Haines is a small bicycle friendly community, having moderate connecting bicycle lanes and paved shoulders throughout the community
and slow vehicle speeds. The Haines terminal of the Alaskas Marine Highway is located three miles north of town with three foot
paved shoulders connecting to downtown. The Haines Highway starts at the ferry terminal and extends through town and 42 miles to
the Canada/US border.
Haines has excellent cycling services and is served by one bike shop. Sockeye Cycle is a full service shop offering bicycle repair,
new and used bicycles for sale, and rentals. They provide numerous guided bicycle tours along the Haines Highway, on the Golden
Circle Route (Haines to the Yukon and back down to Skagway), Bike and Canoe tours in the Yukon, and tours throughout Southeast
Alaska. They also offer information on self-guided tours. Sockeye Cycle is located downtown at historic Fort Seward at 24 Portage
Street, (877) 292-4154 or (907) 766-2869, http://www.cyclealaska.com. Haines also has
limited auto service stations that can provide a basic level of service. There are no cycling services on Haines Highway once
north of the community. Bicycle racks are located throughout the community and can be found at local destinations including super
markets, the ferry terminal, and public facilities.
The Haines Highway is a National Scenic Byway starting at the Alaska Marine Highway terminal and traveling north to the Canada/US border. The bike route starts at the Portage Cove dock at the historic start of the Haines Highway in downtown Haines. The highway travels through town and then follows the mountain lined Chilkat and Klehini Rivers before climbing to the border. The highway passes along scenic and resource rich natural landscapes that include the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, the Tlingit community of Klukwan, and abundant cultural and recreation opportunities. The highway is currently being improved in phases and includes a variety of paved shoulders ranging from old pavement of two feet wide to newer five foot paved shoulders and segments of separated bike routes along the highway. The highway is a major trucking and tourism driving route, however it is also a popular cycling route to the Yukon and the Golden Circle Route. More information on the highway and resources can be found at the Americas Byways website http://byways.org/explore/byways/12395.
Road and mountain biking with recreational opportunities
Scenery, Historic, Cultural, Natural Resources
40 miles
800 feet elevation gain
Moderate, due to the travelling along a state highway with a wide range of paved shoulder conditions and widths. This is a popular route for cyclists but can also experience moderate vehicle, RV, and truck traffic volumes in the summer months at speeds of 45 miles an hour or greater once outside of Haines. The route often experiences strong headwinds when travelling from the Canada/US border to Haines. The route is appropriate for all types of bicycles.
This scenic road passes through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve; it provides travelers access to Canada and the interior.
The road begins in downtown Haines at the Portage Cove dock, 3 miles from the ferry terminal; accessible by car, charter vehicle, public bus, walk, bike, etc. Note: Mileages shown below are approximate.
Haines CVB (907) 766-2234; Alaska State Parks, (907) 766-2292
Click HERE to download a Google Earth file of the bicycle route. To view profile in Google Earth, right-click on the route in the ‘Places’ window and choose ‘Show Elevation Profile.’ Note: Trail route is approximate. Also, the imagery that Google uses is slightly shifted.
HERE is the official National Weather Service forecast for the trail location. To view the current FAA webcam image from Haines, click HERE.