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Chilkoot Wilderness and Wildlife Viewing - Skagway Departure

Overview
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.
City: Skagway
Mon 07 Jul
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You can choose the date already on the booking website
Starting at $270.00
Mon 07 Jul
Starting at $270.00
Make a reservation
What's Included
Transportation and Fare on Haines/Skagway Fast Ferry
Lunch consists of a turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, fruit, freshly baked cookie and water.Ā  Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-freeĀ optionsĀ are available with 48 hours advance notice.
Driver/guide
Port pickup
Additional Info
  • 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.
What To Expect
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Traveler Photos
Reviews (51)
goitalyjune
Sep 2023
We did see a few animals like bald eagle and mountain goat, which is not worth the cost of the tour. The guide was kind and helpful. You can actually do this on your own as the bus travels mainly up to the chilkoot river and back to the ferry, with some commentary.
Response from Host
Sep 2023
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this review. I have seen many similar reviews to this, where guests feel like they did not get their money's worth because they did not see a bear. Sometimes it is helpful to review what you did get for the money you paid. We provide meet and greet service at the cruise ship dock in Skagway, transfer from the dock to the Fast Ferry, seamless boarding on the Fast Ferry (round trip ticket price included with the tour), meet and greet and guide service in Haines, small-group tours in a comfortable vehicle (never more thatn 14 per vehicle) well-trained and knowledgeable guides, use of a high-powered spotting scope and quality binoculars, all permits and entrance fees, radio communication with other RGA vehicles to assist with finding wildlife, radio communication with our office in case of vehicle breakdown or other issues, priority boarding on the Fast Ferry in case of overbooking, and a high-quality lunch (with options for vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, etc). We never guarantee bear sightings. We go out of our way to provide excellence in terms of our commentary and interpretation of the natural environment. It is true that the locations visited can be done "on your own." But of course, that requires renting a vehicle, knowing where to go and when to go, and then, if you do encounter a bear or bears, how to view them safely. You didn't mention that we bring a high quality spotting scope along, which I am sure helped with viewing the mountain goats. Nor did you mention that we have special exclusive access to wonderful piece of private property along at the mouth of the Chilkoot River. I do appreciate that you said our guide was kind and helpful. It is important to us that we treat all our guests with respect and kindness. It is equally important that we add to the value of our guests' visit by pointing out aspects of the culture, history and natural history of the area which would have been challenging to research and understand on their own.
Melissa_B
Sep 2023
Haines was an amazing way to see Bears. We drive along the Chilkoot River and saw a mama bear and 2 yearling cubs fishing. We stopped and watched for 20-30 minutes. It was amazing and we got some great pictures!! What a fantastic excursion.
Response from Host
Sep 2023
So great to hear that you came to Haines and we were able to help you to view brown bear in the wild. It is such a privilege to be able to view these majestic creatures and I'm glad you were also able to photograph them..
132garym
Sep 2023
We did get to see great wildlife. We were a bit as we expected more learning how to take pictures. That didn't happen. Whether you keep your camera on automatic, are a camera pro, or use your phone. You will get great pictures.
Response from Host
Sep 2023
Thanks for this kind review. It is always important that we manage our guests' expectations, so I would like to provide a more detailed response. For our tours to Haines from Skagway, we provide two options. One if our Chilkoot Wilderness and Wildlife Viewing Tour-Skagway departure. This tour emphasizes natural history and wildlife viewing, but it is not a photography tour. We also offer a Private Chilkat Photography Tour. This tour has a professional photographer as the guide and so you get the additional bonus of photography instruction along with the wildlife viewing. The private tour is more expensive and more exclusive, and, because of its exclusive nature, is not necessarily available every day. I hope this additional information helps others choose the tour that is right for them.

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