Took us almost 5.5 hours with stops for water. Here is where most people turn around and head back to the trailhead.Note: It is possible to go past Dewey Lake and reconnect with the road further on. Follow the trail north across several wooden footbridges to the Upper Dewey Lake trail junction sign and turn right up the trail. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Good views of the Twin Dewey Peaks (5,410 ft) may be had from all points of the lake. Highly recommend!! It is a flat, mile and a half walk through some wet forests to the beach. ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. For the adrenaline loving spirit, this the perfect spot to jump off of a nearly 30 ft. cliff and into the glacier-fed lake. Going straight here leads to a reservoir and trail to the north end of the lake. This trail was very steep at times, rocky, and a steady incline with a lot of switchbacks. 98% of travelers recommend this experience. It took us 3 hours to go up & 2 to come down (5 hour total). " Steep ascent, then a nice walk around a pretty lake " Sep 2019 This is a preview of what's to come in the next 1.5 miles.Turn left and follow the wide trail for 0.2 miles to the large trail bridge over Highway 410. Whale spotting on a ferry from Juneau is a great way to start the trip! I saw animal feces resembling the bear's, but no sign of any animals. I was told the trail is very safe, because many hikers there. There are trails to extend your hike if you want to walk around the lake, to hike to Upper Dewey Lake, or to hike to the Devils Punchbowl. It is quite steep, but the view is breath-taking! Almost 100 structures remain from the gold rush era. Lower Dewey Lake is located in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park near Skagway Alaska. First snow at 500'. Its about a mile up and down and a mile around a lake. trail was steep but views are spectacular of port. Outdoor Recreation & Cabin Rentals | Skagway Recreation Center Dewey Lakes Trail System Located very close to Skagway's Historic District, this trail head leads into Spruce and Hemlock forests. What is the longest lake trail in Skagway? Lower Dewey Lake Hiking Trail (Skagway) - Tripadvisor Perhaps check out the Alaska Fish and Game website about their requirements and if they issues a one day license. And walking poles would definitely help you balance on the way down. Views are amazing. There are two lakes, Lower and Upper Dewey Lakes, so make sure to go pass the first lake to the next lake. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Skagway, Alaska Lower Dewey Lake Loop 3.0 After the climb, it is fairly level walking around the lake affording nice views of the lake and mountains. The Best Things to Do in Skagway, Alaska: Top Skagway - travelingmitch Such a beautiful place and so close to town. The National Park visitors center in town has a map, but isn't too good either. The avalanche chutes on the north side of Naches Peak are the last to melt out and can pose a treacherous crossing for the unprepared. Directions: In Skagway, head towards the Whitepass Depot. Not many mosquitoes at all. Done in the right season, it has beautiful flowers, ripe berries, expansive views, great campsites, fishing, and swimming. Continue reading, 237 Short but straight up the hill at times, I had to pause for a minute or two to catch my breath and I think I"m in pretty good shape for a 55 y/o. Great hike near cruise ships - Review of Lower Dewey Lake Hiking Trail Explore the most popular lake trails near Skagway with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The view was absolutely gorgeous but it was a difficult hike. The first trail (to the southwest, right) is 0.7 mile long and goes around the unnamed lake above Dewey Lake, passing two campsites before rejoining the PCT at the unnamed lake outlet crossing.The second trail (to the northeast, left) leads to a campsite and then a small beach for wading/swimming in Dewey Lake. Just before reaching the lake, a couple of large interpretive signs do an excellent job of describing the history of the lakes development. Good luck and have fun when you're there! It was a clear trail for the first 2 hours and then we needed crampons for the icy patches and had to switch to snow shoes for the higher deeper snow. The route climbs steeply through a series of switchbacks. WTA Pro Tip: Save a copy of our directions before you leave! The scenery is breath taking. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. The Upper Dewey Lake trail ascends from sea level to 3,025 feet of elevation in approximately two miles. Beautiful. the canoes/kayaks at the lake are a nice touch! Lake is completely melted. The trail winds past a city reservoir and then continues on to the Lower Dewey Lake loop. It's about a km or so to the lake, and just over 3 to walk around it. A rock outcrop allowed this view of the harbour and the cruise ship Disney Wonder. Carry on this road for 1.3km until you meet a dead end. Steep trail that was marked moderate on all trails. It was beautiful! Lower Dewey Lake is a short/easy hike with a couple nice, elevated views of town and the cruise ships. You can take the public and free canoe or kayak as a fun sidetour! lake is peaceful and beautiful. Skagway is a cute little town, but not much to do. The lake at the top was the most amazing thing we've ever seen--it literally brought us to tears. Not far up the trail there is a rock bench which provides a view of town and the harbor. adventures and follow local regulations. Good trail conditions. There are nice views down to Skagway intermittently. The Carcross Desert is considered by many to be the smallest desert in the world. But we cant provide this resource without you. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. What restaurants are near Upper Dewey Lake? The Dewey Lake trail system leads visitors to Skagway on adventures to multiple remarkable destinations, including Lower Dewey Lake, Sturgill's Landing, Icy Lake, Upper Reid Falls, Upper Dewey Lake and Devil's Punch Bowl. To misquote a famous author, this hike can be "the best of trips or the worst of trips". Lake still covered in snow. I dont hike much and carried around a 15-20lb pack and wore hiking shoes while my wife had on sneakers. ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM ALASKA. We ended up renting bikes from a shop in town. Minutes and took away the views. Continuing south, I drove into the clouds from a few kilometers around the White Pass summit. Lower Dewey Lake is located in the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park near Skagway Alaska. I would recommend this for people in decent shape. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The trail jogs left and crosses a short footbridge. Snap a pic of you on each trail, The Klondike Road Relay runs every year from Skagway to Whitehorse in the month of September. Not far up the trail there is a rock bench which provides a view of town and the harbor. We encountered melting snow, which was slick but still easily navigated, about the last 200-300m to the lake. Its steep and slick where the ice is. Or write to us: Smiths Parlor Museum: Tickets & Tours, Skagway Centenial Statue: Tickets & Tours, Skagway Alaska Downtown: Tickets & Tours, Oxford & Cambridge Universities Tour with Christ Church entry, Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park Tour from Denver Winter and Spring, English Heritage Overseas Visitor Pass with Free Entry to Over 100 Attractions, Dinner and Sunset Camel Ride at desert Marrakech Agafay, London Vintage Bus Tour with Cream Tea at Harrods. The route climbs steeply through a series of switchbacks. Spikes and gaiters are highly recommended. The other side of the loop is super easy and flat and makes for a pretty easy but gorgeous hike. Each trail extends from a single trail head located closest to the cruise ship docks in the very small town. On the way back down, might as well go an extra 2-3 miles and hit the lower Dewey lake trail as its mostly flat and has some great views. A short distance up the hill the trail branches off to the right (continuing straight up the hill is a steep power company maintenance road). When I arrived at the entrance of the trail, elderly gentleman handed me his cane made out of the tree branch. , it is fairly level walking around the lake affording nice views of the lake and mountains. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Was so wet out there! Beautiful views! Where the railroad tracks cross the road turn left and follow the tracks 120 meters north to the trailhead (beware of trains when crossing the tracks!) ALLTRAILS and the AllTrails Mountain Design are registered trademarks of AllTrails, LLC in the United States as well as certain other jurisdictions. Beautiful nature! After returning from White Pass Scenic,Railway train ride, I stopped over at Skagway Fish Company right next to my Celebrity Millenium Cruise Ship. And, of course, I made lots of photo stops. Definitely wear shoes with traction!! Trail was well marked and well maintained. Absolutely stunning. Great hike to get some exercise after the laziness of a cruise trip. Length: 3.0 mi Est. For me it was a total of 6 hour hike it was one step at a time but people in better shape went by me and i met them coming back down before i even got up there. From Upper Dewey trailhead, the path begins to steepen. Washington Trails Association is 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Completed in 1.5 hours. First the facts. This is a new adventure! Call us: Gorgeous time. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Good hike, at least it was downhill all the way back! 99% of travelers recommend this experience. Then, head back towards the trailhead for Upper Dewey Lake, which you would have passed. I definitely recommend it. Once you hit the outhouse you are done with the hard part and its time to enjoy. 271, USGS 7.5 Min Topographic: Chinook Pass Quadrangle and Cougar Lake Quadrangle. " A Challenging but very Rewarding Hike " Aug. 2019 Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. " A Challenging but very Rewarding Hike " Aug 2019 Near the lake, there is a nice field, two cabins, a bridge over the creek and a trail to the Devil's Punch Bowl. To the west is Mount Rainier National Park, which means no pets on the trail in that direction. What is the most popular and difficult lake trail in Skagway? Absolutely stunning scenery lakeside. but for me it was getting there which i did. We had all ready taken the train from Anchorage to Whittier, so we were not interested in taking that again. Skagway overhauls trail system as part of economic stimulus plan - KTOO " Jul. Didnt make it all the way to devils punch bowl but we stopped at the free use cabin at Upper Dewey, had a fire starter and some matches and we got a fire going. Skagway Shorter Day Hikes - U.S. National Park Service Icy Lake: 107 Reviews, Map - Alaska | AllTrails Also, when we were there the tourist bureau was very helpful. Make sure to have plenty of water and layers. There are good views of the town of Skagway too. Nice hike. It is a smooth path for the most part. I met some more single female hikers on the way back, some with dogs. Turn left here across the earthen levy and spillway to hike the rougher trail around the east side of the lake, where you will have to scramble over a few rocks before bearing left to rejoin the main trail and return to the trailhead. Not very difficult trail, its better to have the poles. Lower Dewey Lake Hiking Trail 4.5 171 reviews #9 of 39 things to do in Skagway Hiking Trails Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Uphill trail with easy access to down town " Aug 2022 There were two kayaks and a SUP on the lake that were provided by town of Skagway. Moderate Day Hikes - U.S. National Park Service Calf aching for a few days later for sure! Im in my early 40s and in decent shape (can jog 8:30 min miles for an hour or so). Its doable but your feet will get wet from slipping in the snow. Skagway is an Alaskan frontier mining town, situated on a prime route to the Upper Yukon Valley and Klondike gold-bearing regions. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Lower Dewey Lake - Trailpeak 2.7 miles (4.4 km) around lake They need to update their map a little. But I manage We made it to the upper lake in 1.5 hrs and down in 1 hr (at a brisk pace). Done in the wrong season, it has treacherous avalanche chute crossings, wet trail, no flowers, muddy campsites, and horrendous bugs.The hike to Dewey Lake is very popular and in mid-season, the parking lot for the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) fills in the morning. In mid-August, the berries have ripened and the lake has warmed enough for wading and swimming.