THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Head out of Skagway on a 75‑minute fjord crossing to a glacial lake and a close, guided canoe approach to Davidson Glacier. Expect wildlife viewing, a short hike over moraine, provided rubber boots and a beach picnic lunch.
Head out of Skagway on a 75‑minute fjord crossing to a glacial lake and a close, guided canoe approach to Davidson Glacier. Expect wildlife viewing, a short hike over moraine, provided rubber boots and a beach picnic lunch.
The boat slips off Skagway’s quay and the town drops away: spruce forests, steep granite, and a cold fjord that seems to pull you forward. Salty spray and gull calls fill the air during the 75‑minute fjord crossing, and the first line of mountains appears like a dark promise. After landing on a remote spit, a short walk across moraine and forest opens to a lake rimmed by blue ice — Davidson Glacier towering above the water.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by AlaskaX · Skagway, Alaska
The boat slips off Skagway’s quay and the town drops away: spruce forests, steep granite, and a cold fjord that seems to pull you forward. Salty spray and gull calls fill the air during the 75‑minute fjord crossing, and the first line of mountains appears like a dark promise. After landing on a remote spit, a short walk across moraine and forest opens to a lake rimmed by blue ice — Davidson Glacier towering above the water.
This route passes through coastal temperate rainforest carved by repeated ice ages. The Davidson Glacier is a tidewater remnant of larger ice flows that scoured the Taiya Inlet and nearby valleys during the Pleistocene; local Tlingit communities have long used the inlet for travel and subsistence. Naturalists on board explain the geology of the fjord, point out cascading waterfalls, and flag the seasonal rhythms that draw humpbacks, seals, and bald eagles to the inlet.
Practically speaking, expect a mixed marine and light‑hike day: a sheltered wildlife‑viewing boat, short drives across glacial moraines, a 1/4‑mile walk to canoe launch, and an optional 1/2–1‑mile beach hike on sand and pebbles to the glacier face. Guides provide rubber boots and life jackets and lead canoe circuits on the glacial lake; conditions dictate how close you can approach the ice. Bring layered waterproof clothing, motion‑sickness remedies if you’re prone, sturdy shoes, and a camera with a zoom. The tour runs about six hours from Skagway’s Visitor Center; all sales are final and trips cancel for severe weather. This excursion rewards patience: silence on the lake, the dull groan of distant ice, and wildlife that challenges you to stay present.
moderate.
6 hours.
Moderate fitness required: able to walk 1/4 mile over uneven moraine and manage short canoe balance periods.
The fjord crossing is about 75 minutes each way; overall trip time is roughly six hours from the Skagway Visitor Center.
Yes—guides supply life jackets and rubber boots for shore landings and canoeing; bring your own shoes for hiking sections.
Close approaches depend on ice and weather; guides assess safety and may limit distance to the glacier for protection and stability.
Minimum age is 7; children must meet height and weight requirements and be supervised—expect active walking and boat time.
Skagway and the Taiya Inlet feature Gold Rush routes and longstanding Tlingit presence; the inlet’s channels were shaped by glacier advance and retreat over millennia.
Operators follow wildlife viewing regulations and minimize wake and noise; visitors should pack out waste and maintain respectful distances from wildlife.
AlaskaX operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The boat slips off Skagway’s quay and the town drops away: spruce forests, steep granite, and a cold fjord that seems to pull you forward. Salty spray and gull calls fill the air during the 75‑minute fjord crossing, and the first line of mountains appears like a dark promise. After landing on a remote spit, a short walk across moraine and forest opens to a lake rimmed by blue ice — Davidson Glacier towering above the water.
The boat slips off Skagway’s quay and the town drops away: spruce forests, steep granite, and a cold fjord that seems to pull you forward. Salty spray and gull calls fill the air during the 75‑minute fjord crossing, and the first line of mountains appears like a dark promise. After landing on a remote spit, a short walk across moraine and forest opens to a lake rimmed by blue ice — Davidson Glacier towering above the water.
This route passes through coastal temperate rainforest carved by repeated ice ages. The Davidson Glacier is a tidewater remnant of larger ice flows that scoured the Taiya Inlet and nearby valleys during the Pleistocene; local Tlingit communities have long used the inlet for travel and subsistence. Naturalists on board explain the geology of the fjord, point out cascading waterfalls, and flag the seasonal rhythms that draw humpbacks, seals, and bald eagles to the inlet.
Practically speaking, expect a mixed marine and light‑hike day: a sheltered wildlife‑viewing boat, short drives across glacial moraines, a 1/4‑mile walk to canoe launch, and an optional 1/2–1‑mile beach hike on sand and pebbles to the glacier face. Guides provide rubber boots and life jackets and lead canoe circuits on the glacial lake; conditions dictate how close you can approach the ice. Bring layered waterproof clothing, motion‑sickness remedies if you’re prone, sturdy shoes, and a camera with a zoom. The tour runs about six hours from Skagway’s Visitor Center; all sales are final and trips cancel for severe weather. This excursion rewards patience: silence on the lake, the dull groan of distant ice, and wildlife that challenges you to stay present.