Biking from Skagway to Dyea and Back

[jenga123]

I'm still trying to convince people in my group to Bike to Dyea with me. I don't really want to do it alone (afraid of bears).

 

Can anybody who has done this give me some specifics about this ride. How stranuous are the hills? Is the road pack gravel or loose sand? Are there any facilities at Dyea? washrooms? stores to buy food?

 

We are in our 40's to 60s. I know its about 24 mi. round trip and I have hiked the lower Dewey some years back. Is the trip to Dyea any more strenous then that.

Some of us has done the 80 Km KVR from Kelowna to Penticton without any problems.

 

I'm hoping to do this ride in the morning and walk around town and Dewey Lake in the afternoon.

 

Any info will help. Thanks.

[eyecruise2009]

Hi,

 

Your plan is fine. We biked there, took pictures, biked back, and walked around town all by early afternoon.

 

We rented bikes that had only a single gear and you pedal backwards to brake and it was fine. I had to get off the bike a few times to push it up some hills. I haven't hiked the Dewey Lake so cannot comment on any possible difference in strenuousness. If you tend to get moquito bites then be sure to apply bug repellent. Those bugs loooved my sweaty forehead.

 

Surface was semi-packed gravel in 2006. A passing pickup truck would stir loose some dust.

 

We saw no stores in Dyea.

 

We used an outhouse in a campground/lookout place near the Dyea cemetary.

 

Have fun!

 

Cheers,

[Urban trekker]

"We rented bikes that had only a single gear"

 

Were those the only bikes available for rent or the one that you choose because of price.

 

How long did it take you to reach Dyea?

 

This is a trip that I have wanted to do on previous visits but this time with most our sites under my belt I am tempted to give it a try - I bike regularly so stamina and a few hills shouldn't be a problem.

 

Did you meet others doing the same trip.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[jenga123]

Thats pretty cool eyecruise. Riding all the way there on a coaster bike. I originally thought this was an actual town. But looks like there is only a cemetary, NPS office, campground, bridge, Chillcoot trailhead, and tidal flats. Are there many people there?

 

Can you tell me if I cannot time the NPS tour properly, will I be allow to walk (or bike) around the old town site trails by myself unescorted?

 

Have you walked 1 or 2 miles into the Chillcoot Trail? Is the entrance an interesting walk.

 

Are the tidal flats walkable or is it too boggy? Is it full of bears? (don't like bears).

 

And Thanks for the above info.

[Yukon]

I originally thought this was an actual town. But looks like there is only a cemetary, NPS office, campground, bridge, Chillcoot trailhead, and tidal flats. Are there many people there?

 

Few people go to Dyea.

 

Can you tell me if I cannot time the NPS tour properly, will I be allow to walk (or bike) around the old town site trails by myself unescorted?

 

You can explore on your own.

 

Have you walked 1 or 2 miles into the Chillcoot Trail? Is the entrance an interesting walk.

 

It's only a couple of hundred yards to the Chilkoot trailhead, along the river dyke.

 

Are the tidal flats walkable or is it too boggy? Is it full of bears? (don't like bears).

 

It's all grass/sand and walkable at least to the high-tide line. Bears are often seen but are never a problem (except for people who think they might be cuddly, perhaps :) ).

[eyecruise2009]

"We rented bikes that had only a single gear"

 

Were those the only bikes available for rent or the one that you choose because of price.

 

The only bikes available.

 

How long did it take you to reach Dyea?

 

I don't recall, but it could have been two hours?

 

 

Did you meet others doing the same trip.

 

No.

 

 

Cheers,

[eyecruise2009]

Thats pretty cool eyecruise. Riding all the way there on a coaster bike. I originally thought this was an actual town. But looks like there is only a cemetary, NPS office, campground, bridge, Chillcoot trailhead, and tidal flats. Are there many people there?

 

Can you tell me if I cannot time the NPS tour properly, will I be allow to walk (or bike) around the old town site trails by myself unescorted?

 

Have you walked 1 or 2 miles into the Chillcoot Trail? Is the entrance an interesting walk.

 

Are the tidal flats walkable or is it too boggy? Is it full of bears? (don't like bears).

 

And Thanks for the above info.

 

Hi, Thanks. Sorry I don't have info about the Chillcoot trail. The tidal flats were boggy in some places. We saw no bears. We saw people doing a river tour and people doing a dog sled tour.

 

Cheers,

[kenish]

jenga- We rode mountain bikes on the first few miles of the Dyea road. It's paved and there is a long, fairly steep grade. My hat is off to the person who did it on a singlespeed, even if they had to hike-a-bike! The unpaved section is packed gravel, probably nicely damp if it's rained recently.

 

Although we didn't go to Dyea, it's a ghost town and the jumping off point for Klondike gold rush miners. (google is your friend and there is a lot of info).

 

Not sure about the tidal flats around Skagway...it's actually dangerous to go onto them in the ANC area. There are usually caution signs but ANC is more populated....I understand there are rescues now and then and a few drownings every year.