Things to do / Travel Guide
Biking in the Alaska Panhandle offers breathtaking scenery at its finest. Haines and Skagway are situated at the foot of the longest glacial fjord in North America. This area is the gateway to the Yukon Territory and borders the largest protected wilderness area found anywhere in the world, so pedaling your way through it all will be a rewarding experience for sure. There are virtually thousands of biking options in this area, for riders of all levels. Bike rentals and tours are reasonably-priced. Here are some suggestions to put you on the right track:
Tatshenshini/Alsek Provincial Park
This newly-created man-made area is part of the largest protected United Nations International Wilderness Area in the world. You can take a biking tour on an old access road through alpine tundra to glaciers flowing out of the close-by mountain range. There are spectacular wildflowers, huge vistas, giant mountain peaks, and lots of great riding with nary a soul nearby in many cases. This is a moderate-to-difficult eight-hour-long mountain bike run, so participants should be at least 12 years old. Guides will stop and narrate from time to time about the sites you pass along the way. Generally, no food is provided, so pack a lunch before you make your way out to Tatshenshini/Alsek Provincial Park!
Klondike/Skagway Cycle Tour
A van will drop you off at the beginning of White Pass where you can take in some spectacular views. This tour allows you to coast on your bicycle for 15 miles down a moderate grade beginning at the top of the Klondike Pass (elevation 3292'). Along the way, there are a ton of photo ops for waterfalls, the WP/Yukon Railroad, glaciers, and beautiful coastal mountains. This is a unique way to see Skagway and the surrounding area.
Dyea Daily Cycle Tour - Skagway
This tour offers mountain biking for the whole family (minimum age 10 years old), beginning at Dyea and taking you to the start of the Chilkoot Trail. A van will take riders out to Dyea, and the bike ride from there lasts for three hours, consisting of easy pedaling on level dirt roads. A guide will take you inside the beautiful coastal rainforest to the historic mining town of Dyea. The tour takes you to the town of Dyea, the slide cemetery (famous for its victims of a deadly snow slide), coastal tidal flats, and, of course, the beginning of the Chilkoot Trail.
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