Because Skagway is situated in a narrow, flat valley floor at the edge of the Taiya Inlet, it is arguably the most wheelchair-friendly historic gold rush town in Alaska. For cruisers with mobility challenges, manual wheelchairs, or motorized scooters, navigating this port is straightforward as long as you understand the layout.
Here is exactly what you need to know about navigating the port, booking accessible transit, and finding restaurants that don’t require navigating historic staircases.
Navigating the Cruise Docks
Cruise ships arriving in Skagway tie up at one of four main piers: the Railroad Dock, the Broadway Dock, the Ore Dock, or the Ferry Dock. Regardless of which dock your ship is assigned, you are treated to a flat, paved route into town.
The town is incredibly compact. Most sights and historic buildings sit within a 5-to-10-minute walk (less than half a mile) of the cruise docks. There are no steep hills or massive ramps to negotiate between the gangway and the start of the historic downtown corridor.
Getting Around: The SMART Bus
If a half-mile walk or roll sounds like too much, Skagway Municipal and Regional Transit (SMART) is your best asset. The SMART bus operates from May through September, running a continuous loop from the cruise piers into town.
- Cost: Fares are paid in cash directly to the driver. It costs $2 per person for a one-way ride, or $5 for an all-day pass.
- Accessibility: The fleet utilizes paratransit vans equipped with mechanical wheelchair lifts.
- Route: The bus picks up right at the cruise docks and makes strategic stops at 3rd, 5th, and 7th Avenues every 20 to 30 minutes, saving you the walk from the pier to the commercial district.
Exploring Downtown Broadway Street
Broadway Street is the heart of Skagway’s historic district. The municipality has done an excellent job preserving the 1898 gold rush aesthetic while updating the infrastructure for modern accessibility.
Instead of traditional concrete sidewalks, you will find a flat, continuous wooden boardwalk running parallel to the paved road throughout downtown Broadway. These boardwalks are very accessible, featuring smoothly ramped curb cuts at every intersection. You will not have to bump up and down curbs to cross the street.
Shop and Restaurant Accessibility
While the street infrastructure is pristine, the historic nature of Skagway’s buildings presents a few hurdles. Most Broadway restaurants, saloons, and boutiques have a historic 2-to-4-inch wooden step at the front entrance.
If you are using a heavy motorized scooter, this lip can be a nuisance. However, locals are accustomed to cruisers needing assistance; many shopkeepers keep portable aluminum ramps behind the counter. Always ask if you need an accommodation.
When it comes to dining, accessibility varies drastically between buildings:
- Skagway Brewing Company: Located slightly off the main drag at 204 4th Avenue, this massive, modern facility is the most accessible dining option in town. They have wide aisles on the ground floor and a dedicated elevator to take you up to the main 400-seat restaurant and outdoor beer garden on the second floor.
- Red Onion Saloon: Situated at 2nd and Broadway, this famous 1898 brothel-turned-restaurant is tight. While the ground-floor bar has level access, the aisles are narrow and it gets exceptionally crowded when multiple ships are in port. Furthermore, their famous Brothel Museum tour requires climbing a steep, narrow flight of stairs, making it entirely inaccessible to wheelchair users.
Top Accessible Attractions in Skagway
You do not need to venture far from the docks to soak up Skagway’s history. The best accessible attractions are right in the center of town.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center
Located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Broadway, this visitor center is housed in the beautifully restored 1898 White Pass & Yukon Route railway depot. It is fully accessible, featuring ramped entryways, wide aisles for navigating the museum exhibits, and large, modern accessible restrooms. You can comfortably spend an hour here learning about the stampede to the Klondike.
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway
The narrow-gauge railway is Skagway’s premier excursion, but it requires careful advanced planning for mobility-impaired cruisers.
The standard train cars are NOT wheelchair accessible. Boarding a standard car requires climbing three steep, narrow metal steps. Standard manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters must be folded and stored, requiring the guest to transfer to a seat.
However, the railway does operate a limited number of specialized lift-equipped cars. These cars feature an electronic lift, tie-downs, and a large accessible restroom. Because capacity on the lift car is strictly limited, you must book the specific “Wheelchair Accessible” version of the excursion directly through your cruise line’s shore excursion portal well in advance. Do not walk up to the train depot on the day of your arrival expecting an accessible seat.
Sights Requiring Transportation (and Caution)
Once you leave the paved streets and wooden boardwalks of the downtown grid, the terrain becomes rugged and less accommodating.
Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls
Located about 1.5 miles from the downtown core, this historic cemetery is the final resting place of notorious outlaw Soapy Smith. While the SMART bus can drop you relatively close to the entrance, the Gold Rush Cemetery trail itself is a rough gravel path. It has uneven grades and soft spots that make it highly challenging for manual wheelchairs and bumpy for scooters. The short continuation trail leading to Lower Reid Falls is heavily laced with tree roots and rocks, making it inaccessible for wheeled devices.
Dyea and the Chilkoot Trailhead
The abandoned ghost town of Dyea and the start of the famed Chilkoot Trail sit 9 miles from Skagway. Reaching this area requires a rental car or an expensive taxi ride along a winding, partially dirt road. Once there, the Dyea townsite consists of unpaved, natural dirt trails weaving through dense temperate rainforest. It is not wheelchair accessible and is best skipped by travelers with mobility concerns. Stick to the flat, paved valley floor of Skagway for a comfortable and historic port day.