Alaska: The Inside Passage

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: We meet for a bike fitting and orientation at 4:00pm. We should have time for a short warm-up ride to get us familiar with our bikes and downtown Juneau. Then we’ll all have dinner together. 5 miles.

DAY 2: After breakfast at our inn, we’ll begin our cycling by leaving Juneau and cycling over the Gastineau Channel to Douglas Island for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll plan to kayak. If the seas are too rough, we’ll hike in the rainforest that surrounds the town.

It will still be light long after dinner and you’ll find that the sun gives you excess energy. You can take the optional tram ride to the top of Mount Roberts at 1800’ for a beautiful view of Juneau, Douglas Island and the Channel. There you can learn about the native Tlingit culture, see an eagle exhibit and walk the nature trail. 24 miles.

DAY 3: We’ll start the day with a leisurely bike ride out the valley to Auke Bay. After lunch, we’ll catch the 4 1/2-hour ferry to Haines. We’ll have dinner on board as we cruise the Lynn Canal, North America’s longest fjord. Watch the water’s surface and you’ll probably see whales coming up for air. 12 miles.

DAY 4: We bike along the glacial-fed Chilkat River today through the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Established in 1982, the preserve protects the largest concentration of bald eagles in the world. You’ll be able to spot them easily by their huge white heads and tails. They mate for life and at least 200 make their year-round home along this river.

After a picnic lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon floating back on rafts to spot the wildlife from a different and slower perspective. 15 miles.

DAY 5: Today we’ll bike to Chilkoot Lake and meet our kayaks -- our mode of transportation for the afternoon. After a brief orientation, we’ll glide quietly along the shore in our boats, keeping our eyes peeled for bear, moose and eagles.

Your afternoon will be free to explore the quaint town of Haines. It’s home to the first permanent army base in Alaska. Established as a result of a border dispute with Canada, Fort William H. Seward was named after the man who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from the Russians. The fort was decommissioned in 1947, and most of its original buildings are now private residences, restaurants and art galleries. Or take time to see the American Bald Eagle Foundation's beautiful natural history museum or visit the world’s only hammer museum, or track down the town’s 10 totem poles. 11 miles.

DAY 6: We’ll take a short ride in the morning along the coastal tidal flats to the Mt. Riley trailhead. Then we’ll hike the trail to the top for some wonderful views of the long fjord.

Once back in town, we’ll board the fast ferry to Skagway. Then we’ll take another short bike tour to get acquainted with our new home. We’ll watch the Days of ’98 show, depicting life in Skagway during the late 1890s. Originally named by the Tlingit Native Americans for “windy place,” Skagway was once a gold rush town and the largest town in Alaska. Today, its 800 inhabitants keep busy with the cruise ships that stop here all summer. 8 miles.

DAY 7: We’ll board the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad for the narrated trip over the 2888’ White Pass summit to Fraser Station in British Columbia, Canada. From there, we’ll bike the 15 miles back down to Skagway at sea level. The afternoon will be free to explore the area further on your own. Consider rock climbing, hiking, or a more sedate tour on a classic streetcar. 15 miles.

DAY 8: After breakfast, we’ll bike out of Skagway to the ghost town of Dyea. It was once a boomtown, but the end of the gold rush and the establishment of the railroad in nearby Skagway marked the demise of Dyea. At the end of our ride, we’ll explore the tidal flats and rainforest, hike 2 miles on the historic Chilkoot Trail, and then board rafts to float down the Taiya River back to town. 12 miles.

DAY 9: We say our good-byes over breakfast this morning. You’re on your own to fly or ferry out of Skagway to catch your flight from Juneau. Better yet, take the time and extend your trip to see another part of Alaska — the last frontier. 0 miles.