Relive Alaska's Gold Rush History

Indulge your fascination in Gold Rush history with this eight-day tour starting in Juneau, a town that was itself founded on the promise of gold, and working your way north to Fairbanks in Alaska’s Interior region.

Day 1: Juneau

Begin your trip in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city. You can get here via Alaska state ferry, cruise ship, or jet service. The city of Juneau was built on the prospect of gold in 1880, and prospectors Richard Harris and Joe Juneau helped jump-start the gold fever that inspired so many miners to flock from around the world to Alaska.

Juneau’s history comes alive at the Alaska State Museum, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and the Last Chance Mining Museum. Artifacts on display at all three depict the city’s history in mining, the journey toward statehood, and the region’s deep roots in Alaska Native culture. The Juneau-Douglas City Museum and Alaska State Museum are both located in downtown Juneau. The Last Chance Mining Museum is a short drive from town or a 45-minute scenic stroll, located in a building associated with the original Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Co., which operated from 1912 to 1944. Overnight in Juneau.

Day 2: Skagway

Take the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry, Alaska Fjordlands Ferry, or a regional flight to the small town of Skagway, further north along the Inside Passage. Beginning in 1887, Skagway and the nearby town of Dyea were the jumping-off points for more than 40,000 gold-rush stampeders taking the overland Chilkoot Trail or White Pass routes to the Klondike gold fields. That trail is now a popular backpacking trip that draws hikers from all over the world.

Today, Skagway is home to the most visited national park in the state, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Bring your camera and stroll the park’s wide boardwalks among historical storefronts, visit local museums, take a self-guided tour of the Skagway Historic District, explore local hiking trails, tour the Dyea townsite, or hike the Chilkoot Trail. (Located at the start of the Chilkoot Trail, Dyea was once home to thousands. When the White Pass and Yukon Railroad chose Skagway as the start of its route, Dyea became a ghost town.) Overnight in Skagway.

Day 3: Skagway

Continue your exploration of Alaska’s Gold Rush history at the Trail of ‘98 Museum and Gold Rush Cemetery in Skagway, or try your hand at gold panning through an organized tour. Another popular tour is aboard the historic trains of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, which takes you up to the White Pass summit. This rail route was built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush and is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This scenic train ride is not to be missed in Skagway. Overnight again in Skagway.

Day 4: Juneau

Take the ferry or regional flight back to Juneau. Enjoy another afternoon exploring Juneau’s many cultural highlights, including the Sealaska Heritage Institute, shopping, and a vibrant culinary and brewery scene. Stretch your legs with a hike on the Perseverance Trail, within walking distance of downtown. This trail was originally an access road for several gold mining operations in the valley, and you can still see gold mining artifacts along the trail today. Overnight in Juneau.

Day 5: Anchorage

Board a commercial flight to the town of Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city. Rent a car in Anchorage for the next few days of exploring. Learn about the state’s culture and history at the excellent Anchorage Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center. Overnight in Anchorage. 

Day 6: Independence Mine State Historical Park

Today you’ll head out on a day trip to Independence Mine State Historical Park, located 60 miles north of Anchorage in beautiful Hatcher Pass. This historic gold mining area was active from the early 1900s to 1951 and was the second most productive hardrock gold mine in Alaska. At its peak in 1941, the company employed 204 workers, blasted almost 12 miles of tunnels, and recovered 34,416 ounces of gold, today worth almost $18 million. At the time, 22 families lived in nearby Boomtown, with eight children attending the territorial school. Today, many of the mining operation buildings are in various states of ruin, but several are still standing and have been restored to house artifacts and educational displays. The area offers a fascinating glimpse into life in an active gold mine in Alaska – all set against a stunning backdrop of the Talkeetna Mountains. Visitors can explore the mine ruins, trails, and restored buildings independently or on a guided tour. Drive back to Anchorage and overnight in Anchorage. 

Day 6: Girdwood

Take the scenic 40-mile drive along the Seward Highway to the small town of Girdwood, which was established in the mid-1890s as the first gold strikes were made along Turnagain Arm. Make a visit to Crow Creek Mine, where you can pan for gold, take a guided tour of historical buildings, or just watch other miners who regularly work the gold-bearing creek. Enjoy lunch at one of Girdwood’s excellent restaurants, then hike or take a tram ride to the top of Mount Alyeska, which offers a panoramic view of seven hanging glaciers in the surrounding peaks. Spend the night in Girdwood at Alyeska Resort or one of the many B&Bs, or head back to Anchorage to overnight in Anchorage again.

Day 7: Fairbanks

Return your rental car and fly from Anchorage to Fairbanks on a quick one-hour flight. Fairbanks is located in the broad Tanana Valley — home to the state’s most productive gold deposits. Make your first stop the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, which offers wonderful displays on local culture and the history of gold mining in the area. After lunch, stop in at the downtown Fairbanks Community Museum, where you can see packing lists and other memorabilia from some of the earliest gold rush prospectors.

Your next stop is the University of Alaska Museum of the North. This excellent museum features the state’s largest public display of gold and a wealth of information on the role this rare mineral has played in Alaska’s history. End your day with a trip to Fairbanks’s delightful Pioneer Park, which features dozens of shops, small museums, and historical artifacts in an outdoor setting, along with a hilarious dinner revue that explains how a gold strike by Italian immigrant Felix Pedro brought hordes of gold seekers to Interior Alaska and spurred the founding of Fairbanks.

Day 8: Fairbanks

Ready to get your hands dirty? Fairbanks has several hands-on gold panning tours to choose from. Most take about half a day, and some include a stop at the Trans-Alaska Pipeline viewing area on the Steese Highway. If your tour doesn’t include this, make sure to visit on your own. Here, you can get a close-up view of one of Alaska’s most impressive engineering marvels: the 48-inch-diameter pipeline that carries crude oil 800 miles to Alaska’s southern coast, where it’s loaded onto barges for shipment to refineries. Discovery of the oil spurred a 20th-century boom that had similar effects to the gold rushes of the 19th century, expanding communities and industries as eager workers flocked to the state. Enjoy dinner at one of several Fairbanks restaurants that sport outdoor decks overlooking the Chena River. Tomorrow, you can start your journey home by departing from the Fairbanks International Airport.