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Skagway · Alaska · United States
Chilkoot Canoe Wildlife Safari (from Skagway)
Starting From
From $283.21 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
Experience inventory, live availability and secure booking provided by
Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
Travel to Haines and paddle and motor on the gorgeous Chilkoot Lake and be amazed at Alaska’s striking beauty. Relax, take photos, and search for wildlife in the inlets and coves on this magnificent canoe adventure. After meeting your tour representative in Skagway, you'll board a high-speed catamaran for a 45-minute boat ride to the town of Haines. Upon arrival into Haines, we'll take a short tour of Fort Seward, a 30-minute drive from downtown Haines and then head up the Lutak Inlet to the Chilkoot River Valley. The Chilkoot corridor offers incredible wildlife viewing. Brown Bears, eagles, mountain goats, and spawning salmon are commons sights. Our guides are expert naturalists and enjoy sharing their love and knowledge of the Alaskan wilderness. Once at the Lake, we’ll head out onto Chilkoot Lake in stable motor-assisted Voyageur Canoes. Our Canoes are built using similar dimensions as the canoes used by trappers and gold miners at the turn of the century. Powered by either paddle or motor, this tour offers guests the opportunity to paddle in the serenity of Chilkoot Lake, while also having the advantage of relaxing and taking photographs when it’s time to take a break from paddling. We’ll be out on the water for about 2 hours and explore the inlets, coves, salmon spawning streams and numerous waterfalls that spill off of the mountains into the lake. After enjoying the beautiful views on the lake, we’ll return to Haines and serve a picnic-style lunch at a private ocean beach location. Following lunch, we'll load up back onto the fast ferry for the return trip to Skagway.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Travel to Haines and paddle and motor on the gorgeous Chilkoot Lake
- Take photos, & search for wildlife in the inlets & coves on this magnificent canoe adventure
Detailed Itinerary
The journey, in full
~75 minutes -- Your friendly dock representative will meet you near the Skagway Small Boat harbor sign and restrooms. We will provide answers to any questions that you might have about your upcoming excursion and get you ready to board the ferry to Haines. We’ll help you board the comfortable ferry for the 50-minute narrated, scenic journey to Haines. ~60 minutes -- Upon arrival in Haines, restrooms will be available and you’ll meet your guide and driver. From here we’ll depart for an interpretive drive through historic Fort Seward and continue to Chilkoot Lake. Along the way, we’ll drive along the shoreline of the Lynn Fjord and the wildlife-rich Chilkoot River. ~15 minutes -- When we arrive at Chilkoot Lake you’ll have the opportunity to meet your other guides and take in the stunning views of the pristine lake. Your guides will help you get fit with a PFD (life jacket) and canoe paddle. You’ll then receive a thorough safety briefing and orientation before boarding the 31’ long voyageur canoe for your adventure. ~90 minutes -- We’ll spend the next hour and a half experiencing Chilkoot Lake while our stable voyageur canoes. It is an excellent way to take in the fantastic views by water and if the wind picks up or you’re ready to relax, we will use the quiet 4-stroke motor to move around. ~15 minutes -- Once back at the put-in you’ll have time to enjoy our private deck and take in the views of the lake and surrounding mountains and waterfalls one more time. ~40 minutes -- We’ll then board our transportation and head down to the ocean for lunch. ~30 minutes -- At our private ocean side picnic area, you’ll enjoy a picnic-style lunch provides great views of the Lynn Fjord in a private setting. ~50 minutes -- Once we wrap up with lunch we’ll head over to the ferry dock where you’ll have the opportunity to use the restrooms and take additional photos of Haines before enjoying the scenic ride back up the fjord to Skagway. ~15 minutes -- Upon returning to Skagway, a short walk will bring you back to our original meeting point, just a few minutes’ walk or shuttle to downtown Skagway and all three cruise ship docks.
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Skagway
Canoeing at Chilkoot Lake.
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Provided Equipment: Life vests, rubber boots, ponchos, paddles
What to Bring
Clothing: Layers for warmth, rain gear Restrooms are available on the dock prior to departing for your tour, on the ferry during your travel to Haines and non-flushing restrooms at the start/finish of your paddle or float
Restrictions
Medical Restrictions: This is a physical activity and it is the guest's responsibility to determine that they are physically and mentally able to participate in the activity.
Meeting & Pickup
Your guide will meet you 30 minutes prior to the tour start time to make sure all necessary paperwork is completed. If you are arriving by cruise ship, your guide will meet you at the end of the pier that your ship docks at. Please stay at your cruise ship dock if you are a cruise ship passenger. Your guide will be holding a sign that says with the name of your tour. FOR NON CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS, the meeting location is the Small Boat Harbor sign. 205 Congress Way, Skagway, AK 99840.
Languages Offered
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Before Booking
Please let us know of any food allergies or dietary restrictions in your group. Please let us know of any additional considerations, including any pertinent medical conditions.
Planning Notes
Minimum age: 8 Hotel pickup offered: Yes Confirmation: Automatic
Traveler Impressions
What travelers are saying
2025-08-13
4.00 / 5
Our guide was wonderful. She was knowledgeable and great to be with. We had a perfect weather day on the lake - it was beautiful. We had our choice of paddling or motor and we chose to paddle as much as possible. What is keeping it from being a 5 star review is the timing. We were told that we were good on time, then she put the motor on to get back to the dock. We had so much extra time that we stopped at a vista point, then drove slowly through town and still had 45 minutes for the picnic lunch. Lunch was 1/2 chicken wrap, or for the GF people, 1/2 PB&J sandwich. Really?? Then, with so much time left, we were told that the guide needed to stay with ALL of us together if we wanted to explore town (I was a single traveller and the others were a family with kids). It felt ridiculous. I went to the cafe next to the dock where I could get some real food. To have almost an hour of the day set aside for a 5 minute meal cheapens the experience.
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