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White Pass Railway & Laughton Glacier Wilderness Hike

This trip combines a train ride aboard the Historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway with a wilderness trek to the magnificent Laughton Glacier. You'll board the train for a one-hour scenic journey filled with spectacular waterfalls, rushing rivers and jagged mountain peaks. At Glacier Station, you'll begin a fully guided, eight-mile round-trip hike in the clean mountain air. The magnificent sub-Alpine rainforest valley is home to an abundance of moose, bear, and mountain goats. This spectacular trail winds along the raging Skagway River to the majestic Laughton Glacier. The terrain changes dramatically as you leave the rocky riverbed and climb over a boulder field and onto the glacier. Enjoy the breathtaking views, exposed crevasses and mullions of the great frozen river of ice, ever changing in the harsh Alaskan environment. Upon your return to the trailhead, you'll be greeted with our traditional 'Bush Buffet,' complete with beverages. Relax and enjoy the ride back to town on 'The Scenic Railway of the World.' Note: Participants must be at least 9 years of age, in good physical condition and able to walk over uneven and sometimes difficult terrain. This trip covers 6 to 8 miles. Hiking boots or shoes with good ankle support are recommended. Rain gear, lumbar packs and trekking poles are provided. We recommend you dress in layers, as temperatures range between 50-75 degrees. Train returns from Canada – all participants are required to carry a valid passport.
Average:
5 out of 5
5
 out of 
5
(3 Reviews) 3
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Snapshot (3 reviews)
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3 of 3(100%)customers would recommend this to a friend.
Customer Reviews for White Pass Railway & Laughton Glacier Wilderness Hike
Review 1 for White Pass Railway & Laughton Glacier Wilderness Hike
Overall: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Adventurous: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
charmedangel
Location:Iowa
Party size:2
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:July
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Adventure
Favorite port:Belize City, Belize
I want to go here next:Caribbean
Date:August 5, 2011
Top 3 favorite excursion!
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There were 2 guides (Devon & Dillon) for 12 hikers and they were fantastic and fun! The train ride to mile 14 was fun. We made sandwiches, were offered packs filled with snacks and water, introduced ourselves and enjoyed some great views.
Like others have said the hike was challenging but there were plenty of rest stops. Take deet and a trekking pole when offered. Definitely dress in layers. You warm up as you walk but when you get up on the glacier it's cold. We stayed at the back of the pack and never felt rushed to keep up.
Gorgeous views all around. Definitely worth every penny!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Review 2 for White Pass Railway & Laughton Glacier Wilderness Hike
Overall: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Adventurous: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
seandl09
Location:Charlotte, NC
Party size:4
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:July
Cruise Date Year:2011
Date:July 18, 2011
The best excursion on our Alaskan vacation (and se
Our family enjoyed the rail & hike adventure back to the Laughton Glacier on Wednesday July 13, 2011. Our guides were experienced and personable. We enjoyed the train ride and the scenery from Skagway to mile post 12. Where we disembarked and hiked through the Tongass National Forest back to the glacier. The guides were very informative about the history, and the flora & fauna. They carried just about anything we could need such as rain gear etc. We carried a waist pack for our lunch and snacks which were provided by the tour. We had hiking boots but some folks had just Nikes. We hiked at our own pace with frequent stops for information about the scenery or the local plant life. We sat on some rock on the glacier and ate our lunch before returning to the trailhead to meet up with the train on its return trip. Because we had 3 guides with about 18 hikers, we could split up and move at a faster pace or a slower pace depending on your comfort level. Even though the hike sounds like a long distance and some rough terrain at the foot of the glacier, it was more mentally than physically taxing. As a reference, I'm 54 years old and had no problems. If you want to do more than just ride the train in Skagway, I would highly recommend this excursion.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.
Review 3 for White Pass Railway & Laughton Glacier Wilderness Hike
Overall: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Wildlife/Scenery: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Adventurous: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Family Oriented: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Cultural/Educational: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
PrincessofAles
Location:Portland, OR
Party size:2
I traveled with:Family
Cruise Date Month:June
Cruise Date Year:2011
Favorite activities:Adventure
I want to go here next:Caribbean
Date:June 14, 2011
Worth Every Cent
The Packer Expeditions team is the best group of guides I've ever traveled with (for outdoor trips or otherwise). They are funny, informative, experienced and prepared. Any trip they lead will be good, but this trip was a blast. The most challenging part of the hike is walking over river rocks and gravel, but you can go at your own pace - there is no pressure to hike quickly and plenty of guides to divide up with different groups if need be. Beautiful scenery. Fun train ride. Great information about wildlife, geology, history, Alaska, and some terrible (and memorable) one-liners to share with family and friends when you return. They do a great job providing food, snacks, water, and additional layers if needed. Bring layers you can take off as you warm up, and can add back on once you get to the glacier. Wear hiking boots if you have them, sturdy shoes if you don't. Some folks made the trek in Nike's, but the shoes were definitely the worse for wear.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.