Most visitors experience Skagway from sea level, as they arrive by cruise ship to explore the Gold Rush country between Alaska and Canada. Taking a TEMSCO helicopter tour shows off this remote land in a new light, revealing gorgeous, glacier-filled valleys, tumbling waterfalls and peak after icy peak at the north end of the Juneau Icefield.
Helicopters are uniquely adept at getting you close to picture-postcard scenes, including landing on a remote glacier to explore its wonders up close.
Take off from Skagway’s historic waterfront, leaving its green waters and forested mountains behind for higher, jagged peaks and even more dramatic vistas. Your route and destination will be determined before the flight, and will be based on the conditions of the day to ensure you have the best viewing opportunity possible.
Typical destinations include the Chilkat Glacier surrounded by jagged peaks, Ferebee Glacier encircled by plentiful waterfalls, or Meade Glacier and its spectacular “river of ice.” Enjoy the views from above during the 20-minute flight before you touch down for a 40-minute tour led by an experienced TEMSCO glacier guide. Learn about glacier features such as crevasses and moraines, and get an understanding of the incredible role glaciers play in shaping the dramatic landscape.
The return flight to Skagway gives you more time to take in the remote beauty of the Coastal Mountain Range separating Canada and the United States, and to reflect on an amazing once-in-a-lifetime Alaskan ice adventure!
TEMSCO
When TEMSCO launched in 1958, its mission was pretty straightforward. An acronym for Timber, Exploration, Mining, Survey, Cargo Operations, the Ketchikan-based helicopter company was founded to provide support and rescue capabilities for the lumber, fishing and mining industries, since its aircraft could reach places that fixed-wing planes couldn’t—namely, by landing on ice.
Great Views, Unparalleled Access
In the 1980s, TEMSCO added tourism to its repertoire, offering travelers both amazing views of the mountains, glaciers and vast, untouched landscapes, as well as unparalleled access once the helicopter lands. TEMSCO’s tours – based out of Juneau or Skagway – give you the chance to walk on glaciers, drink glacier water straight from the source, or go dogsledding in some of the most beautiful and pristine environments imaginable.
Though there are no age requirements for TEMSCO tours, they do require a moderate level of activity. Guests will need to be able to walk a minimum of 100 feet to and from the helicopter, over uneven snow, as well as have the ability to get on and off the helicopter (which requires navigating two 13” steps).
