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Ride the White Pass & Yukon Route into the Tongass, hike 6–8 miles to Laughton Glacier, and walk on ice with provided gear and expert guides. This full-day Skagway adventure combines historic rail travel with hands-on glacier experience.
Ride the White Pass & Yukon Route into the Tongass, hike 6–8 miles to Laughton Glacier, and walk on ice with provided gear and expert guides. This full-day Skagway adventure combines historic rail travel with hands-on glacier experience.
The train exhales steam, then pulls away from Skagway and the mountains lean in closer—rugged slopes, waterfalls that dare you to follow them, and the white tongue of Laughton Glacier waiting at the end of the line. Riders receive narration and a lumbar pack of lunch, then disembark at the historic White Pass & Yukon Route trailhead and step into the Tongass National Forest for a full-day glacier trek.
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Operated by Packer Expeditions - Day Tours · Skagway, Alaska
The train exhales steam, then pulls away from Skagway and the mountains lean in closer—rugged slopes, waterfalls that dare you to follow them, and the white tongue of Laughton Glacier waiting at the end of the line. Riders receive narration and a lumbar pack of lunch, then disembark at the historic White Pass & Yukon Route trailhead and step into the Tongass National Forest for a full-day glacier trek.
This route traces territory shaped by ice and gold-rush history: the White Pass railway itself was carved during the Klondike boom, and the landscape still bears scars of glacial advance and retreat. Laughton Glacier’s surface displays moulins, crevasses, and roiling melt channels—geology on the move, with bedrock and moraine telling a story of repeated ice flows. Local Tlingit history and the town of Skagway’s role as a gateway to the Yukon punctuate the area’s cultural layer.
Practically, expect a 6–8 mile out-and-back hike through forest, alpine moraine, and icy glacier travel. Guides outfit groups with ice creepers, poles, and packs; you’ll don microspike-style gear to walk on hard glacier ice under guide supervision. Stay hydrated, layer for rapidly changing coastal-Alaska weather, and wear waterproof, high-traction boots. Trains run on a schedule—plan arrival and departures carefully and bring a passport if crossing borders or boarding cruise-linked transfers. Photos and close study of crevasses reward patience; the glacier is active, so listen to guides and treat the ice with respect. The day ends with a relaxed rail return to Skagway, where the town’s compact historic district offers a warm meal and a short debrief of the wilderness you just walked across.
Guided tours typically cover 6–8 miles round trip, depending on group pace and exploration on the glacier.
No technical glacier experience is required—guides provide ice creepers and instruction for safe travel on the glacier.
Yes; lunches are premade by a local restaurant and snacks and water are provided in your lumbar pack.
Families with older, fit children can participate, but the tour is not recommended for very young kids or anyone with serious mobility or cardiovascular issues.
Packer Expeditions - Day Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The train exhales steam, then pulls away from Skagway and the mountains lean in closer—rugged slopes, waterfalls that dare you to follow them, and the white tongue of Laughton Glacier waiting at the end of the line. Riders receive narration and a lumbar pack of lunch, then disembark at the historic White Pass & Yukon Route trailhead and step into the Tongass National Forest for a full-day glacier trek.
The train exhales steam, then pulls away from Skagway and the mountains lean in closer—rugged slopes, waterfalls that dare you to follow them, and the white tongue of Laughton Glacier waiting at the end of the line. Riders receive narration and a lumbar pack of lunch, then disembark at the historic White Pass & Yukon Route trailhead and step into the Tongass National Forest for a full-day glacier trek.
This route traces territory shaped by ice and gold-rush history: the White Pass railway itself was carved during the Klondike boom, and the landscape still bears scars of glacial advance and retreat. Laughton Glacier’s surface displays moulins, crevasses, and roiling melt channels—geology on the move, with bedrock and moraine telling a story of repeated ice flows. Local Tlingit history and the town of Skagway’s role as a gateway to the Yukon punctuate the area’s cultural layer.
Practically, expect a 6–8 mile out-and-back hike through forest, alpine moraine, and icy glacier travel. Guides outfit groups with ice creepers, poles, and packs; you’ll don microspike-style gear to walk on hard glacier ice under guide supervision. Stay hydrated, layer for rapidly changing coastal-Alaska weather, and wear waterproof, high-traction boots. Trains run on a schedule—plan arrival and departures carefully and bring a passport if crossing borders or boarding cruise-linked transfers. Photos and close study of crevasses reward patience; the glacier is active, so listen to guides and treat the ice with respect. The day ends with a relaxed rail return to Skagway, where the town’s compact historic district offers a warm meal and a short debrief of the wilderness you just walked across.