Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway
Traveler rating
4.0/5
Based on 95 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway worth booking?
Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway is a 6.5-hour experience in Skagway, United States, from $293 per person. It scores 56 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4/5 rating across 95 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 56 / 100
- Rating
- 4/5 (95)
- Duration
- 6.5 hours
- From
- $293 per person
Leave the crowds of Skagway behind and visit Chilkoot Lake State Park in Haines. Your tour begins with a high-speed catamaran ride along the steep-walled fjords which connect Skagway to Haines. Over a dozen unnamed waterfalls drop hundreds of feet from both sides of the boat. Upon arrival in Haines, you will meet your knowledgeable guide for a drive to Chilkoot Lake State Park. This park has it all: a turquoise lake surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, a salmon-filled river flowing into the sea, and important Tlingit cultural sights. Bald eagles, harbor seals, and brown bears are often seen here.
What you get
About this experience
Leave the crowds of Skagway behind and visit Chilkoot Lake State Park in Haines. Your tour begins with a high-speed catamaran ride along the steep-walled fjords which connect Skagway to Haines. Over a dozen unnamed waterfalls drop hundreds of feet from both sides of the boat. Upon arrival in Haines, you will meet your knowledgeable guide for a drive to Chilkoot Lake State Park. This park has it all: a turquoise lake surrounded by snowy mountain peaks, a salmon-filled river flowing into the sea, and important Tlingit cultural sights. Bald eagles, harbor seals, and brown bears are often seen here.
What's included
Included
- Transportation and Fare on Haines/Skagway Fast Ferry
- Lunch
- Driver/guide
- Port pickup
Not included
- Gratuities
What you'll see and do
Travel to and from Haines on a high-speed catamaran along steep-walled fjords at the northern end of the Lynn Canal. Over a dozen unnamed waterfalls drop hundreds of feet from both sides of the boat. This is a 45 minute journey each way with a naturalist on board to highlight the sights. Our representative will assist you with boarding and your tour guide will meet you in Haines for the tour to the Chilkoot Lake.
45 minutes here · Admission included
Haines
Visit a true naturalist’s paradise - Haines, Alaska. Haines boasts some of the most pristine wild country in Southeast Alaska. Your expert naturalist guide will share their knowledge of this area’s unique wildlife, plants, and ecosystems.
15 minutes here
Pause on your way to the Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Site to learn about the Lynn Canal ecosystem and get a safety briefing about being in bear country.
15 minutes here
Chilkoot River
In May, June and July, the wildflowers are at their peak and eagles are busy caring for their young on the nest. Beginning in late July, the river fills with migrating salmon, while brown bears come down to the river’s edge to feed. As the number of salmon in the river increases, the likelihood of seeing bears down along the river increases, with a good probability of bear sightings from early August through late September.
60 minutes here
Chilkoot Lake State Recreation Area
As you drive through the park, your guide knows the best places to stop for scenery and the possibility of wildlife spotting. Your guide is equipped with a powerful spotting scope to bring the wildlife in close, and your guide will help interpret the behavior of the various wildlife and explain how the animals fit into the Chilkoot’s complex ecosystem. Make sure you bring your camera to take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities.
60 minutes here · Admission included
Nukdik Point is one of the many scenic places to stop for lunch. Across the water the seaside town of Haines will be spread before you with the stunning backdrop of the Chilkat Mountains.
30 minutes here
Fort William H. Seward National Historic Landmark
Fort William H Seward overlooks the Port Chilkoot Cruise Ship Dock. Built by the US Army in 1904, the fort has a storied past and is now privately owned and maintained.
Pass by without stopping
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 15 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 12 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Rainbow Glacier Adventures
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A minimum of 2 people is required for tour to run
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the name of their cruise ship and Hotel guests must provide the name of the hotel or B&B.
- Not accessible to motorized wheelchairs.
- Your tour includes a portable lunch. It consists of a turkey sandwich on organic whole wheat bread, fruit, freshly baked cookie, and bottled water. Vegetarian and gluten free options are available with 48 hours advance notice.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 93 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
8 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Food and drink
3 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
2 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
93 verified traveler reviews for Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
What a beautiful day of wildlife viewing.
Kat was an excellent guide, knew her bears, and took us to some beautiful spots for eagles and pictures.
Response from the operator: Thanks for this five star review. Katt is passionate about nature education and we are fortunate to have her on our team.
via Viator
Mama bear Lulu and her family
My wife and I did the Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing tour with Katt. We were able to have a great encounter with Lulu and her 4 cubs. Everybody is the van was very excited to see them. What made it that much more special was that Katt was more excited than any of us. A great day!!
Response from the operator: Yes Katt loves bears and bear viewing and she never tires of teaching our guests about them. She also is extremely safety conscious which is our first and primary obligation and concern on our tours.
via Tripadvisor
Not worth the money.
We did not feel this excursion was worth the money. While our guide was friendly and knowledgeable, the tour mostly consisted of driving up and down a single road looking for wildlife. We never spotted the mother bear and her cubs, though seeing two sets of bald eagles was a highlight. The provided snack was disappointing—there were no options for guests who requested gluten-free or vegetarian items in advance, and the included drinks were just jugs filled from a roadside spring. We would not recommend this tour.
Response from the operator: I am so sorry to read that you felt this tour was not worth the money. I can understand how you feel, though. If I paid for a tour expecting to see bearsand did not see them, I, too ,would be disappointed. That is why we are very careful to emphasize that we do not guarantee wildlife on our tours. We try hard to manage our guests' expectations and let them know that these are wild creatures who do not come out of the woods on demand. We drive up and down that single road looking for bear because that single road is where we are most likely to see bears. It goes along a salmon stream and bear are seen there regularly. It wouldn't make sense if we were trying to find bears to drive up and down a road with no bears! So I don't really understand that comment. Regarding our lunches, we do provide gluten -free and vegetarian options. But they must be requested in advance. Regarding the jugs filled with water: We decided several years ago to stop serving water in individual plastic water bottles. This is in the interest of reducing plastic pollution. We provide tasty water and use compostable cups for those who do not bring their own, refillable water bottles.
via Viator
Beautiful day in Chilkoot!
Excellent and very smooth experience. Beautiful scenery! Eagles everywhere and we got very lucky to see a family of bears!
via Viator
We enjoyed this excursion...
We enjoyed this excursion tremendously. Our tour guide, Katt, knew a lot of history about the area, was very personable, and added funny stories to make our adventure enjoyable and memorable. Saw white swans, eagles, and momma bear lu lu with her four cubs.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 6.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 33
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Rainbow Glacier Adventures, who run 10 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 67.9.
See everything Rainbow Glacier Adventures runsWhy this scores 56
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Skagway.
How much does Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway cost?
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Prices start at $293 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Skagway usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway take?
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Plan for about 6.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Skagway is not rushed.
Is Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 56 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4/5 across 95 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Skagway, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway?
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Around 33 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Skagway can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Skagway and add a light layer if any part of the 6.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Skagway within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Skagway?
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Skagway is a Klondike Gold Rush town built for excursions: White Pass and Yukon Route rail trips, Yukon border drives, glacier flights, dog sledding on ice fields and gold panning. On Outty we rank every Skagway experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Skagway Shore Excursion: Full-Day Tour of the Yukon, Skagway Shore Excursion: Half-Day Tour to the Yukon Border and Suspension Bridge, Skagway City and Summit Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Skagway?
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May to September, the cruise season. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Skagway?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway?
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Included: Transportation and Fare on Haines/Skagway Fast Ferry; Lunch; Driver/guide; and Port pickup. Not included: Gratuities. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Does Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway include hotel pickup?
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Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 6 listed pickup locations in and around Skagway. Be ready about 15 minutes before the start time.
What languages is Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway offered in?
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It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
Is Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway wheelchair or stroller accessible?
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The operator notes: Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller; Specialized infant seats are available; and Not accessible to motorized wheelchairs. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.
What happens to Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway if the weather is bad?
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This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.
What do travelers say about Chilkoot Lake Nature and Wildlife Viewing - 6.5 hrs from Skagway?
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Across 95 reviews averaging 4.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, knowledge and storytelling, photo opportunities. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
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