Alaska and The Yukon: Bicycling the Best of the Golden Circle

Day 1: Arrive in Haines by ferry or small plane from Juneau. Haines sits at the northern end of America’s longest fjord and at the beginning of the Dalton Trail through the Chilkat Valley – one of the few original access routes to the interior. Consider arriving a day early to help with jet lag and to explore this quaint coastal town surrounded by glaciers.

We meet at 2:00 pm for a bike fitting and orientation at the charming Haslingland Hotel, built on the former Fort Seward Army base after World War II. We then embark on an out-and-back warm-up ride along the Lutak Inlet coastline before enjoying our first dinner together at a local restaurant. 20 miles ±1,083’.

Day 2: After a hearty breakfast, we take off on the newly paved Haines Highway that follows the Chilkat River, home to five species of Pacific Salmon. The river’s name translates roughly to “salmon storehouse.” 

We’ll learn about the importance of salmon to the Chilkat people when we stop for a midday visit at the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center near Klukwan. After lunch at the Center, we will pedal on to our rustic home for the night, a lodge and homestead that caters to winter heli-skiers. Dinner will be a feast of locavore fare. Without cell service or internet, enjoy the evening and unplug for the night! 35 miles +2102’/-1486’.

Day 3: Say goodbye to Alaska and hello to the Yukon with killer views of mountains and glaciers in every direction. Today’s stretch of the Haines Highway soars above 3500’ through tree-free tundra. This million-dollar ride concludes at Million Dollar Falls campground, where you can recharge while enjoying the cascading water rush. From there, we’ll take a quick shuttle to our cozy cabins for the night. 42 miles +2157’/-2893’.

Day 4: We shuttle back to Million Dollar Falls this morning to continue pedaling on the Haines Highway to its conclusion in Haines Junction. You can choose to shorten the day’s ride if you’d like, as we finish the afternoon with a shuttle to the Yukon capital of Whitehorse. The small city was once a vital hub for the Klondike Gold Rush stampeders racing for gold during the late 1800s. Dinner is on your own, with plenty of options near our downtown hotel. 54 miles +4249’/-4704’.

Day 5: It’s a slower-paced day, with time in the morning to explore Whitehorse’s visitor center, shopping corridor, and walking trail along the Yukon River. Breakfast is on your own this morning. Then we’ll head south on our bikes to the Klondike Highway before spending the night in a one-of-a-kind lodge tucked quietly away in the boreal forest. 31 miles +2247’/-1822’.

Day 6: Before mounting our bikes again, we explore Carcross, a community of about 300 people. It was once known as Caribou Crossing due to the massive herds that once passed through. The First Nations people who lived here thousands of years ago relied on the area for hunting and fishing.  

Today, it’s a destination for mountain bikers, lovers of contemporary and indigenous art, and anyone who wants to see the world’s smallest desert. Cycling our way south on the Klondike Highway, we’ll see coastal mountains, then ride above the tree line again, marveling at the lakes, rocks, and peaks that surround us.

Once we hit White Pass and the U.S. border, it’s 15 miles of downhill bliss, returning to sea level when we reach our final destination of bustling Skagway. We’ll celebrate at a local restaurant. 49 miles +3172’, -5321’.

Day 7: Our tour officially ends this morning, and breakfast is on your own. If you would like to roam around Skagway on your own, the rental bikes are available for a couple of hours in the morning. Or you may want to pick up your own golden souvenir on Broadway Street, in the Historic Landmark District. Then catch the ferry or a small plane back to Juneau for your connecting flights home. We trust you have had a golden time cycling the best of the Golden Circle!