If you’re looking for the creepiest hike in Alaska, head on out to Dyea, Alaska, where you will find one of Alaska’s most infamous ghost towns. The Chilkoot Pass Trail starts right in the National Historic Landmark of Dyea and takes you through some of the prettiest countryside in Alaska. So grab your gear and head on out to the creepiest hike in Alaska.

The old town of Dyea, Alaska boomed during the Gold Rush.
Hegg, Eric A., 1867-1948 (Lib. Uni. Wash., description) - NPS / Wikipedia
Located right outside of Skagway, it’s located within Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. It’s a town that at it’s height it had 3,500 residents and 150 businesses.
It’s a National Historic Landmark, and the famous Chilkoot Pass Trail starts in this old ghost town.
Chris Bradley / AllTrails
Thousands of people traveled through Dyea on the Chilkoot Pass Trail to get to the goldfields. When news of the Klondike strike hit the media, Dyea boomed in 1897.
The trail is 31.4 miles long, from point to point.
mscornelius via iStock / Getty Images Plus
It’s a long, strenuous trail that is absolutely breathtaking. The trail covers over 6,000 feet in elevation gain throughout its entirety. This famous trail is peak hiking in Alaska.
Many pair the hike with a train ride on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad.
ilbusca via iStock / Getty Images Plus
This makes it a less strenuous loop, and much easier to accomplish. Take the same trail the gold miners did from the ghost town of Dyea, and hike the Chilkoot Pass Trail to relive some of the historical connection to over a hundred years ago. It’s one of the most famous ghost towns in Alaska.
The ghost town of Dyea still has remnants of the town in its heyday.
ilbusca / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
Many of the old buildings of the town ended up being reused by homesteaders. But the townsite itself is now a major archeological site.
You can take a self-guided tour through the old townsite.
John Elk via The Image Bank / Getty Images
And if you want to spend a night in the area, camp at the National Park Service campground before you start your hike up the Chilkoot Pass Trail.
However you choose to explore the area, you should know that this epic hike should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Jef Wodniack via iStock / Getty Images Plus
With amazing history and plenty of great scenery, it’s a must-see when you’re in Skagway. It’s a creepy adventure that you’ll definitely want to do!

Have you ever done the creepiest hike in Alaska? Do you know of any that you think are even more creepy? Let us know in the comments below!

If you’re visiting this ghost town, make sure to relax in The Skagway Inn, an original gold rush boarding house in Alaska.

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Creepiest Hike In Alaska

Megan McDonald | September 08, 2023

What is the most famous trail in Alaska?

The most famous trail in Alaska is likely the Chilkoot Trail, known for its historical significance and natural beauty. Tlingit Indigenous peoples initially used the trail before becoming the main route for the Klondike Gold Rush stampede in the late 1890s. It spans approximately 33 miles from Dyea, Alaska, near Skagway, over the Chilkoot Pass, and into British Columbia, Canada. This challenging trail offers a variety of landscapes, from rainforests to alpine tundra, and is now a U.S. National Historic Landmark and part of Parks Canada's system.

The Chilkoot Trail is a demanding hike that generally takes 3 to 5 days to complete, and it requires careful preparation due to rapidly changing weather conditions and the remote nature of the trail. Hikers who undertake this journey experience both incredible natural vistas and a poignant sense of history, walking the same path that hopeful gold miners took over a century ago.

What are the creepiest places in Alaska?

Alaska's vast wilderness, remote locations, and eerie legends can create unsettling hiking experiences. While the state's trails are generally safe and provide breathtaking natural beauty, a few have reputations for being "creepy" due to factors such as haunting landscapes, isolation, or local lore. Here are a couple:

  • Port Chatham: This area has been the subject of numerous reports of mysterious disappearances, otherworldly screams, and sightings of the "Hairy Man," which some liken to Bigfoot. The remote location and eerie history make hikes in this area feel particularly unsettling for some.
  • Kushtaka Cave: Located near Thomas Bay, often called "The Bay of Death" due to a landslide that killed hundreds of Tlingit people, this cave is rumored to be haunted by Kushtakas, or mythical shape-shifting creatures. Local lore warns against venturing into this area, and many report an unsettling feeling of being watched.
  • Eklutna Lake and the Historical Eklutna Village: While the lake is generally considered peaceful, there is an eerie spot in the village's old cemetery, where "spirit houses" have been erected over the graves of the departed.
  • Reid Falls in Skagway: While the trail to Reid Falls is short and usually crowded, the town of Skagway has a long history of tales from the Klondike Gold Rush era, including stories of ghost sightings and eerie occurrences.

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Dyea, Skagway, AK 99840, USA