Wildlife and birding in Skagway
Skagway is a small town in the Alaska Panhandle, and its wildlife is best seen from the water or on a guided trip out of town. Bald eagles are the headline. Eagles hunt over the Lynn Canal, and mountain goats sit on the peaks above it. Mountain goats sometimes come down to the water as well.
Places to go
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is a stretch of the Chilkat River where bald eagles gather in large numbers. You see it from the water, on a guided raft trip down the river.
Upper Lynn Canal
Upper Lynn Canal is the water route north of Skagway where boat trips look for whales, bald eagles, mountain goats and sea mammals. Most people see it from a wildlife cruise run out of the small boat harbor.
Tours to book
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Rafting from Skagway
Small Group Chilkat Photography Tour from Skagway
What to expect
Most wildlife days here are built around one of two trips. The first is a rafting trip down the Chilkat River through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the world's largest concentration of bald eagles. The trip takes about 6 hours 30 minutes and is reached by tour bus. The second is a Lynn Canal wildlife cruise, where bald eagles hunt from the water and mountain goats show on the peaks.
A Lynn Canal cruise is the easier of the two trips. You watch for bald eagles diving for food and goats on the high ground, and many trips also see seals, sea lions, otters and a range of seabirds. Mountain goats sometimes come down close to the water. The trip suits people who want to see wildlife without much physical effort.
Where to go
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Raft down the Chilkat River through the preserve, home to the world's largest concentration of bald eagles. By tour bus. A trip that goes here: Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve Rafting from Skagway, 6 Hours 30 Minutes, $353 a person
- Upper Lynn Canal. Bald eagles hunt over the water while mountain goats sit on the peaks above, sometimes coming down to the shore. By boat.
Getting there
The Chilkat rafting trip is reached by tour bus, and the Lynn Canal wildlife cruise leaves by boat. The preserve is not reached on foot. The town is only a few blocks wide and easy to cross on foot.
When to go
The season for wildlife trips runs from May to September. Eagle numbers are generally higher later in the summer than in May, so a May visit may show fewer birds.
Good to know
- The Chilkat rafting trip is about 6 hours 30 minutes, so plan the rest of the day around it.
- Dress in layers for the water. Mountain weather can change quickly.
- The Skagway Visitor Center has free area guides and hiking maps.
Questions
Where can you see bald eagles near Skagway?
The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve is the main place. It is reached by a guided rafting trip down the Chilkat River, home to the world's largest concentration of bald eagles. Eagles also hunt over the Lynn Canal and can be seen from a boat.
Can you see wildlife in Skagway without a tour?
The preserve is reached by guided trip, not on foot. Some wildlife can be seen from the town and the surrounding trails, but the best sightings come from a boat on the Lynn Canal or a raft on the Chilkat River.
What wildlife can you see on a Lynn Canal cruise?
Bald eagles hunt from the water and mountain goats sit on the peaks. Trips may also see seals, sea lions, otters and many bird species. Mountain goats sometimes come down to the water.
