Laughton Glacier Hike and White Pass Rail Adventure

5.0 (74 reviews) 9 h 45 min Free cancellation

out of 5

74 reviews

5.0

Make memories that will last a lifetime! — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Surround yourself with ice frozen in time since the Ice Age! — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Your trip to the Laughton Glacier combines a scenic train ride aboard the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway with a wilderness hike to the magnificent Laughton Glacier where you have an opportunity to HIKE ON A GLACIER! This is an out-and-back trail through the Tongass National Forest. The hiking speed of each tour determines the length of the hike, typically the whole hike is 6-8 miles.

For 33 Years Packer Expeditions has been Skagway's premiere Eco Tourism Agency! We've grown alongside Alaska's robust tourism and cruise community and have dialed in our services to be THE BEST Eco tour, ANYWHERE in the world!

The Laughton Glacier trail is world-class, not only because of the hard work and dedication of the Juneau Ranger District of the Tongass National Forest but also because Packer Expeditions has invested countless days into trail improvements and maintenance. This trail exists as a testament to the care and love that our guides have poured in over 3 decades of tours!

Hiking Tours Full-day Tours Private and Luxury Rail Tours Ports of Call Tours Eco Tours Shore Excursions Small Group

At a glance

Duration: 9 h 45 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 12 people
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: English
Operated by: Packer Expeditions - Day Tours

Ages: Children (8–17 years) · Adults (18–80 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Our lunches are premade to order by a local restaurant!
Included: We provide lumbar packs as well as ice creepers, trekking poles, rain gear and warm layers.
Included: **PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED**
Included: On-board restrooms: Our train ride at the beginning and end of the tour includes a restroom for all guests.
Included: All guests receive assorted snacks (trail mix, granola bars, candy bars and fruit gummies.) Don't worry if you get jealous of other peoples candy bars, our guides carry plenty of extra for everyone!

Itinerary

White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

1 h 30 min Admission included

All Aboard! Our journey begins on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, the only way to get to the Laughton Glacier Trailhead without chartering a helicopter.

While on board, you will receive your lunch sandwich, snacks and water in a provided lumbar pack to bring with you on your journey. Enjoy the breathtaking mountain views from the train as you ride along this historic railroad. Get to know your guide, listen in to the world class narration on board and get ready to go hiking!

At the end of our hike we will ride the same train back to Skagway, so sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!
Stop 2

30 min

Once the WP&YR drops us off at the trailhead, we will gear up to get going! After a brief safety talk, get outfitted with what you need to succeed on the trail! (All clients are provided with ice creepers for traversing the glacier ice, and trekking poles if they desire.)

At the end of our hike, we will stow our gear and take a much deserved rest as we await the WP&YR to pick us up and take us back to Skagway.
Stop 3

2 hours

The Laughton Glacier sits approximately 3 miles from the Laughton Glacier Trailhead. Our tour hikes to the Glacier where we then gear up with provided Ice Creepers and then hike on the glacier! We explore the glacier and all the amazing features it has to offer. From bubbling glacier water flows, moulins plunging into the darkness, crevasses scarring the glacial landscape and even sometimes mysterious fountains of ice water. After we take a rest to enjoy the stunning landscape and eat lunch, we start our journey back to the trailhead to catch our train back to Skagway.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet your guide near the Centennial Statue, next to the Locomotive 52 Display on Broadway. Please be 10 minutes early so one of our guides can meet you there, verify your tickets, see your Passports and then the adventure begins!

End point

We can provide transfers for any and all guests who would like a ride back to their ship at the end of the tour.
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad drops us off at 12th and Spring. This is a great location to walk into Historic Downtown Skagway from if you want to explore everything Skagway has to offer.