White Pass and Yukon Route

Canadian railway

Also known as: WP&YR

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July 15, 2026

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The White Pass and Yukon Route (WP&YR) is a narrow-gauge railway that historically served as a vital link between Skagway, Alaska, and Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. Founded in the 1890s, it was crucial for accessing the Yukon and Klondike goldfields. The railway's lower line was reopened in 1988 for tourist travel after its service was suspended in 1982. The Yukon River, a major North American waterway, flows through both Canada and Alaska and was historically important for transportation, especially during the Klondike gold rush. The WP&YR was built to bypass rapids on the Yukon River near Whitehorse, facilitating travel and commerce.12

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Yukon
The gold rush and territorial status
…110-mile (177-km) narrow-gauge railway, the White Pass and Yukon Route (WP&YR), extending from the port of Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, on the upper reaches of the Yukon River. In 1898 the Canadian Parliament separated the rapidly growing area from the Northwest Territories and gave it separate territorial status.
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…110-mile (177-km) narrow-gauge railway, the White Pass and Yukon Route (WP&YR), extending from the port of Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, on the upper reaches of the Yukon River. In 1898 the Canadian Parliament separated the rapidly growing area from the Northwest Territories and gave it separate territorial status.
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