8 of the best Alaskan lodges for getting close to glaciers, Denali and more
Editor's Note
With more than 57 million acres of designated wilderness, Alaska remains one of the few places in the country -- let alone the world -- that still captures our imagination with the possibilities of untouched nature. This is where you can crunch across the ice of a frozen glacier (and hear the sound in the surrounding quiet). Where you can enjoy an exhilarating snowmobile ride on your way to watch the electric Northern Lights. Where you can feel humbled at the sight of a 500-pound brown bear balletically fishing salmon for her cubs.
But how do you access the inaccessible? Wilderness lodges offer a glimpse of what lies beyond the roads and typical tourist agendas. They invite visitors to see an isolated glacier and to try sledding in the remote tundra. (Of course, the smaller and more luxurious the lodge, the more customized the experience tends to be.)
Here are some of the top lodges throughout Alaska for every type of budget.
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Brooks Lodge
For some of the best bear sightings in all of Alaska, you can’t do better than Brooks Lodge in Katmai National Park. Designed as a fishing camp in 1950, it’s mere steps from the Brooks River and Falls, where up to 50 bears live and look for food during salmon season. (The Lodge claims that many visitors see bears within minutes of their arrival and enlist the National Park Service to give guests a safety briefing.)
With so much bear action, it follows that this is also an excellent spot for sport and fly fishing. The prime time to visit is May to September when the fish are at their busiest. For a change of scenery, Brooks Lodge offers daily bus and floatplane tours of the remarkable Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The site of the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century, today it’s a surreal lunar landscape -- in more sense than one. NASA used it in the 1960s to train the Apollo astronauts.
Rates: From $218 per person per night (prices vary based on room occupancy).
Related: These are the best times to visit Alaska
Chelatna Lake Lodge
With some of the most luxurious accommodations of Alaska’s wilderness lodges, staying at Chelatna Lake Lodge is not exactly roughing it. South of Denali National Park, winter is the perfect time to visit and witness one of Alaska’s most magical wonders: the Northern Lights. With zero light pollution and the Alaska Range in the background, Chelatna Lake Lodge offers unparalleled views of the sky. The lodge’s deep, undisturbed snow also provides perfect conditions for snowmobiling and sledding during the coldest months (all the better to find that perfect viewing point). Afterward, unwind in a cedar hot tub and take in views of the lake from your chalet.
Rates: From $975 per person per night (all-inclusive with air taxi from Anchorage, prices vary based on the number of nights).
Related: 8 activities to try on your next visit to Alaska
Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge
Near the entrance of Denali National Park, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge offers convenience at a great price. The Denali National Park Visitor Center is just a quick, complimentary shuttle ride away, so you’ll have no trouble finding Denali, the highest mountain in North America or other park highlights. For a more hands-on experience, the lodge offers guided nature hikes and water sports like rafting on the Nenana River. Guests can also stay close to home and enjoy the main lodge’s outdoor deck with scenic river views through soaring 40-foot windows. Note: Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is only open for the summer season.
Rates: Rooms from $149 per night.
Camp Denali
If you’re craving a more intimate experience, Camp Denali is the way to go. Founded by a trio of homesteaders in 1951 who fell in love with its view of Mount McKinley, Camp Denali has been run by the same family since 1975. Today, it is only one of two lodges deep in the park (the other is its sister property North Face Lodge) and remains one of the most popular wilderness camps in Alaska. True to its roots, Camp Denali specializes in educational guided outings that teach visitors about the local ecology, geology and history of the park. Many of their guides are naturalists and specialists on topics like birds, migration and even dinosaurs. Visit during summer (May to September) for the greatest chance of beautiful weather, vibrant flowers and bear cubs.
Rates: $655 per person per night (all-inclusive and based on double occupancy).
Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge
For a front-row seat to the aurora borealis, this is the place. Sixty miles from the Arctic Circle, Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge offers visitors the chance to live out their own winter fantasy in total luxury from the moment a dog team ferries you from the airstrip to the lodge. Explore the Gates of the Arctic National Park, learn to drive your own sled of huskies and take a photo safari into the wilderness to capture the perfect shot of the dancing Northern Lights. With a group to guide ratio of 1-to-1, everything you could ever want is within grasp -- you just have to ask.
Rates: All lodging priced as part of a customized, all-inclusive package.
Related: Unforgettable Alaska winter adventure for families
Ultima Thule Lodge
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest national park in the United States -- the size of Yellowstone, Yosemite and Switzerland combined. It’s also totally (perfectly) remote. This is where you’ll find Ultima Thule Lodge, located 100 miles from the nearest maintained road. Easily the most opulent lodge in Alaska, guests are provided pilots and Piper Super Cub airplanes to explore the frozen land and hulking glaciers beneath them. With the ability to land almost anywhere, these 13 million acres are yours. Handcrafted log cabins, a cedar sauna and gourmet meals don’t disappoint when you return to camp. Go during the summer for the best wildlife spotting and weather.
Rates: Standard package (four nights/four days, all-inclusive, based on double occupancy) $8,550 per person.
Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge
Overlooking the Kenai River, this particular area has been known to offer some of the best salmon fishing in Alaska since the Kenaitze Indians first set up fish camps. With a full-length deck to take in river views, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge is the ideal base for salmon fishing during the summer, as well as other water-based activities, such as kayaking and rafting. It’s also a one hour drive from the popular Kenai Fjords National Park, which contains nearly 40 glaciers and some of the state’s most stunning scenery.
Rates: Rooms from $149 per night.
Sheep Mountain Lodge
Just two hours from Anchorage, Sheep Mountain Lodge offers an escape without the expense or hassle of air travel. Family-owned since 2010, the couple who owns the property emphasizes its homespun, welcoming spirit and desserts, including treats like fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and strawberry-rhubarb pie. During the summer months, expect berry-picking, flower gardens and wildlife viewing. For the more adventurous guest, a visit to the Matanuska Glacier is easily arranged.
Rates: Rooms from $99 per night.
Related: How to find the right Alaskan cruise for you
Bottom line
No matter your appetite for adventure, there is a wilderness lodge in Alaska suited for your next trip. From viewing the Northern Lights to rough landing a bush plane on a glacier, it's time to see what the wilds of Alaska have to offer.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.