Wildlife You Might Spot on Your Skagway Tours Adventure

When you book a Skagway Tours excursion, you’re signing up for scenic views and gold rush history — AND you’re stepping into a landscape that hosts a surprising diversity of wildlife. From mountain summits to coastal waters, this region of Alaska is alive. Below, we detail some of the species you may encounter (and how best to spot them) during your Skagway Tours experience.

Bald Eagles & Birds of Prey

Soaring above mountain peaks, bald eagles are common throughout Southeast Alaska’s coastal zones, rivers, and forest edges. On your Skagway Tours journey — especially near waterways or cliffs — scan the mountaintops for eagles circling, look down to see them perched in dead trees, or near the banks of the harbor diving for fish. Keep your eyes open for hawks, gulls, mergansers, and sometimes even ospreys that make surprise appearances.

Brown and Black Bears

Passing through customs at the Fraser Lake Port of Entry, you enter a wildlife corridor. Time to pull out your cameras in anticipation of bear sightings. Especially in May and early June, brown bears (grizzly-type) and more often black bears come down from their mountain homes to feast on dandelions and wild berries by the side of the road. They tend to concentrate near salmon streams during spawning seasons. Your chances improve if your tour enters valleys or river corridors during late summer or early fall, when rivers are flush with returning salmon. When it’s safe to do so, we’ll pull off the road to take a closer look from the safety of the bus.

Mountain Goats & Dall Sheep

One of the more subtle but striking sights is a snow-white goat or sheep on a sheer rock face. Approaching the border to the Yukon Territory, at the “Welcome to the Yukon” sign, mountain goats and Dall sheep inhabit the steep alpine terrain and can be seen from the roadway on most days. Through your binoculars, looking to the mountains or high ridgelines, you may glimpse these animals navigating terrain that seems impossible to climb.

Moose & Other Large Mammals

Moose are elusive, roaming the wetlands, marsh edges, and along forest margins, often out of view. They choose when to show up for their dramatic entrance. After passing through Canadian customs, look to the river’s edge, where sometimes they will be spotted grazing. Scan the far banks of the large lakes of the Yukon where we sometimes glimpse moose swimming from one side to the other.

The Pullen Creek Salmon Run

Pullen Creek is the scene of the yearly silver salmon run in late July. Thanks to the efforts of the 1984 High School students, the silvers show up like clockwork. Silver salmon were re-introduced to the local ecosystem in 1984 when a high school science project led to the construction of a small hatchery along Pullen Creek near the tracks of the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad. To this day, silver salmon fill Pullen Pond before making their way up Pullen Creek to spawn.

Other Animals

While searching for bigger game, smaller animals such as porcupines, foxes, marmots, rabbits, grouse, ptarmigan, or ground squirrels make cameo appearances. Don’t look away for a second. You never know what will emerge from the woods and bushes along the South Klondike Highway.

Tips for Maximizing Sightings on Skagway Tours

• Bring binoculars or a zoom lens — many animals stay at a distance.
• Pay attention to the road ahead. Stopped vehicles often indicate a wildlife sighting in progress.
• Be patient and quiet — sudden noise or movement can scare wildlife off.
• Stay alert to natural cues — a splash in the water, a commotion in trees, or bird calls may indicate animal presence.
• Mind your safety and respect habitat — always keep safe distance, don’t feed animals, and let them be wild.

Why Wildlife Adds to the Skagway Tours Experience

Your Skagway Tours booking gives you access to dramatic landscapes, glacier-fed rivers, and gold rush lore. Adding wildlife to the mix brings the natural dimension to life — showing how ecosystems interconnect, how animals adapt to rugged terrain, and how each scene feels unique. Visitors often say a spontaneous eagle soaring above or a seal basking in a fjord becomes one of their most memorable moments.

Ready to See It for Yourself?

Every Skagway Tours adventure is a chance to experience Alaska’s wildlife in its natural setting. From eagles and bears to sheep and mountain goats, no two tours are ever the same. If you’re planning your visit, don’t miss the opportunity to combine history, scenery, and wildlife into one unforgettable day. Book your Skagway Tour today and get ready to see Alaska’s wild side up close.