White Pass Scenic Railway – A Whitehorse Day Trip

Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon Territory by train

Views and reflections down Bennett Lake from the train
Views and reflections down Bennett Lake from the train in Bennett

If you have a day in Whitehorse, one of the must do activities is a ride on the White Pass Scenic Railway – also called the White Pass – Yukon Route Railroad (WP & YR), a narrow gauge railway that runs 67.5 miles from Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon Territory.

It’s one of the most scenic train trips I’ve ever done.

The White Pass Scenic Railway was built in 1898 in just 26 months during the Klondike Gold Rush. The railway, an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, shares that title with notable sights like the Eiffel Tower and the Panama Canal.

Its initial purpose was to open up a transportation network in the north – which it did for many decades. But in 1982 when the mining industry collapsed, so did the railway.

The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad reopened in 1988 as a seasonal tourism venture and its growth has been staggering – from 37,000 visitors in its inaugural season to 400,000 passengers in 2015, thanks in large part to shore excursions for cruise ships that stop in Skagway.

You might enjoy: 8 Canadian Train Trips to Dream About

How can you experience the White Pass Scenic Railway?

The present railway operates on 67.5 miles of the original 110 mile line. While most people pick it up in Skagway there are a number of ways to experience the White Pass Scenic Railway.

I hopped on in Fraser, BC – as I hadn’t expected to ride the railroad and so didn’t bring my passport.

I rode it to Carcross while another couple who hopped on when I did, rode it to Bennett, hopped off to explore Bennett for over an hour and returned to Fraser.

Then there are those that have just finished hiking the Chilkoot Trail. They can get on at Bennett Lake and get off at either Skagway or Carcross depending on how they are going home.

All people can get off at Bennett Lake but depending on what direction you’re traveling you may have anywhere from about 45 minutes to a few hours. There is enough time to hike a small section of the Chilkoot Trail.

I know I missed some exceptionally scenic sections on the White Pass Scenic Railway out of Skagway, including one piece where the railway climbs 3,000 feet in 20 miles at a grade of 3.9%.

I also missed the “cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees” (my lunch time neighbour on the train said she had to close her eyes in this part), two tunnels and many of the bridges and trestles. But as you’ll see in the photos below, I wasn’t shortchanged by doing only a part of the White Pass Scenic Railway route.

Waiting for the train in Fraser, BC
Waiting for the White Pass Scenic Railway train in Fraser, BC
All aboard
All aboard
Awesome views right off the bat on the White Pass Scenic Railway
Awesome views right off the bat on the White Pass Scenic Railway
Hours of beautiful scenes like this on the White Pass Scenic Railway
Hours of beautiful scenes like this on the White Pass Scenic Railway 
Most passengers are from the cruise ship; you can stand outside between the rail cars
Most passengers are from the cruise ship; you can stand outside between the rail cars
Sections of the trip parallel the highway though you feel far removed from civilization
Sections of the train trip parallel the highway and you feel far removed from civilization
Log Cabin used to be one of the exits off the Chilkoot Trail
Log Cabin used to be one of the exits off the Chilkoot Trail
White Pass Scenic Railway heading towards Bennett Lake
Heading towards Bennett Lake
Coming into Bennett Lake
Coming into Bennett Lake
You can get off the train in Bennett Lake and even hike a short section of the Chilkoot Trail
You can get off the train in Bennett Lake and even hike a short section of the Chilkoot Trail
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
Check out what is the end of the Chilkoot Trail for those hikers who started near Skagway, Alaska
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
Distances may not be long but most people need 4-5 days to backpack the Chilkoot Trail
 St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is made of wood and was built between 1899 - 1901
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is made of wood and was built between 1899 – 1901
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
This couple from Texas loved the White Pass Scenic Railway and the views; they declared it the best side trip on the cruise
After surviving Chilkoot Pass you'd have to boat the length of Bennett Lake which is far longer than what you see here
After surviving Chilkoot Pass you’d have to boat the length of Bennett Lake which is far longer than what you see here
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
The views and reflections are awesome up and down Bennett Lake
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
More outstanding scenery
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
You’re into the Yukon and out of BC when you pass this island
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
People from all over the world are in awe of the beauty
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
You can stand outside at the back of the trail and watch the world go by
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
The backpackers who have just finished the Chilkoot Trail get their own car for their gear

Carcross, Yukon – end point for the White Pass Scenic Railway

Carcross, Yukon with a population of around 301 people (based on a 2016 census) has changed dramatically since I last visited.

It’s added a town square with a large number of cute pop-up type stores along the lines of shipping containers – but with  way more character.

You’ll find excellent ice cream, coffee and food including maple goodies like Yukon Whiskey Maple Butter from The Maple Rush. Parks Canada now has a space filled with lots of interesting historical photographs and if you time it right you can enjoy live music along with your ice cream cone.

The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
Welcome to Carcross, Yukon
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
Matthew Watson General Store is the oldest operating store in the Yukon and one of the spots people make a beeline for in Carcross
The White Pass Yukon Route Railroad Experience
There’s a plaza in Carcross with lots of great pop-up kind of stores and live entertainment; you might have time to enjoy before your next stop

There are loads of combinations and permutations of this trip so check out the White Pass Scenic Railway website  to find one that works for you.

Important tip: Two things you should pay attention to when planning your train trip: 1)what day the train runs because it’s not daily and 2) if you’re coming from the Yukon remember that the schedule is on Alaska time and there is a one hour time difference.

Further reading on things to do in the Yukon

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

White Pass Scenic Railway day trip from Skagway, Alaska to Carcross, Yukon Territory

Thank you to Travel Yukon for kindly organizing this fantastic trip.

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