On the fifth day of our 2025 Alaska Cruise, we arrived in one of our favorite Alaskan towns: Skagway, home to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. This marked our fourth visit to this beautiful town, and once again, we found new adventures waiting for us.
A Special Reunion and a Drive to Dyea
One of the highlights of Skagway is reconnecting with our friend Cory. This time, Cory generously lent us a truck, giving us the chance to drive out to Dyea, a historic boomtown that once thrived at the head of the Chilkoot Trail.
Dyea played a pivotal role during the Gold Rush, serving as a launch point for thousands of stampeders. However, its location—on a shallow inlet surrounded by mudflats—made access difficult. The Chilkoot Trail, though shorter than the nearby White Pass, was steeper and more treacherous. These challenges led to Dyea’s rapid decline. Dyea boomed for only two years, and by 1905, most of its buildings were gone. Today, the National Park Service maintains trails and street signs that hint at its past.
Remembering the Palm Sunday Avalanche
Nearby, we visited the Slide Cemetery, a somber site named after the Palm Sunday Avalanche of April 3, 1898. This tragic event claimed the lives of sixty stampeders, who are buried near Dyea.
Skagway’s Colorful Past
Back in Skagway, we explored the Gold Rush Cemetery, where the infamous Jefferson “Soapy” Smith is buried. Smith, a notorious con artist, met his end in a shootout on Juneau Pier in July 1898. He operated out of Jeff Smith’s Parlor, a building that Mark will be presenting a program on this Wednesday on board the Anthem of the Seas.
Nature’s Beauty: Lower Reid Falls & Dewey Lake
Just beyond the cemetery, we discovered Lower Reid Falls, a stunning cascade tumbling down from the mountains above Skagway. We then hiked the trail to Lower Dewey Lake, a serene alpine lake surrounded by rugged peaks. Along the way, we enjoyed breathtaking views of Skagway and the Anthem of the Seas docked below.
A Perfect Ending
Our day ended with drinks and snacks with Cory before returning to the ship. Sailing down the Chilkoot Inlet is always a magical way to conclude our time in Skagway.
Tomorrow, we set sail for another favorite of Alaska: Sitka.
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