You may have heard of the popular Alaskan town, Skagway. It’s a well-known tourist town on the water, famous for its gold-rush landmarks and Yukon Route Railroad. Skagway is a popular stop for many Alaskan cruise lines.

You probably haven’t heard of the lesser-known neighboring town of Dyea. This abandoned ghost town is just nine miles west of Skagway and originally served as grounds for a fishing camp. It is home to the salmon-filled Taiya River, also known as Dyea River, and it runs 17 miles long.

The land of Dyea is filled with bears and eagles, but you won’t see many reptiles or amphibians. They do have a peculiar wood frog that freezes two-thirds of its body in order to survive the frigid winter temperatures.

Dyea is home to the Chilkoot Trail, a hiking path that leads directly to the Yukon. When gold was discovered in the Yukon Territory in 1897, this overlooked town and its trail became an instant overnight sensation. The newspapers promised “gold! gold! gold!” and “stacks yellow metal!” which brought in people from all over the country. With thousands pf people flocking to the towns, it became known as the Klondike Gold Rush. Dyea was thriving with over 150 businesses.

But Dyea fell apart as fast as it was put together.The Chilkoot Trail was extremely steep and dangerous for many travelers. People opted to use Skagway’s new White Pass Trail, which served as an easier route. The townspeople also started to realize that the only gold that existed was already found by the land owners who were now profiting off of all the new people coming to the towns.

The icy winters came each year and several natural disasters swept through Dyea, making it difficult to survive there. With the completed construction of the Skagway railroad, people literally picked up their houses and moved to the neighboring town.

The only thing that remains there now are foundation boards and cemeteries. Dyea is now almost completely deserted and abandoned.

Today, Dyea, the Chilkoot Trail, and the Taiya River are part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

If you plan on visiting, be aware that the trails two different types of berries: one is acceptable to eat and one is extremely deadly. They look almost completely identical so make sure to only travel with a licensed tour guide.

We recommend the hike and float combo with ShoreTrips for a chance to hike the mountains and ride along the Taiya River.

Thanks for reading!

-Melissa Jane B.