23-05-2025
A Wheelchair Accessible Day in Skagway, Alaska
This trip was hosted. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
A cruise is a wonderful way to see many different places while unpacking once. That becomes especially important when you are traveling in a wheelchair.
When I wanted to see as much of Alaska as possible, I chose to cruise on Princess. I still needed accessibility off the ship, and I found plenty to do in a wheelchair during my day in Skagway.
I found Skagway to be one of the most picturesque towns in Alaska. The downtown included colorful historic buildings, in the backdrop of the mountains. My wheelchair accessible travel in Skagway had few problems.
The port of Skagway served as one of the starting points of the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 19th century. This is not your usual park as it is spread out among four areas, three in Alaska and one in Seattle, Washington. The Gold Rush National Historic Park chronicles this time in locations in the Skagway area:
Skagway Historic DistrictIn downtown Skagway, 20 buildings are considered historical and within the Klondike National Park. You'll also find the park's Visitors Center there so you can get more information on areas to visit and their Pass TrailA good part of the White Pass Trail is in the wilderness, but some can be explored from the railroad, Klondike Highway, or hiking trails-which are not wheelchair Trail/Dyea TownsiteOnly experienced hikers should consider taking on the Chilkoot Trail. Parts of the Dyea Townsite, however, are wheelchair-friendly with paved paths.
SheBuysTravel Tip: If you are going on the White Pass Railroad or bus trips from Skagway, bring your passport because most go through Canada.
Getting there
Skagway is the only Alaska port I went to that isn't an island. It can be reached by car, but there's a twist: you need to go through Canada to get there. The Alaskan city connects to Whitehorse, Canada.
Wheelchair excursions
I found a selection of wheelchair accessible excursions through Princess in Skagway for the train, bus, museums, and combinations. They do fill up so be sure to book yours as soon as you can. Some cruises, including mine, allow you to plan attractions before you even board.
Consider splitting your group
Multigenerational families are common on cruise ships. These consist of everyone from babies to grandparents. In my case, it was multi-ability, as I traveled with my able-bodied friend, Brittany. We split up for excursions at most ports.
In Skagway, Brittany did the Animal Planet Exclusive Kroschel Wildlife Refuge trip. She went on a boat across Mosquito Lake, then a bus to Haines, Alaska, where she visited with the animals at the Kroschel Films Wildlife Center.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Bring a jacket for your day in Skagway. Even in the summer, you can get the cool Canadian mountain air.
You can easily wheel from the port to downtown without transportation. If you don't take an excursion, you can spend the day wondering through stores, restaurants, and museums.
Accessible buses and taxis run throughout Skagway.
I found the locals to be extremely helpful in opening doors and leading me to accessible restrooms (such as in the Visitor's Center), and door entries.
SheBuysTravel Tip: I did have trouble finding curb cuts in some spots of Skagway. It took some effort, but there was always a way to get through to a street.
The most popular place to eat and drink in Skagway is the Red Onion Saloon. This former Bordello was opened in 1897. When I went there, the wait was about an hour, and it was too crowded to get the wheelchair into. I spoke to some others on the ship who waited and said it was a lot of fun.
I did stop at Klondike Doughboy to get Fry Bread and blueberry jam. It tastes similar to a funnel cake, though it's shaped differently.
Brittany's excursion finished earlier than mine did. She had a delicious burger and beer tasting at Skagway Brewing Company.
You won't have trouble finding places to shop in downtown Skagway. I found the stores were a little less touristy than other ports. Klondike General Store has a broad selection.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Skagway is a good place to buy gold nuggets, native carvings, and furs.
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