Alaska / Camp Denali Wilderness Lodge
Alaska – Camp Denali Wilderness Lodge lies within a vast wilderness of snow-clad mountains, lake-studded tundra foothills and forested river valleys make up Denali National Park and Preserve. The parks’ centerpiece, Denali (formerly called Mount McKinley) stands 20,320 feet high and dominates the Alaska Range that stretches 150 miles across the horizon. Denali is surrounded by forest and tundra and is a wildlife sanctuary for caribou, grizzlies, moose, Dall sheep and wolves.
Located beneath the majestic mountaintop of Denali lies Camp Denali. The Camp was founded in 1951 and is Alaska’s original wilderness vacation lodge and nature center. The handcrafted individual log and frame guest cabins are privately situated along a ridge at the margins of forest and tundra. Each has an exceptional view of the grand mountain, sleeps 2-6 and is furnished with patchwork quilts, a small wood burning stove, wall mounted propane lights and a gas hot plate. The dining hall, lodge, natural history resource collection and a modern bath and shower facility are a three to seven-minute walk from your cabin. In addition each cabin has a meticulously kept handmade outhouse. Camp Denali sits right at the 2,400 foot tree line, providing access to native tundra and taiga habitats right from your door.
There is not a television or bar to be found or any other commercialized amusements. If you wish to live for a time in an extraordinary wilderness setting surrounded by the grandeur of a majestic mountain and abundant wildlife, you will not leave disappointed. This is a unique opportunity to explore Denali National Park’s serene, remote valleys and ridges.
ACTIVITIES
Guided group outings with our naturalists are available each day. Three options of hikes (strenuous, moderate, or foray) are offered to suit the interests and abilities of everyone. Canoes, bicycles, and fishing gear are available for independent outings. These activities can be planned each morning with your hosts. There are trail and topographic maps as a resource if striking out on your own. An Alaska fishing license is required for the creek between our lodges.
If quiet relaxation is your main objective, the lodge has a library of literature related to Denali and the Far North. For keen learners, there is a resource center at Camp Denali that features natural history exhibits, plant, animal and insect collections, and a microscope.
DINING
We plate and serve breakfast at 7:30 am and dinner at 6:30 pm in family-style seating. One entrée is featured at each meal. Lunch is a create-it-yourself sandwich and snack buffet just after breakfast. When notified in advance, we can accommodate gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets, as well as most food allergies.
ALCOHOL
Neither Camp Denali nor North Face Lodge serve beer or wine. You are welcome to plan ahead and bring your own. Wine glasses, bottle openers, and refrigeration are provided. There are also no soft drinks available at either lodge.
ELECTRICITY USE
We generate electricity at both lodges. Appliances with heating elements, such as curling irons and hair dryers, will overload our electrical capacity at Camp Denali. Please do not use them. They may be used if staying at North Face Lodge.
COMMUNICATION
There is neither cell coverage nor guest internet access. A courtesy telephone is available for outgoing calls. For emergencies, our office is available for incoming calls: (907) 683-2290.
2024 Prices:
$1,325/night/person + tax. Rates are all-inclusive once on site at Camp Denali. Children under 12 receive a 25% discount.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
- 7 night tours (Beginning Mon or Fri)
- 4 night tours (Beginning Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs)
- 3 night tours (Beginning Fri, Sat, Sun)
Air service between the park entrance and Camp Denali is provided by our partner, Denali Air, and is booked by our office on your behalf. The rate for round-trip flights in 2024 is $700/person.
Price Includes:
- lodging
- all meals
- National Park entrance fee
- naturalist-guided hiking, natural and cultural history, interpretation
- evening programs
- use of recreational equipment like canoes, bikes, fishing equipment and outdoor gear
Price Does Not Include:
Flights, borough taxes
ITINERARY
Day 1: Fly into the heart of Denali National Park.
We are excited to be partnering with Denali Air, the original flightseeing company in Denali National Park. Family-owned and operated, they have been safely flying adventurous travelers for 45 years. Their veteran pilots have many years and tens of thousands of hours of flight experience. Denali Air’s private airstrip is conveniently located just south of the park entrance, directly across the street from the Camp Denali office.
Instead of seeing the park from a bus window, you’ll begin your experience of Denali by viewing glaciers, mountains, and tundra lowlands from the air. Weather-permitting, your flight in will also include a fly-by of Denali and the Alaska Range. Round-trip flights will be secured for you by our reservations team.
Day 2: Start the day at 7:30 am with a delicious homemade breakfast. After breakfast you have the option of joining one of our guided group hikes. Choose from three different levels of hikes to spend the rest of the day exploring the Park with one of our guides. Savor your sack lunch during your day’s adventure. An exquisite dinner is served at 6:30 pm in our dining rooms that look out onto Denali with an opportunity to reminisce about the day’s highlights. The evening concludes with a presentation by one of our naturalists or a guest speaker on a topic of Alaska’s natural or cultural history.
Day 3: (3 night stays) or Day 3/4: (4 night stays): After breakfast, join a naturalist hike to explore a new area of the Park. You may also choose from one of our independent activities: ride a bicycle along the Park Road, paddle a canoe on Wonder Lake, or strike off on local trails.
For guests staying seven nights, there will be just one guided option available on the Monday or Friday midway through your stay; the remaining full days will have our standard offerings.
DEPARTURE DAY: After a full breakfast, fly back to the Denali National Park Entrance.
Tour Difficulty
- We rate this trip suitable for all.
Tour Highlights
- snow-clad mountains
- lake-studded tundra foothills
- Wildlife viewing – caribou, grizzlies, moose, Dall sheep and wolves
“Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience. Very few people get to explore such a breathtaking and wild area in such a fun and relaxed way. Alaska is magnificent, and you two guided us so easily and professionally into it, that the experience will be unforgettable.”