White Pass Railroad: up or down?

[mollyclairesmom]

The tour operator that we plan to use for the White Pass Railroad excursion (thanks to all the Alaska excursion reviewers on this site!) offers a train up-bus down option or a bus up-train down option. For those who have done this, which would you recommend?

 

[Four Swampers]

The tour operator that we plan to use for the White Pass Railroad excursion (thanks to all the Alaska excursion reviewers on this site!) offers a train up-bus down option or a bus up-train down option. For those who have done this, which would you recommend?

Well, I haven't done both, but I can say that we enjoyed our bus up, train down version. The bus takes the same route each way, and the train takes the same route each way, so I suspect the experience is similar. We saw much more wildlife on the bus. The bus driver knows where wildlife might be, and if s/he or anyone sees wildlife, s/he stops the bus. So the bus is really better for wildlife. I wonder if it is better to do the bus in the morning (bus up), for better wildlife opportunities.

 

[MJDisFamCruisers]

Both times we did the Alaska cruise we have done the train up with the bus down. The scenery was breathtaking! I would definitely recommend it!

 

[jburge12000]

We did the Yukon Expedition last month with the bus up to Carcross and then the train down. I would recommend bus then train. We liked that the bus picked us up at the ship, and the train dropped us off at the station right in the middle of Skagway. We got off the train and just started walking around the town before walking back to the ship. Make sure to spend some time outside on the train, my daughter and I stayed out the entire ride.

 

[xlxo]

I've been on White Pass.... both times going down.

Some thoughts...

• sit on the LEFT side going up for the best views
• sit on the RIGHT side going down
• White Pass train has about a dozen tours and different distances. Just to the Summit? Fraser (you enter BC)? and points beyond to Carcross. The Summit turnback misses "Torment Valley" on the way to Fraser. It's an incredible sight as the vegetation fights to survive those frigid climates.
  http://wpyr.com/excursions/
• If the train derails.... they won't make you walk to retrace the WhitePass trail of sourdoughs.
  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...-problem-white-pass-and-yukon-route-1.2722963

 

[dllocals]

Train ride up. See everything for the first time on a train ride.

 

[maria-fan-22]

I would do up if you can only do one.

 

[xlxo]

Here's a thought.... I've had good weather going down in my August trips.... Does the WhitePass get foggy or clouded in for the morning trips up? Why not call WhitePass directly and ask the operators what their thoughts on going up vs going down could be?

Fog happened on one of my morning bus rides going up next to the White Pass rail line. Or it could it be a coincidence.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We went at the end of May and took the train up and the bus back down. We had no problem with fog in the morning on the train. It was cloudy in Skagway and when we entered the Yukon the sun was shining and became a beautiful day. Emerald Lake with full sun is spectacular.

 

[jetskigrl]

I don't think it really matters much. In August, we did the bus ride up and the train down. It was rainy and foggy in Skagway (but beautiful up on top of the mountain) so we still experienced some fog on the way down on the train.

For us, I think taking the train down worked fine. On the bus ride up, there was a lot of getting on and off the bus for pictures, etc. Then in Carcross, we were walking around seeing the puppies, looking in stores, etc. So the train ride down was relaxing after that (although I still spent a lot off time standing at the back of the train, LOL). When we arrived into town, we were rested and ready to do a bit more shopping before heading back to the ship.

But I'm not convinced that it would have been much different if we took the train up and bus back (since the last part heading into town on the bus would have been pretty much the same).

 

[Quellman]

The train tour guides explain much more on the way up than on the way down. As others have said, sit on the left side so you can see everything. They ask everyone to switch places on the way down, so the people who didn't get to see as much get the opportunity on the way down.

 

[xlxo]

Here's a thought...

If you take the bus up (seated on the RIGHT side).... you are closer to the canyon edge. If you take the bus down... you are close against the mountain wall restricting your field of view.

Thus bus up and train down would be more scenic?

Train makes no difference as it's a single line track.

BTW.... it hasn't been mentioned but there are segments of WhitePass that many riders abandon their seats and ride the train outside between the cars. Have not heard anyone trying to ride the roof of the cars like in India. Kinda hard as there are three tunnels.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I took the bus up wiTh Chilkoot and had the bus to ourselves as everyone went the other way, we spread out but on the right side we had the canyon all the way. We then took the train down and we only had about 12 people in our carriage and we all sat on the right.

 

[richmo]

We did bus up, train down. I wouldn't imagine it would make too much difference.