Gold rush tours in the Pacific Northwest offer an enticing glimpse into the past. The most famous gold rush is, of course, the California Gold Rush that brought riches to the San Francisco area. But it isn't the only gold rush around, and at least one other gold rush offers a chance for travelers to experience the wonders of Alaska and western Canada.

Around the end of the 19th century, a gold rush occured in the Canadian Yukon, called the Klondike Gold Rush. Gold had been discovered in 1896, and when word reached the United States in the summer of 1897, thousands of people traveled to Alaska to begin a strenuous trek to a remote region of the Canadian Yukon.

Tens of thousands of people streamed over the Chilkoot pass into British Columbia, many losing their possessions along the way. The pass was treacherous, and only about thirty percent of the original rush of people ever actually made it to the mine fields. Today, gold rush tours in the region take travelers along the same path, exposing them to living history

Gold Rush Tours Along the Chilkoot Trail
Taking gold rush tours along the Chilkoot trail is a great way to find out about both the history of the region and to experience the beauty of the Yukon. Gold rush tours along the trail are usually about a week long or less, and can include both hiking trips and canoe trips. Trips usually begin in Dyea, the traditional starting point for the trail, and end in the vicinity of the town of Whitehorse, in Canada.

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