Nature Tour to Dyea

Nature Tour to Dyea Leave the crowds of Skagway behind and join a small-group tour to Klondike National Historic Park in nearby Dyea. In 1898, Dyea boasted over 8,000 residents, and its Main Street was lined with dozens of hotels, restaurants, and salons. Little of the town remains today. The combination of Alaska's nature and Gold Rush history is what gives Dyea its defining character. The tour begins as you meet your expert guide and board the comfortable van for a scenic, nine-mile drive along Taiya Inlet's rocky seacoast. No big buses are allowed along this route. Make sure you bring your camera to take advantage of the numerous photo opportunities. Once we arrive in Dyea, we'll visit the starting point for the famous Chilkoot Trail. We'll keep our eyes open for bald eagles and harbor seals that frequent this rich tidal estuary as we cross the Taiya River Bridge. Every month brings something different to Dyea. In May, June, and July, the wildflowers are at their peak, with an impressive display of chocolate lilies, fireweed, and wild irises. Beginning in late July, the Taiya River fills with migrating salmon, and the chance of seeing bald eagles and the occasional brown bear increases. In September, the cottonwood trees turn yellow, and the bushes are covered in juicy, red berries. Amanita mushrooms add a splash of red to the green forest understory. We'll stroll through the former townsite for a half-mile walk along a flat and well-maintained National Park trail that once was Dyea's "Broadway." Your guide will help you discover signs of this town's fascinating history which is still evident under the layers of moss, ferns, and mushrooms. At the tour's end, your guide will be happy to drop you off in downtown Skagway or take you directly back to your ship.