White Pass Train and Bike Tour
Combine two great excursions for an encompassing experience of the Skagway area!
Location: Skagway
Cost: $239.00
Duration: 4.5 hours
Riding: 15 miles of biking on a paved road, descending 3292′ in elevation! see Route Map
Combine a ride on the White Pass Train with a scenic, 15 mile bike ride!
Board the historic White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railroad for a scenic 90 minute trip through the coastal mountains to Fraser, British Columbia, Canada. There you meet your guides and take a short van ride along the scenic Klondike Highway to the summit of the White Pass.
After a bicycle orientation and test ride, it is fifteen scenic miles mostly downhill from the summit to the sea! As you coast along the paved Klondike Highway on this one and a half hour bike ride, you make multiple stops for photos of the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, cascading waterfalls, awe-inspiring glaciers, majestic mountains, and other historic sites. We even stop at US Customs to check back into the US on bikes!
Trip Highlights:
- Combine two great excursions: Skagway’s quintessential train trip up the White Pass and a thrilling bike ride down.
- Enjoy an intimate touring environment with a 1:6 guide to guest ratio.
- An encompassing experience of the Skagway River Valley and area of the historic White Pass Trail.
Restrictions and Notes: Passports are required. Participants must be at least 13 years old and 4’ 6” in height. Participants must be confident on a bicycle with hand brakes coasting downhill at speeds between 15 and 25 MPH (23 – 40 KPH). The ride is mostly downhill but does require some pedaling in sections. Helmets are required and provided; waivers are required to be signed.
The tour takes place on a road shared with vehicles and operates in most weather conditions. Rain/wind jackets and pants, and warm gloves are provided if required. Sport shoes and layered clothing are recommended. A support van is available to store any unneeded gear or to ride down in.
If booking directly through our website, the meeting location for this tour is at our bike shop located at 307 5th Ave, Skagway, AK. We are about a 10 minute walk from the cruise docks. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your tour departure time.
Frequently Asked Questions
- There are a lot of trains available! Which one does this tour use?
- This tour uses the one-way Fraser train with 2 departures daily – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Our only tour departure times are 7:30 AM or 12:35 PM, and we provide a short shuttle to the train platform on Spring Street.
Note: We do not have 7:30 AM departures available for direct booking.
- Where do I meet for my tour?
- If booking through the cruise line, we provide a dock pickup. If booking through our website, meet at our shop at 307 5th Ave in Skagway at least 15 minutes prior to the tour.
- Why are passports required? Do you accept a copy / photo of passport or birth certificates?
- Passports are strictly required for everyone participating in this tour as you will cross both US and Canadian Customs. Original documents are required and photos or copies are not accepted. There may be other visa requirements depending on your nationality to cross Canadian or US Customs. You are responsible for bringing the correct documentation to cross both borders. Refunds are not available for those coming unprepared.
US Citizens Note: We do not accept birth certificates and IDs as a substitute for a passport for adults. - Can you explain the order of the tour and duration for each section?
- The total tour duration is 4.5 hours. All timing is approximate.
- 00:00 – 00:20 – Guides meet guests, and group is shuttled from meeting point to train platform and boards train.
- 00:20 – 02:00 – Train ride from Skagway, AK to Fraser, BC. Canadian border agents will check documents onboard the train.
- 02:00 – 02:10 – Disembark train, reunite with guides, load into shuttle.
- 02:10 – 02:25 – Shuttle ride from Fraser, BC to summit of White Pass (approx 7 miles)
- 02:25 – 02:45 – Bike fitting, tour orientation, and tour safety
- 02:45 – 04:25 – Ride Bikes! Biking portion is approximately 15 miles mostly downhill with several stops along the way for photos and breaks.
- 04:25 – 04:30 – Arrive back at Sockeye Cycle and say goodbye to your fabulous guides. You are welcome to enjoy town on your own from our centrally located bike shop, or we can provide a complimentary ride back to your ship’s dock.
- Some people in my party want to ride the train, but do not want to ride bikes. Can they ride down in the shuttle?
- We are happy to provide a ride back to town to anyone who does not want to ride bikes. Our group always sits together in an assigned train car, and it’s not guaranteed that those who book the train apart from this tour will be able to sit together on the train. We recommend booking everyone on the train and bike tour to ensure the party is seated together. There is no discount for riding the shuttle instead of the bike.
- What type of bikes are used for this tour? Are E-Bikes available for this tour?
- We provide Trek Marlin hard-tail mountain bikes which are well equipped for this ride rain or shine. These are standard bikes, and we cannot provide E-Bikes. E-Bikes are available for rent if you prefer to explore on your own.
- How strenuous is this tour?
- This ride is about 15 miles of mostly downhill riding. While the majority of the ride is coasting, all participants must be prepared for some stretches of pedaling. There is one very short uphill section that your guides will prepare you for beforehand, and you are also permitted to walk this short section. The final 3 miles of the ride are flat pedaling as you make your way through town.
- This tour is sold out. Can I book my own train ticket and meet you for the bike ride?
- It’s frustrating when a tour you want to take is sold out. Our train & bike tour must be purchased as a package, and we do not have an option to add you on to our bike tour if you book your own train ticket.
- We also offer the Klondike Bicycle Tour as a separate excursion. This tour features the same bike ride but offers a shuttle to the top of White Pass instead of the train. Check out more details about the Klondike Bicycle Tour here.
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Tours cancelled 7+ days before the activity will receive a full refund, minus 5% to cover booking and processing fees.
- Tours cancelled between 2-7 days before the activity will receive a refund of 50% of the total payment.
- Refunds are not available for tours cancelled within 48 hours of the activity.
- Guests traveling on a cruise ship or other form of transportation that is delayed or cancelled due to weather will be re-booked if possible or will be fully refunded.
- Sockeye Cycle Co. retains the right to cancel a tour for any reason, in which case you will receive a full refund.
Excursion Details
Duration | 4.5 hours total
Difficulty | Moderate. The tour is mostly downhill on a paved highway with passing traffic. Average speeds are 15-25 mph.
Capacity | Tour minimum is 4, maximum is 12
Gear | Trek Marlin mountain bikes and helmets are provided. Rain gear and gloves included if needed.
Food and Drink | Water is available at no charge in a bike water bottle.
Requirements | Minimum age is 13, minimum height is 4’6″.
Meeting Location | Sockeye Cycle – 307 5th Ave, Skagway, AK
Tour Equipment
