4 Ways to Visit Alaska from Western Canada
A-LA-SKA.
What do these three syllables bring to mind?
An inaccessible place.
A land at the end of the world.
Bitter cold.
Maybe an abandoned bus serving as a refuge for adventurers.
All of this is true (we’ve tested it), but we can make the journey there much more enjoyable than you might imagine (we’ve tested that, too) and turn this trip intoan unprecedented experience(we’ve tested that, too…).
1. Traveling from village to village on old American ferries
Southern Alaska—and more specifically,the Inside Passage—isn’t “that far” from northern Canada. “Not that far” is relative, of course, given the size of these countries. But once you’re inPrince Rupert, and that’s already a wonderful adventure in itself, we invite you to board a 1960s-era ferry—quite well-equipped with a cozy cabin and a saloon-style restaurant and bar—and let it carry you among the icebergs to the dozens of islands and villages accessible only by sea. You can get off—or not—it’s up to you!
2. Extend the “Gold Rush” journey all the way to Skagway, following in the footsteps of the early gold prospectors.
From theCanadian Yukon—known for itsgold rush—you can also choose to drive toDawson City, with its Wild West vibe (the streets are dirt, you can sip cocktails made with frozen toes, and wrap up the night at a cabaret), try your luck in an icy river to find that miraculous nugget (we got lucky, but we didn’t strike it rich) and continue on toSkagway, the northern gateway to the Inside Passage.
We’ll, of course, recommend a must-see stop atKluane National Park, where you can hike among glaciers and emerald-green lakes. You can even follow in the footsteps of gold prospectors by taking theChilkoot Trail.
3. Visit Kilometer Zero on the Alaska Highway
A quick trip to Alaska—you know, when you’re in a hurry but still want to set foot on this land of adventurers at all costs? The tiny village of Hyder, at the end of the world, is a patch of land teeming withgrizzly bears. Getting there is no easy feat. Entering it is an adventure. Leaving it is heartbreaking. We spent a night there, in an unpretentious motel, experiencing the real local life! There’s an actual border post, and then… a ghost town, and the road just ends!
4. A cruise along the Canadian coast to the Inside Passage, all the way to Juneau
For those who aren’t quite so adventurous, you can board more comfortable boats from the port ofBellinghamin the United States (on the Canadian border) and travel up to Alaska’s capital, Juneau, where you’ll enjoy sampling the region’s finest king crab in this vibrant, tourist-friendly city! From there, several flights can take you to the far north andAnchorage…
