The YukonWhitehorse to Skagway
Head south from Whitehorse on the South Klondike Highway. Stop at Emerald Lake for its turquoise marl water and walk the dunes of the Carcross Desert. The road then climbs into the dramatic granite of the White Pass summit, where waterfalls tumble past rusted gold-rush relics into deep blue lakes, before dropping to tidewater at the historic Alaskan port of Skagway. This is the same route the White Pass and Yukon Route railway follows, and riding the train is a genuine alternative to driving this leg if you'd rather watch the scenery than the road.
Skagway to Haines by ferry
From Skagway, board the Alaska Marine Highway ferry for the roughly one-hour crossing of the Lynn Canal to Haines, watching for humpback whales, sea otters, and bald eagles. Lynn Canal is often billed as North America's deepest fjord, and it's certainly among the longest and most dramatic, though more precise geographic rankings actually place a couple of British Columbia fjords slightly deeper. Either way, the crossing itself, framed by hanging glaciers and near-vertical mountainsides, is one of the most scenic hours of the whole loop. Skagway itself rewards a wander past its 1898 false-front saloons and boardwalks before you board.
Haines to Haines Junction
The Haines Highway climbs north through the high, glacier-ringed alpine of the Haines Pass, some of the most dramatic driving on the whole loop, straddling the BC-Yukon border. Along the way, Million Dollar Falls is worth the short walk from the road, and Dalton Post, reachable by a steep side road, is a historic salmon fishing site where the Tatshenshini and Klukshu rivers host seasonal chinook, sockeye, and coho runs, drawing grizzly bears in fall. Near Kluane Lake, stop at Tachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain) to scan for Dall sheep before completing the circle back to Whitehorse via Haines Junction.
Planning tips
Book the ferry crossing ahead in summer, carry your passport, and check border-crossing hours on both the Skagway and Haines sides. Fuel up in the towns, watch for wildlife on the alpine sections, and allow extra time, the scenery invites far more stops than you expect. Give yourself at least three days; five lets you savour it.
Questions, answered
How long is the Golden Circle?
About 600 km, typically driven over three to five days through the Yukon, British Columbia, and Southeast Alaska.
Do I need a passport?
Yes. The loop crosses the Canada-US border twice (near Skagway and near Haines), so valid travel documents are required.
Is a ferry involved?
Yes, the Alaska Marine Highway ferry links Skagway and Haines across the Lynn Canal, a roughly one-hour crossing. Book ahead in summer.
Is Lynn Canal really the deepest fjord in North America?
It's commonly described that way in tourism guides, and it's genuinely among the deepest and longest on the continent, but some more technical geographic rankings place a couple of British Columbia fjords slightly deeper. Either way, it's a spectacular crossing.
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