Understanding the tourist season in Skagway

In Alaska, we tend to lump everything into one of two seasons – summer and winter. However, there are many more variables, especially during the tourist season, which lasts from late April to late September. Depending on when you arrive in Skagway, there are many different things that you may want to see. This basic breakdown will help you determine what not to miss depending on when you take your cruise. Another great idea!

In Alaska, stuff happens fast

The “summer” season really encompasses mid to late spring, summer, and early fall. During this time, things happen fast. Flowers may seem to bloom overnight. Empty skies give way to flocks of birds. Herds of hipsters in skinny jeans suddenly seem to appear out of nowhere. One thing is certain, you need to be ready or you could miss something truly amazing.

Late April and May

This is when Skagway warms up, winter loses its grip, and spring takes hold. It’s a magical time. It’s also hard to predict when the springtime explosion will actually happen. You could take a May 1st cruise two years in a row and see wildly different conditions on each visit. Still, this is a good time of year to get a sense of what winter is like by traveling up the highway to the Yukon or taking the train tour. On the White Pass Summit, you could build a snowman.

This is also the time of year when bears come out of hibernation, so they are commonly spotted along the highway on tours into Canada. Why? Because dandelions are one of the first plants to appear after the snow melts and they grow alongside the highway. Bears come out to eat them and you get to see that. Pretty cool.

June in Skagway

Early June is usually still a good time to spot bears but it tapers off as the vegetation changes in the Yukon. In Dyea, all sorts of flowers are in full bloom. A trip to the tidal flats will reveal wild iris, lupines, and chocolate lilies. It’s amazing if you like beauty. The weather tends to be better in June, so it’s a good time to plan hikes and outdoor tours.

On June 21^st, the Skagway Elks Lodge hosts the annual Summer Solstice Party. This charitable event features good food, local music, and cold beer. What more could you want out of life? June is also when salmon start running up local creeks in Skagway and Dyea. Watching them engage in their primal dance is pretty amazing for a few minutes.

July is Skagway fun time

Everyone in Skagway is on a roll by July. There are all sorts of fun things to do. When it comes to tours, you really can’t go wrong. However, this is the busiest month of the season, so you should book your tours early. Everything in Skagway and the Yukon is lush, green, and beautiful during July. The fishing is great. I go fishing in the Yukon and catch giant trout. If you’re on a cruise, you don’t have this option. I am just pointing this out to make you jealous.

August is a lot like July

You really can’t go wrong during August either, although it sometimes gets a little hot for us locals. If it hits 85 degrees, you may think that Alaskans will spontaneously combust. You are not wrong. To battle this deadly heat, we drink cold beer and have cookouts in the lawn. If you walk past at the right time we may invite you over for a beer. Just don’t act weird or say something silly like, “What do you DO here during the winter?” because that’s rude.

September and the end of the season

When the leaves change color in the Yukon, it is pure magic. I catch so many trout during the fall that my right arm gets bigger than the left one. If you like smaller crowds, this is a good time to visit. Eventually, the last cruise ship day rolls around and everyone is very happy because we made it through another busy tourist season and are ready to enjoy the solitude of winter.

That’s about it. Now you know the deal. Book your cruise during the time of year that sounds most appealing and thank me later.