Skagway is an unabashed tourist town. The town boasts an impressive array of buildings from the turn-of-the-20th century Klondike gold rush era. Much of downtown Skagway is preserved and maintained as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

Skagway is set against a backdrop of comely mountains, forests, and rivers. The easiest way to enjoy the scenery is to drive some or all of the South Klondike Highway. Within a few kilometres the highway climbs into stirring alpine country blessed with waterfalls, lakes, and deep gorges.

The historic 53-kilometre Chilkoot Trail challenges trekkers with a lot of elevation gain. You can get a small taste of the trail by hiking just the first few kilometres, which are fairly flat and lead through a pretty rain forest along the Taiya River.