What it's like
Dyea was a boomtown during the Klondike Gold Rush. Today it is all but a ghost town, and the original townsite is a National Historic Landmark run as part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.
A visit is a slow, self-guided walk through the old townsite, where you learn its history and the plants and animals that have moved in. The Taiya River has shifted and flooded much of the former downtown, so the ruins are scattered and hard to read. The Dyea campground and the Chilkoot Trail start nearby for those who want to stay longer.
Good to know
- The river has shifted and flooded much of the former downtown over the decades, so much of the old town is now under gravel and water.
- Many ruins remain, but identifying them is difficult, and many questions about them are still open.
- Skagway has small food markets, but Dyea does not, so bring food and drink from town.
Dyea townsite
The Dyea townsite is the remains of a gold rush boomtown at the head of the Taiya River Valley. Today it is a lush natural area where you walk among old ruins and wild plants.
Tours that go here
Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Lower Dewey Lake
Lower Dewey Lake is a moderate loop trail just outside Skagway's town center, leading through spruce and hemlock forest to a mountain lake. Most people walk it as a half day in the hills above town.
Yakutania Point
A short walk from town to a point on Taiya Inlet, with a view down Lynn Canal toward the Chilkat Mountains. Trails, a footbridge and a picnic shelter make it an easy stop.
Chilkoot Trail
The Chilkoot Trail is a historic route through the Coast Mountains, from the Dyea trailhead out toward Bennett in British Columbia. Most people here walk a short section or a day hike.
Gold Rush Cemetery and Lower Reid Falls
A short forest walk behind Skagway's old cemetery, ending at a view of Lower Reid Falls. It is an easy round trip that most people finish in about two hours.
The same kind of day, elsewhere
Ancient sites
