North to Alaska? Not So Fast: Here Are 4 Ways You Might End Up in Canada Instead

Almost every time I go abroad and introduce myself as being from Alaska, people think I’m Canadian. I can understand where they’re coming from: Alaska doesn’t share any common borders with the rest of the U.S., but does have a massive shared border with Canada. In fact, it’s surprisingly easy to set out for Alaska and end up in Canada instead.

Don’t believe me? Here are four perfectly reasonable ways you might find yourself in Canada during your Alaska trip. Or to put it another way, four good reasons to consider bringing your passport when you visit.

Read more: 5 Unexpected Things You’ll Need in Alaska

1. Driving to Haines or Skagway

Haines and Skagway are the only two Southeast Alaska communities that are part of the contiguous North American road system. There’s just one problem: Because of the way the land borders are drawn, and because of the impassable terrain that separates Southeast Alaska from “mainland” Alaska, the only way to get to either of those small communities is by driving through Canada on the way.

Of course the same applies in reverse: If you’ve gotten to Haines or Skagway by air or sea and want to drive to the rest of Alaska, bring your passport. You’ll be going through Canada.

You can get around this by putting your car on one of the Alaska state ferries to Haines or Skagway. But there’s fantastic scenery just across the border, so once COVID restrictions have eased and cross-border tourism is allowed again, just pony up and bring your passport with you.

2. It’s Part of a Tour/Transit Route

Although they’re few and far between, a few tours can start in Alaska and end up in Canada. For example, in a normal year some of the train routes on the delightful and historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, which is based in Skagway, Alaska, cross the border into Canada.

3. On a Cruise

True, all Alaska cruises have been cancelled in 2020 thanks to COVID-19. But cruise ship tourism is a huge industry up here, so it’s safe to say they’ll be back. When they do return, they’ll probably continue the common practice of making port calls in at least one Canadian town or city along the way.

4. Driving the Alcan

COVID has pretty much put the kibosh on this, too; if you want to drive from the Lower 48 into Alaska right now, you’d better be able to prove that you live here and/or that you’re on a truly essential trip.

But once cross-border tourism is welcome again, driving the Alcan Highway from the Lower 48 to Alaska is a spectacular adventure — which will require your passport, or other identity documents, to prove who you are as you first enter Canada, then make your way back into U.S. soil.

Canadian flag image by Jan Temmel from Pixabay