upper dewey lake

This was a great hike; yes uphill but not so difficult. The views are beautiful and we all enjoyed the day outdoors. Highly recommend. We walked behind the cabin and around the lake and had a nice break before heading down.

The hike up to Upper Dewey Lake was very strenuous; took 50ish couple about 3 hours (not many breaks though). There are a few picnic tables at the lake, along with an outhouse beside the rental cabin. The sights at the lake were impressive (photo here does not do it justice), but one must hike another 1/4 mile to the table rock (over a boulder field). The views of the mountain tops, fjords, rocks, tundra foliage were amazingly beautiful. One of the most beautiful sights in our entire lifetime. We were in Alaska for 2 weeks (one week on a Princess Cruise Ship) and this was the highlight for the entire trip. It was very strenuous going down too; taking about as much time to go down as it did going up. A walking stick was very helpful coming down. We began at 10:15A and returned to the ship at 7P. The trail head is early to find just as you come into Skagway, but the signs past that at the beginning of the trail were not very clear. The National Park visitors center in town has a map, but isn't too good either.

Absolutely beautiful hike with a cute cabin available for rent at the top. The view from the top is breath taking, but it's quite a hike! Legs are definitely a little wobbly the day after.

Your reward for a steady hike up the steep trail is a superb view of a reflecting lake surrounded by snow topped mountain peaks. We set off at 10:10am an arrived at the top at 12:50pm, slowed by a twisted knee from one of the group. Lots of breaks on the way up to photograph the waterfalls and views. If we had thought to bring a towel we would have jumped in the crystal clear, icy cold water. The only signs of wildlife were a squirrel and a small bird. Well worth the effort. You do need to be in reasonably good shape otherwise go to Lower Dewey Lake which also has a beautiful setting

Since we only had the one day, we choose this hike. We made sure we brought along hiking boots suited for wet and dry landscapes. One mile in the hike, my niece asked for a break. Geez, we just got started. The younger generation. After several breaks and taking it slow, we made it to the one of the most breathtaking lakes in the US. Sit and listen to the native birds, the fish and other wildlife. Would I hike this trail again? You Betcha!

This trail seems to be never ending, but when you reach the lake you will be rewarded with stunning views. Our favourite one day hiking trail in Skagway. If you want to stay overnight you can rent the cabin at the lake, few tent sites are available too.

The views of this hike were stunning! It's a bit strenuous for a "average" hiker like myself. But I did it! I went slow & it was WELL worth it. Boy was it gorgeous!! Would totally recommend it :)

A very steep climb for the sportive people, Upper Dewey trail is a excellent way to loose extra pound from the cruiseship time. A mix of beautiful rain forest mix with costal boreal flora. Possible to do with good snow shoes and poles early winter.

Upper and lower Dewey lake offer splendid views of the hills *if* you can handle a strenuous hike. Getting up the hill from Skagway is only half the battle. The trail is very steep and lots of rocks and curves. Lower Dewey lake's south shore is an easy hike with a clear trail but the north side trail is practically non-existant and you have to hike and climb over several rocks and cliffs to get back to the main trail. Bring water and snacks and a good camera to take pictures of the foliage and mushrooms. We've never seen so many types of fungus, all of them are beautiful.Once again, this is a *tough* hike so only do it if you're physically fit.

This was the best part of our vacation for my husband. We wore our hiking shoes and packed a light lunch and water. We hiked all the way up to Upper Dewey Lake and then to Devil's Punch Bowl. It was very strenuous with many switchbacks and steep inclines. However, the views were totally worth it! The hike takes you along a creek almost the whole way up until the tree line and then you get the nice views. This was extremely hard for me (but not my husband) and you have to be physically pretty fit with good endurance. After Upper Dewey Lake, we hiked up to Devil's Punch Bowl. This was by far, the best part of the entire hike so I would definitely do it if you have time and have already made it to Upper Dewey Lake. It is about 2.5 miles round trip from Upper Dewey Lake. We had to climb over boulders and at times, lost the trail. However, I have never seen a view more beautiful. We saw flightseeing planes flying in, the cruise ship and views of both the ports, the city and Upper Dewey Lake. My husband said it was comparable to hiking in Switzerland (Zermatt). It took us about 8.5 hours round trip but we spent a lot time taking photos, eating lunch and just relaxing. Going downhill was very hard on my knees so I would recommend hiking sticks if you have them or if you have bad knees like I do.

Completing the climb up to Upper Dewey Lake took some time, but it was definitely worth it. Round trip was about 5 hours with plenty of breaks for photos and nutrition. The trail is relatively steep, rocky, and rooty. Go prepared with plenty of water, food, and footwear that protects against sharp objects on the ground.You pretty much can't miss the trailhead. Immediately after you cross the train tracks, there is a large sign pointing onto the trail. Skagway is a fun little tourist town, and we still had plenty of time to see it (without the crowds, too) after we finished the hike and changed out clothing and gear on the cruise ship.

I have been up this trail on several occasions, and I highly recommend it. It is challenging, and takes time, especially if you're not physically fit. (I brought a friend with me that cursed the whole way up)The lake is so calm and serene, there are little creeks and beautiful scenery. I even saw a bear across the lake the last time I went. (It did make me little paranoid on the trip back.)I usually bring a granola bar or some kind of small snack, definitely bring water, and wear proper shoes. Also dress in layers. I worked up a good sweat but after sitting and enjoying the scenery, it can get a little chilly up there.Enjoy! Alaska is a beautiful place!

Skagway is a cute little town, but not much to do. We had all ready taken the train from Anchorage to Whittier, so we were not interested in taking that again. (We did love the train) We walked into the Forest Service office, and they gave us a map of hikes we could take. We hiked up to Upper Dewey Lake. Beautiful views, and definitely better than hanging out in the town where they are trying to sell you diamonds! Get out and work off some of that cruise food and see some of the natural beauty of Alaska!

The trailhead is conveniently located next to the White Pas railway depot. The initial climb is reasonable to Lower Dewey Lake. Reviewing a map is highly recommended as the trail splits a couple times and there are more options that anticipated. The section of trail from Lower Dewy to Upper Dewey Lake is steep and continuous with 2.5 miles of climbing. It was wet and muddy in places but the snow level was high enough to allow for easier hiking. The trail follows a cascade (endless water fall) to give you a sense of the mountain's pitch. Take supplies and provide plenty of time. Even at a true run/controlled falling pace, the descent back to the cruise dock was over 45 minutes. If you are looking for a true adventure and willing to get plenty of exercise, this is one of the better hikes from inside passage port-of-call town.

We visited Skagway on June 10/12 from a cruise ship. Sounded like a great place for a hike. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that part of the trail would still be very snow covered, apparently until August. The first mile was a fairly easy walk to Lower Dewey Lake, even with the climb. It soon became very wet, and for around the last half mile, probably 3 - 4 feet of snow, and yes, that's me in my sandals! It took us 3 hours to go up & 2 to come down (5 hour total). I thought of the contributer who said it took them 6 hours, and to "keep going", so we did. Perhaps would not be as long had the snow been gone. The sign at the bottom states that it is an "all day" hike, so don't count on getting there in 1 1/2 hours as one of the other contributers stated. It was very beautiful, following a river, and then the lake with two rustic cabins at the top.