Skagway, Ketchikan, and Juneau port notes

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Here are the notes I have taken for each of the three ports our Alaska Cruise will go to.  These are just the items that held interest to our family and there are plenty of other choices out there but this might give a good starting point for your research.  My family will include our 80 year old parents who are physically able but declining a bit so all hikes are easy and on flat, well-groomed trails.  Most are under an hour total with one or two up to two hours with plenty of stops, these longer hikes take place from visitor's centers or campgrounds with plenty of seating if anyone decides to not hike or go back early.  

 

Juneau

Overview:  Juneau, often described as America's most unusual state capital, is the only center of U.S. government with no roads leading into or out of town. The city is surrounded by nature, namely towering mountains and the waters of Gastineau Channel. For most visitors, the only way in or out is by air or sea. Gold put Juneau on the map in the 1880s, though the mining camp went by several names before prospector Joe Juneau finally wrangled enough votes to get his name to stick. Juneau became a state capital when Alaska became the 49th U.S. state in 1959.  The governor's mansion stands on a hillside overlooking the cruise docks, and anyone can take a walk up the hills via steep stairways.  Juneau offers the state's most accessible glacier -- Mendenhall, an immense, 12-mile-long river of ice. Along with glacier viewing, there's always the chance of seeing a bear or two up close.

Sites:  (1) Alaska State History and Culture museum (2) Mount Roberts Tram - close to ship (3) Juneau-Douglas Musueum: culture of the Tlingit People (4) Mendenhall Glacier: 12 miles SE of ships w/ visitors center and several nice short hikes including the Nugget Falls hike - 2 miles round trip from visitor center (5) Excursion Cruise Tracy Arm Fjords for waterfalls, whales, calving glaciers, etc (6) Bear watching on Admiralty Island - requires float plane (7) Dog Sledding via helicopter to Herbert Glacier (8) MaCauley Salmon Hatchery - 2.5 miles from dock & has marine life aquarium $5 (9) Glacial Botanical Garden $27 (10) Musher Camp w/ Sled Dog Ride & puppies - 2.25 hr total tour $133 (AlaskaShoreExcursions.com) (11) Gold Creek Flume Hiking Trail - wooden boardwalk along rushing creek close to town; 1 mile uphill hike from ship to get there

 

Ketchikan

 

• Overview: Misty Ketchikan, the rainiest town in Southeast Alaska (bring a rain jacket), is known as the "Salmon Capital of the World."  You're bound to visit Creek Street, a row of wooden buildings perched over the water on pilings. Brightly painted boutiques once catered to gentlemen seeking the company of "sporting women."  Legends of a different sort are recorded on totem poles. Boasting the world's largest collection of Northwest totem poles.
• Sites:  (1) Tongass Nat’l Forest hiking - tons of trails to choose from - good o0ption is Ward Lake w/ uncrowded 1 mile loop around the lake on flat well-groomed trails through the old growth section - requires a taxi or rental car (2) Old Town DIY walking tour - takes about 2 hours total with lots of interesting sights, stores, museums, totem poles, Creek with possible salmon spawning (3) Float Plane tours to Need’s Bay to see bears in the wild (4) Lumberjack Show in Old Town area close to ships (5) “Flightseeing” plane tours

 

Skagway

Overview:  Downtown Skagway is really close to the ship and is a historic city full of buildings from the 1890’s.  It is the Gold Rush Capital and is the starting point for the Yukon Trail.  Skagway is the northernmost, ice-free, deep water port in N. Am.  Nice hiking close to town.

Sites:

(1) Yukon Train Excursion 2.5 hrs to Canada and back - requires passport (2) rent a car and follow the Yukon Trail with stops at dog sled camps for summer rides and puppy play time along with numerous sites along the way (3) Gold Rush Museum (4) Historic City Center has lots of interesting shops and museums - FREE 30 min. film at the Nat’l Park Visitor Center called “Gold Fever: Race to Klondike” [on Broadway near 2nd Street] (5) Lower Reid Falls waterfall hike and old cemetery are located at the end of town’s Main Street -1.5 hour walk round trip from ships (6) Walk along waterfront to Yakutania Point - 1 hour round trip from ship; add 30-60 min to add on Smuggler’s Cove