Juneau and the Inside Passage, the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Inside Passage is the labyrinth of channels, islands and fjords that follows the southeast Alaska coast, between Canada and the Gulf of Alaska. Most of the region is covered by the Tongass National Forest, one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world, and almost no town has a road out: access is by ship, ferry or plane.

Juneau, the state capital since 1906, grew around the gold mines opened at the end of the 19th century and sits between Gastineau Channel and steep mountains. Mendenhall Glacier flows from the Juneau icefield less than 20 km from downtown, and a tram rises from the harbor to Mount Roberts. Museums tell the history of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples and the Russian period.

To the south, Ketchikan displays old and recent totem poles in parks and downtown, as well as the stilted Creek Street, and serves as a base for the granite fjords of the Misty Fjords National Monument. To the north, Skagway was the gateway for prospectors heading to the Yukon in 1897 and 1898, and preserves the period facades; from there the train climbs the White Pass gorge up to the Canadian border.

West of Juneau, Gustavus is the village at the entrance to Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO site, where glaciers reach the sea in a bay that just over two centuries ago was entirely covered by ice. Humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, bald eagles and bears are frequently seen in summer.

This destination brings together 4 cities: Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Gustavus.

Share: WhatsApp

Traveler, share your experiences through photos Up to 5 photos of each place you visited.

One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Juneau and the Inside Passage is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Juneau and the Inside Passage

✈ Juneau International Airport (JNU) · 13 km to Juneau

Juneau International Airport (JNU) receives flights from Seattle and Anchorage; Ketchikan, Skagway and Gustavus have smaller airports. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries connect towns in the region with each other and with Bellingham, Washington. Many visitors arrive by ship on itineraries departing from Seattle or from Canadian Vancouver.

Suggested arrival point: Juneau

Alasca · Juneau and the Inside Passage Capital Suggested arrival point

Juneau

The capital of Alaska, between the Gastineau Channel and forested mountains, with no road connection to the rest of the state. It was founded by gold prospectors in 1880 and has a downtown of steep streets with the Capitol, old churches and the Alaska State Museum. From the cruise ship pier the Mount Roberts aerial tramway rises, and Mendenhall Glacier is about 20 km away. Auke Bay, to the north, is the departure point for whale-watching tours.

Alasca · Juneau and the Inside Passage

Ketchikan

The southernmost city in Alaska, on Revillagigedo Island, on the edge of the Tongass Narrows, and the first stop for many cruise ships. Known for salmon fishing and frequent rain, it has totem poles scattered through downtown, in parks and at the village of Saxman, the stilt-boardwalk of Creek Street and a downtown of wooden houses. It is the base for Totem Bight to the north and for the fjords of Misty Fjords National Monument to the east.

Alasca · Juneau and the Inside Passage

Skagway

Small town at the end of the Lynn Canal, surrounded by mountains, which was the gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897 and 1898. The downtown preserves wooden facades from that era, some of them restored by the national historic park. The White Pass train departs from here and climbs to the Canadian border, and the Chilkoot Trail begins in Dyea. In summer, the population multiplies with cruise visitors.

Alasca · Juneau and the Inside Passage

Gustavus

Village spread across a plain between forest and sea at the entrance to Glacier Bay National Park, with no road to the rest of Alaska. It has guest houses, an airstrip, a dock and a few hundred residents who live from fishing and tourism. A road leads to Bartlett Cove, where the park visitor center, forest trails and the boat that travels the bay to the glaciers are located.

The local experience

Things to do in Juneau and the Inside Passage

Ketchikan · Alaska · Historic street

Creek Street

A boardwalk built on stilts along Ketchikan Creek, with colorful wooden houses that were the city’s bohemian quarter until 1954. Today it has shops, galleries, a small museum and, late in summer, salmon running up the creek.

Skagway · Alaska · Tourist train

White Pass and Yukon Route

A narrow-gauge railway built between 1898 and 1900 during the Klondike Gold Rush, which climbs from Skagway to the White Pass gorge at 879 meters, crossing bridges, tunnels and rock slopes at the border with Canada.

Juneau · Alaska · Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier

A glacier of about 22 km that descends from the Juneau Icefield to the lake of the same name, about 20 km from downtown. The visitor center and short trails lead to ice viewpoints and Nugget Falls; in summer black bears fish for salmon in a nearby stream.

Gustavus · Alaska · National park

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Park of fjords, mountains and glaciers that reach the sea, west of Juneau, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Boats depart from Bartlett Cove, near Gustavus, and travel up the bay to the glacier fronts, with humpback whales, sea otters, seals and bears along the way.

See 4 more places in Juneau and the Inside Passage

Juneau · Alaska · Museum

Alaska State Museum

The Alaska State Museum, in downtown Juneau, with collections from the native peoples of the entire state, objects from the Russian period, art and natural history, in a building that also houses the state library and archives.

Skagway · Alaska · Historic site

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

The park that preserves Skagway’s downtown from the Klondike Gold Rush era, with restored buildings, the 1898 Mascot saloon, the founder’s house, the old train station that serves as the visitor center and the start of the Chilkoot Trail.

Ketchikan · Alaska · Historic site

Totem Bight State Historical Park

A seaside state park north of Ketchikan, with 15 totem poles and a Tlingit clan house amid the forest, carved by native carvers as reproductions from old pieces that were deteriorating in abandoned villages.

Ketchikan · Alaska · Natural area

Misty Fjords National Monument

A protected area of fjords, granite walls and waterfalls east of Ketchikan, with no roads, visited by floatplanes and boats. Rock walls rise hundreds of meters straight from the water.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

Cruises, trains and tour boats are concentrated from May through September. June and July are usually the least rainy months and have the longest days; humpback whales commonly appear from May through September. The region is rainy year-round, and many tourist services close in winter.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

On a cruise, each town usually takes a day. Independently, by ferry and plane, allow a week: two days in Juneau, one or two in Ketchikan, one in Skagway and two in Gustavus for Glacier Bay.

Which city to stay in

In Juneau, the downtown area near the harbor and museums, and the Mendenhall valley near the glacier and the airport. In Ketchikan, lodging is downtown and along the Tongass Channel. In Skagway, stay in the historic downtown. Gustavus has guest houses and cabins spread through the village and one lodging inside the park, in Bartlett Cove.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Juneau and the Inside Passage

Does Juneau have a road to the rest of Alaska?

No. Mountains and icefields isolate the capital: access is by plane, the state ferry or cruise ship.

Cruise or independent trip in the Inside Passage?

A cruise is the simplest way to see multiple towns. Independently, by ferry and plane, you have more time in each place and access to Gustavus and Glacier Bay, which few ships include with a landing.

When to see whales in the Inside Passage?

Humpback whales usually spend the summer in the region, from May through September, feeding in the channels near Juneau and Glacier Bay.

What is the time difference in Juneau?

Like all of Alaska, Juneau is on UTC−9 in winter and moves to UTC−8 during American daylight saving time.

Do you need a passport for Inside Passage cruises?

Cruises that depart from Vancouver or that call in Canada require entry documents for both countries, depending on nationality. The Skagway train that continues beyond the pass also enters Canada. Requirements can change: confirm before traveling.

Juneau and the Inside Passage

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip