Emerald Lake and White Pass Rail Excursions

[Doerthoch]

Hi,

Does any of the railroad excursions take you past emerald Lake?

Would love to see it while on the train.

Thanks

[TinCan782]

Chilkoot's "Bennett Scenic Journey" does during the bus/van portion of the tour.

[cole]

Chilkoot's "Bennett Scenic Journey" does during the bus/van portion of the tour.

 

We have done this tour twice and highly recommend it. Get to see the beautiful scenery going up and then driving down the highway (viewing additional scenery) on the way back. Not to be missed!

Cole

[Trash Queen]

We just rented a car from Avis (office is about two blocks from the ship) and drove; it was nice to do it on our own time. There were some bears by the side of the road, and we stopped for pix (from inside the car). There were four of us, and it was cheaper than the tours would have been.

 

Charlotte

[varoo]

We just rented a car from Avis (office is about two blocks from the ship) and drove; it was nice to do it on our own time. There were some bears by the side of the road, and we stopped for pix (from inside the car). There were four of us, and it was cheaper than the tours would have been.

The best part is that you stop when and where you want, for as long or short a time as you choose.

 

Also there is no time wasted at each stop waiting for everyone else to get out of the vehicle and then waiting for everyone else to get back in.

 

You also get to pick when and where you want to have lunch.

If you book the ship's tour, they pick the lunch place and time (typically it is the tourist trap stop at Caribou Crossing - ugh!) and we get no choice in the matter at all.

 

[brookeinmn]

Is it possible to do both the white pass railroad and emerald lake drive (on our own)? Or would we be seeing a lot of the same things?

[fleckle]

Is it possible to do both the white pass railroad and emerald lake drive (on our own)? Or would we be seeing a lot of the same things?

It is very easy to do the combination of both on your own, but requires at least one person in your party who is willing to drive the car up to the Fraser train station to pick up the others there.

 

I described it in a previous thread, and will post a copy below.

 

Some of the scenery is different and some is the same. It is mainly that riding the train gives you a different experience as well as different views. For train buffs, it is well worth doing at least once.

 

The driver can wait around at the Skagway train station to take photos of the others in your party boarding the train before beginning the drive up to Fraser, which is a lot faster than the train ride.

 

 

Copied from other thread:

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At Skagway we like to do the rental car + train ride combination.

 

We rent a car for the day. Those in our party who wish to ride the train buy a one-way train ticket from the Skagway train station up to Fraser.

The driver drives the car (very slowly) up to the Fraser train station and waits there for the train to arrive.

 

Then everyone continues on in the car together for the trip from Fraser up to Emerald Lake and back down to Skagway, stopping to enjoy the sights along the way.

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[Budget Queen]

Is it possible to do both the white pass railroad and emerald lake drive (on our own)? Or would we be seeing a lot of the same things?

 

From White Pass or Fraser, where the "regular" train ride goes, is about 50 miles from Emerald Lake. The only way to do this "on your own" is for one person to drive a rental car up, OR if you have a 12 hour plus port day, you can take the round trip morning train then get your rental car and drive the 75 miles to Emerald Lake.

 

There is no "on your own" option with the Lake Bennett train and Emerald Lake, you have to book a combo tour.

 

 

As for those posts, claiming the superiority of a car rental, the White Pass RR is a treasure with superior scenery compared to the Klondike Highway. They are not similar tours or experiences. It entirely depends on the interests of the individuals. The White Pass is a must for rail fans, those interested in superior scenery and history. The rental car option is an excellent "tour" as well, and so are the combo road/train tours. Choose YOUR preferences. :)

[rjm11]

We did our own DIY combo as well..... Dad and two kids (ages 3 and 4) got on the train (with my help), and then after I got everyone settled on the train, I walked over to Avis and got the car, loaded the two car seats in the back, and slowly and leisurely drove the car to Fraser with all the happiness that comes from a mom being ALONE IN A CAR on a beautiful drive.....

 

Then the train arrived in Fraser, everyone packed into the car, and we all drove to Emerald Lake, Carcross, had lunch at Spirit Lake Lodge, etc..... kids fell asleep on the ride home and all was well. I dropped Dad and kids off right in front of the ship, then returned the rental car, and walked back.

 

It couldn't have been easier, and had lots of benefits: the kids (and dad) got to experience the train- but the trip was only about 1.5 hours, which was nice because I didn't think the kids would be into a whole 3 hours of that. The rest of the trip was at our own pace, and doing it ourselves was MUCH cheaper than one of the combo train/bus tours (plus the aforementioned flexibility).

[Doerthoch]

Unfortunately we will only be there for 8 hours...:(