoot Trail. Not wanting the competition for their railroad, tramway operations came to a halt. Most of the tramway apparatus was removed in early 1900 and the Chilkoot Trail ceased being a transportation corridor after hundreds of years. Without a trail leading north Dyea’s reason for existence vanished.After 1900, the population of Dyea continued to slump. Although about 250 people lived there in March 1900, an informal tally in the spring of 1901 showed only 71 with any interest in the town. Those who remained hoped to benefit from various railroad or townsite schemes that were being promoted at the time, but when the schemes failed to bear fruit the inhabitants drifted away. The post office closed in June 1902, and by 1903 less than a half‑dozen people occupied the remains of the old townsite.
Dyea Flats
The endpoint of the Taiya river and the absolute tip of the "Alaskan Inside Passage," the Dyea flats are a municipally run recreation and conservation area. Typically off limits to guided tour groups with a few exceptions, this area is well utilized by Skagway community members as a place to camp, harvest wood, and commune with nature. Bear sightings are frequent at the end of summer when thousands of salmon seek out the creeks of which they were born. Enjoy the sights and sounds. Keep an eye to the sky as many pairs of American Bald Eagles call this home. The very end of the flats at the water line will sometimes (at low tide) reveal the wooden pilings that supported an almost 2 mile long wharf that lead to the deeper water required by trade ships. The team at Klondike Electric Bicycles would like to thank you for taking this self guided tour. We strive to make everyone's visit to Skagway the absolute greatest day that you will experience on your Alaskan adventure. Thank you for 'Experiencing the Rush"
