Skagway Small Boat Harbor sits at the tidal head of Taiya Inlet, beneath mountain walls that channeled the Gold Rush stampede of 1898. It's a working municipal harbor operated year-round by the Skagway Borough — 87 slips and 350 feet of dock, cruise ship bells echoing across the water, and the Klondike's entire historic main street a ten-minute walk from the dock.
Skagway Small Boat Harbor sits at the head of Taiya Inlet, tucked beneath the mountain walls that channeled the Gold Rush stampede of 1898. Today the same geography that made this one of Alaska's most dramatic port towns also makes it one of its most distinctive moorage stops - a working municipal harbor where cruise ship traffic animates the waterfront from May through September and the tidal range swings more than twenty feet. The harbor is operated year-round by the Municipality of Skagway Borough.
Taiya Inlet is straightforward navigationally but the tidal range demands attention. Recent tide tables show swings of approximately 24 feet. Check NOAA Station 9455920 before arrival. The harbor sits between the Railroad Dock and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry terminal, both of which generate significant wake from cruise ships and the Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry. The silt-fed Skagway River causes recurring shoaling; dredging is periodic. Deep-draft vessels should call the harbormaster before arrival: (907) 983-2628, VHF 16.
Transient moorage is first-come, first-served at $0.35 per foot per day. The harbor offers 87 slips plus 350 linear feet of open dock, accommodating vessels to 150 feet LOA. Standard 20-amp power is included; 30-amp is $10.50 per day, 50-amp is $21.00 per day. Seasonal potable water on all docks. Seasonal coin-operated showers at the harbor office. Pump-out on-site. Garbage receptacles at each ramp. Harbor crane (2-ton) on the ferry float. Tidal grid and hydraulic trailer haul-out for shallow-draft vessels under 40 ft.
There is no fuel pump at the Small Boat Harbor docks. Diesel and gasoline are available through Petro Marine Services at #10 Terminal Road near the Ore Dock - a separate industrial petroleum terminal. Call ahead before counting on a standard drive-up fuel dock: (907) 983-2259.
Skagway's historic downtown is a ten-minute walk from the docks. The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow-gauge railroad offers a spectacular journey up through the Coast Mountains. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park has excellent free exhibits. During peak cruise season (June-August), up to four large ships per day can be in port; the waterfront area becomes extremely busy 8am-5pm and quiets significantly once ships depart.
Harbor office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. VHF channels 16 and 9. Most services are seasonal. Silt accumulation is an active issue; call before arrival with any vessel drawing more than 8 feet.
Fuel and shore power available at Skagway Small Boat Harbor.
Laundry, groceries, a patch of grass for the dog, the nearest decent meal — here's what's within reach of Skagway Small Boat Harbor. Tap any pin on the map for the details.
Plus members get the full picture — walking times to each stop, member notes, and ratings from cruisers who've actually been ashore here.
Wind protection summary and tide planning at a glance. Full per-direction and 7-day detail with Plus.
Refreshed every 15 minutes from the nearest weather station.
Source: OpenWeather One Call API + WorldTides.
First-hand reports and real questions from members who have tied up at Skagway Small Boat Harbor. Switch between reviews and the community Q&A below.
Cruising info goes stale fast — fees change, fuel docks close, hours shift. WalkTheDock stays accurate because boaters who’ve actually been here keep it current. Spot something out of date? Suggest a correction; once a moderator approves it the change goes live and you’re credited below.
No community updates yet — spotted something out of date? Use “Suggest an edit” below.
If Skagway Small Boat Harbor is full or you are weighing options, here is the closest moorage — sorted by distance.
