Skagway Photo Spots for Alaska Cruise Passengers

Skagway offers cruise passengers excellent photography opportunities including the historic downtown’s colorful buildings along Broadway Street, the scenic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad with mountain vistas, Lower Reid Falls waterfront trail, the Gold Rush Cemetery, and panoramic views from the AB Mountain Trail overlooking the town and Lynn Canal fjord.

Quick Photo Spot Summary

Want to know more about Alaska cruise ports and what to expect at each destination?

Downtown Broadway Street Photography

The wooden boardwalks and false-front buildings along Broadway make Skagway look like a movie set, which is precisely why every cruise passenger aims their camera at the Red Onion Saloon. Here’s the thing though: shoot early or shoot late. Midday brings harsh overhead light and thousands of tourists wearing matching tour group stickers.

The best angles are actually from the side streets. Walk down 2nd Avenue or 7th Avenue and turn back toward Broadway. You’ll capture the historic buildings with the dramatic Coastal Mountains rising behind them, minus the crowd of selfie-stick wielders. The residential streets also feature beautifully preserved homes with window boxes overflowing with petunias and those impossible-to-ignore mountain backdrops.

Pro Tips for Downtown Photography

• The wooden sidewalks create leading lines – use them to draw viewers into your composition
• Shoot from low angles to emphasize the building heights against the mountains
• Cloudy days actually work better here than bright sun – no blown-out highlights on white building facades
• Look for the vintage cars parked strategically around town (they’re there for tourists but they do add authenticity to photos)

White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

This narrow-gauge railroad climbs nearly 3,000 feet in just 20 miles and offers some of Alaska’s most dramatic scenery. But here’s what they don’t tell you in the brochure: not all seats are created equal. The train has vintage parlor cars with windows that don’t open and open-air platforms where you can actually stick your camera out.

If photography is your priority, book the open-air cars or at minimum get a seat on the left side going up (right side coming down) for views of the gorge and waterfalls. The windows in the enclosed cars are old, scratched and create horrible reflections. You’ve been warned.

Best Photo Moments on the Train

• Dead Horse Gulch trestle – the train slows here so everyone can get the shot
• Bridal Veil Falls – watch for it on the left about 30 minutes into the journey
• Inspiration Point – the conductor announces it but be ready before they do
• The switchback turns where you can photograph the train itself curving around the mountain

The challenge with train photography is motion blur. Bump your shutter speed to at least 1/500th of a second and use continuous shooting mode to fire off several frames. The train bounces more than you’d expect.

Lower Reid Falls and Waterfront Trail

This is Skagway’s secret weapon for photographers who actually want unique images. The trailhead starts near the small boat harbor (about a 15-minute walk from the cruise docks) and the 1.8-mile round trip takes you through moss-draped rainforest to a lovely waterfall.

The real magic happens along the trail itself. Ancient hemlocks twist at impossible angles, nurse logs sprout gardens of ferns, and the filtered light creates that ethereal forest atmosphere that screams “Alaska wilderness.” Unlike the crowded downtown, you might encounter only a handful of people here.

Photography Considerations

• Bring a lens cloth – the humidity will fog your lens in the forest
• A polarizing filter helps cut through glare on wet rocks and foliage
• The waterfall itself requires a slower shutter speed (1/4 to 1 second) for that silky water effect
• Watch your footing while shooting – those roots are slippery when wet (they’re always wet)

Gold Rush Cemetery

Located about 1.2 miles from downtown, this historic cemetery tells the story of Skagway’s Gold Rush history through weathered wooden markers and leaning headstones. The most famous resident is Soapy Smith, the con artist who ran Skagway until Frank Reid shot him in a gunfight. Both men are buried here.

From a photography standpoint, the cemetery offers wonderful texture and storytelling opportunities. The wooden grave markers have aged beautifully (if that’s not too morbid to say), and the surrounding forest provides context. This place works in any light, though overcast days add appropriate moodiness.

Continue past the cemetery on the short trail to Reid Falls (different from Lower Reid Falls) for a much larger waterfall that most visitors miss entirely. The positioning is tricky – you can’t get very close – but a longer lens will capture the dramatic drop.

AB Mountain Trail

Here’s where we separate the casual smartphone photographers from the serious shooters. The AB Mountain Trail climbs steeply from the end of State Street and gains over 1,600 feet in about 1.5 miles. It’s a legitimate workout, but the panoramic views over Skagway, the cruise ships, and Lynn Canal are absolutely worth the sweaty climb.

Most cruise passengers won’t attempt this hike due to time constraints and the physical demand. That means fewer people in your shots and genuine wilderness experience. However, you need at least 3-4 hours for the round trip, so only attempt this if your ship has a late departure or you’re staying overnight.

Trail Photography Tips

• Start early when the light is soft and you’ll avoid afternoon heat
• A wide-angle lens captures the expansive views from the top
• The town looks like a miniature model from above – perfect for that “sense of place” shot
• Watch for wildlife – black bears use this trail and make excellent subjects (from a very safe distance)

Bonus Tips for Skagway Photography

• Download offline maps before your cruise – cell service is spotty and you don’t want to get lost when your ship is leaving
• The famous “Welcome to Skagway” sign on Broadway is cute but completely mobbed – shoot it from across the street with a longer lens to compress the background
• Skagway gets about 30 inches of rain annually (which is actually dry for Southeast Alaska) but it can pour at any moment – bring rain protection for your gear
• The tide goes way out in Lynn Canal, exposing tide pools near the harbor that make great foreground elements
• If you’re shooting budget activities in Skagway, the free museum at City Hall has excellent historical photos that add context to your own images
• Battery life drains faster in cold weather – bring a spare even if you think you won’t need it
• The midnight sun effect means great light extends much later than you’d expect – if your ship stays until evening, take advantage

Comparing Skagway to Other Alaska Photo Locations

If you’re visiting multiple ports, each has distinct photographic character. While Skagway excels at Gold Rush history and mountain drama, Ketchikan’s Creek Street offers the iconic boardwalk-over-water shots, and Juneau’s walking guide leads you to glacier views and state capitol architecture. Understanding Alaska’s Gold Rush history across all these ports adds depth to your photography story.

Weather and Light Considerations

Skagway sits at the northern end of the Inside Passage where the mountains funnel weather in unpredictable ways. You might experience brilliant sunshine and horizontal rain in the same afternoon. The upside is that dramatic clouds and shifting light create far more interesting photos than boring blue skies.

Summer brings nearly 18 hours of daylight, which sounds great until you realize the harsh midday sun lasts forever. The sweet light happens early (before 9 AM) and late (after 7 PM). Plan your shooting schedule accordingly rather than joining the afternoon shopping masses.

Common Questions and FAQ

Do I need special permits to photograph in Skagway?

No permits are required for personal photography anywhere in Skagway. The town welcomes cruise passengers and the photogenic historic district exists largely for tourism. If you’re shooting commercial work or using drones, regulations differ, but regular vacation photography is completely unrestricted.

Can I photograph inside the historic buildings?

Most shops and museums allow interior photography though some request you ask first. The Park Service buildings (like the visitor center) permit non-flash photography. The Red Onion Saloon actively encourages photos – they’ve preserved the bordello upstairs specifically for visitors.

How much camera gear should I carry around Skagway?

Less than you think. Skagway is compact and walkable, but if you’re hiking to the cemetery or attempting AB Mountain, every pound matters. A single versatile zoom lens (24-70mm range) handles most situations. Leave the massive telephoto on the ship unless you’re specifically hunting for wildlife.

What if it’s raining on the day my ship docks?

Embrace it. Rain adds atmosphere to the historic buildings, makes colors pop, and creates reflections on the wooden boardwalks. Some of the most memorable Skagway photos happen in wet weather. Just protect your gear with rain covers or even a simple plastic bag with a hole for the lens.

Are there any photography shops in Skagway if I need supplies?

Not really. Skagway has about 1,000 year-round residents and exists primarily for cruise passengers. Bring everything you need from home including spare batteries, memory cards and lens cleaning supplies. The gift shops sell disposable cameras if you’re desperate, but that’s about it.

Can I get photos of my cruise ship while in port?

Absolutely. Walk toward the small boat harbor or out along the railroad tracks (carefully and legally) for elevated angles of the cruise docks. The ships look impressive against the mountain backdrop. The AB Mountain Trail provides the ultimate ship-in-port shot if you’re willing to hike for it.

Personal Experience

When our cruise docked in Skagway last summer, I almost made the mistake of just following the crowd down Broadway Street. Sure, the storefronts are cute, but everyone gets those same shots. Instead, I wandered two blocks over to 7th Avenue where the old homes sit with the mountains rising dramatically behind them. The light there around 9 AM was absolutely perfect – soft and golden, with none of the harsh shadows you get later in the day. I also discovered that if you walk just past the railroad depot toward the waterfront, there’s this amazing angle where you can capture the old wooden pilings with the ships in the background. Hardly anyone goes there, and it tells such a better story than another Red Onion Saloon photo.

My favorite spot ended up being the trail to Lower Reid Falls. It’s only a 20-minute walk from town, and most passengers don’t realize it exists. The falls themselves are gorgeous, but what really got me were the twisted trees and moss-covered rocks along the path – they look like something out of a fairy tale. Pro tip: if your ship docks early, head straight there before the tour buses start running. The morning light filtering through the forest is magical, and you’ll have the place almost to yourself. By the time you walk back to town, the shops are open and you haven’t missed a thing.