hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

I agree, I hiked the Chilkoot Pass in 2012 and took the train back to Skagway from Bennett Lake. All my better landscape photos were at 18mm on my Canon 18-200.

Photosmoke

That should work nicely, I would carry a 300mm also

Photosmoke

Both shot with 300mm

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Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

We rented a car in Skagway. It parallels the railroad for part of the way. We were able to stop along the route for photo ops. Stopped at the old rr station then headed up to the "smallest desert". We also stopped at the cemetary just outside of town. It was a fascinating place.

There is a free download of the mile marker sites along the hwy. Had a great time and the car rental was very inexpensive. We got some nice shots of the train going along the pass.

CHASEPLACEMAIL Loc: Ct,Fla

Neat shot. I recall being told about the curves that let you see the rest of the train. I notice you have a Tamron 150-600 as I do. Did you find use for it on your Alaska trip?

CHASEPLACEMAIL Loc: Ct,Fla

Thanks. Good to know. If I don't get a shot of a bear I'm going to be really disappointed.

MtnMan Loc: ID

If you do the package with the bus extension you might get a chance at some deer and big horn sheep. Not so likely from just the train.

Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

No. I didn't have the lens back then (2012). But even so, I would not have found a use for it on the Skagway train ride. Just about every shot was 50mm or wider.

We've actually been on the train two times. Once we briefly saw a bear, but only for a few seconds, and not long enough to get any photos. He was in the brush, running away from the train.

I think you need to go farther north toward Fairbanks, Denali, etc. to get shots like Photosmoke posted.

CHASEPLACEMAIL Loc: Ct,Fla

We're scheduled to hit Haines, Petersburg and Ketichikan as well, but not Denali.

MtnMan Loc: ID

There is a beautiful lake at Haines. It has a great campground. We camped there when we drove up a couple of years ago. There were several operators providing kayaks on the lake. If up for that kind of thing it could be very nice. Haines itself isn't much.

We put our camper on the Alaska Marine Ferry there and took it to Skagway. We stayed near Skagway a few days too...at the old town (Dyia or something like that. Nice too.) We had been there twice before on cruises but it was wonderful to be there when the cruise ships left port. It was also fun to watch the trains come and go. They have a steam train that might be fun to try next time.

Since we've now done the cruise twice and drove up once I think next time we're going to put the camper on the AK Ferry one way. We might hang out the Yukon rather than heading on into AK. We much prefer it. Free firewood in their campsites!

We did the motorcycle ride one time in Ketchican. It was fine because we had great weather but overpriced. The second time we just walked around town in the rain. Those who went on the various Misty Fijord trips were happy campers.

I'd like to spend some time in Petersburg as well. I didn't know any cruise ships went there. One of my sons spent a summer there a few years back working for the Forest Service. The fishing there is fabulous if you have time to work it out. He caught a halibut as big as he is when out in the 12-foot boat. The Silver Salmon and sea run trout are abundant. So are the black bear that feed on them. I didn't get the impression the town itself was much, though. We can stop there with our camper when taking the AK Ferry up or down for no increase in cost.

Skagway Without Cruise Ships

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Leaving Skagway

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On the Ak highway...won't see this from a cruise.

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Newsbob Loc: SF Bay Area

Most cruise ships stop in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and sometimes Sitka, Hoonah, and Haines.

In reality, the towns themselves, except Juneau, have little to offer. It's the excursions that offer value.

Haines and Hoonah are complete wastes of time.

Skagway has the train, and Sitka is interesting because of its history as a Russian fur trading town a long time ago. Ketchikan is just a bunch of tourist souvenir shops.

What makes an Alaska cruise so much fun are the excursions, like whale watching and the Skagway train, as well as the days spent slowly cruising past the Hubbard Glacier, or Glacier Bay, or Tracy Arms Fjord. The seas are almost always calm, and you are rarely out of sight of land, so there's a lot to see.

Taking a ferry or float plane is a completely different experience. I speak only as a cruiser.

You'll have a great time.

MtnMan Loc: ID

If you are lucky enough to get blue sky in Ketchican, a very rare happening we had our first time there, the motorcycle ride to each end of the road with a visit to the cultural center is nice but overpriced. If you are into that. In town there are some nice photo ops at the inlet, park, and culture museum.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

I grew up in Juneau. The Mendenhall Glacier tour is a great one, given that you have somewhat limited time to do things there. With just 6 hours, I would suggest going to the glacier and taking the tram ride up Mt. Roberts are your best bets. Great photo ops up at the top. Just an item of interest, when we moved to Juneau in 1959, the front of the glacier was just about where the visitors' center is. It's receded a long ways since then. Still, it is a good place to go, but be prepared to take a bit of a hike to get close to it.

natpacker

At the Mendenhall glacier, there is a stream right their where you may see some bears.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

You may book some optional excursions in advance with your travelling company.
I will be on a sea-land cruse next month in Alaska, first 3 days will be inside passage. I have booked a optional photo excursion on a smaller boat with only 14 people to the Glacier Mendenhall and whale watch, that's a 5 hours tour mainly for photography!
After that it will be in the main land of Denali Park & Yukon the rest of the last 7 days travelling by train, bus, jeep and small airplane. It will be lots to see and photography!