Was the White Pass Summit Tour Worth US$155? I Didn’t Get Bored for a Minute

Before taking the White Pass Summit Tour in Skagway, I had two doubts: the price and the length.The adult fare I saw was US$155 for a tour lasting around two hours and 30 minutes to two hours and 45 minutes. That felt expensive for a train ride. And even with beautiful scenery, would sitting on a train for that long become boring?

After taking it, I can honestly say that I didn’t get bored for a minute. It became a tour I would happily recommend.

More Than a View Through the Window

The carriage was warm, which made the journey comfortable. I could enjoy the scenery from my seat, but my favourite part was being able to stand on the outdoor platforms between the carriages.There was something special about seeing the landscape directly, without a window between me and the view. From there, I could watch the train make its way through the mountains and take in the scenery around it.

That option also made a difference to the experience. I wasn’t simply sitting in the same place for two and a half hours. Moving between the warm carriage and the outdoor platform gave me different ways to enjoy the ride.

Scenery That Kept My Attention

There were bridges built into the mountain landscape, along with lakes and rivers. I had expected lovely views, but I hadn’t expected the journey itself to hold my attention so easily. The bridges were particularly memorable. Seeing the railway running through that terrain was part of the appeal, alongside the natural scenery.

I had worried about the length beforehand, but once we were travelling, I stopped thinking about it. I was too busy looking outside. For me, that was the biggest surprise. Two and a half hours had sounded like a long time to spend on a train. In practice, it never felt like I was waiting for the ride to finish.

The Commentary Was Part of the Fun

The onboard commentary was another highlight. It was witty and genuinely entertaining, and I enjoyed it much more than I had expected. This created my only real dilemma: I loved standing outside, but doing so meant missing some of the commentary. If I stayed inside, I could listen while enjoying the views from the warmth of the carriage. If I went outside, I could see the scenery directly, but I would miss parts of what was being said.

My suggestion is to spend some time in both places. The outdoor platforms were my favourite part, but the commentary deserves some of your attention too. The narrator also walks through the carriages near the end of the tour, so you get to see the person behind the voice!

Would I Recommend It?

Yes. US$155 is a substantial amount for a single excursion, and I understand hesitating over the price. I did exactly that. But this was one of those experiences that I enjoyed far more than I expected. The scenery, the bridges, the warm carriage and the entertaining commentary all contributed to a journey that held my attention throughout.

If your main concern is whether a two-and-a-half-hour train ride will feel too long, my experience may help: I had the same concern, and I didn’t feel bored at all. I boarded wondering whether it would be worth the money. I left very glad I had gone.