While Alaska is not accessible from the contiguous U.S. or Canada by rail, Alaska's in-state railways offer some of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys. Two railroads operate in the state, the Alaska Railroad and the White Pass & Yukon Route. The White Pass & Yukon Route travels from Skagway to Fraser, B.C. Established more than 100 years ago during the Klondike Gold Rush, it’s now a scenic rail line that takes visitors through rugged terrain and impressive scenery. The Alaska Railroad is a modern railroad with track stretching from Seward to Fairbanks with stops in Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna and Denali National Park and Preserve. The Alaska Railroad is famed for its glass-domed rail cars and excellent service.
Train travel offers an exciting way to see Alaska. Both the White Pass & Yukon Route and the Alaska Railroad go places inaccessible by road. Both trains still offer “whistle stop” service for passengers to disembark along the way for a quiet day of picnicking, fishing or hiking. On the Alaska Railroad, glass-domed cars offer 180 degrees of scenery. A major rail station in Denali National Park provides one of the most favored methods of reaching this iconic national park.