Lodge Experience
Trip Planning
Transportation
Packing List

Lodge Experience

What do you provide?
All meals, cabin with private bath, Denali Wildlife drive through the park, transportation from the railroad depot to the lodge and return on our private bus, park entrance fees, all guided activities (except flightseeing), naturalist presentations, and mountain bikes are included in each Lodge package. Borough tax, gratuities to staff, beer and wine are not included in package price.

What are the accommodations like?

We have 42 cozy cedar cabins at the lodge. Each cabin has two beds (most have two comfortable double beds, a few have a king bed and a couch/folding bed) and they are booked on a first-come first-serve basis. All have electricity, flush toilets, running hot water, a sink and shower - surprising luxuries in the middle of the wilderness! Linens are provided and all rooms, lodge facilities, and vehicles are smoke-free.

Will I see wildlife?

Denali National Park is home to a variety of wildlife: moose, bears, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, foxes, golden eagles, beavers, and a multitude of migratory birds and waterfowl. Your well-versed and experienced bus driver will interpret the natural and cultural history of the park as well as point out wildlife along the way. The bus trip to the lodge alone is a highlight for many people. Once you've learned how to look for signs and habitat of wildlife, you'll be more able to spot and get quality photos of the wildlife in the park. At the lodge, on hikes and while relaxing on the lodge deck or in the gazebos, guests have seen black bears, wolves, sandhill cranes, moose and grizzlies.

Will I see Mount McKinley?

The more time you spend inside the park, the better your chances of seeing "the mountain" known as "Denali" or "the high one." The entire mountain is visible only a few days each summer, however you may be fortunate enough to get a view of Denali or some of the other mountains and glaciers of the Alaska range during your stay. Even when the clouds obscure your view of the mountain from ground level, you can frequently see it while on a hike that gains elevation, or on a flightseeing trip (see information below).

What's the bus ride like?

While on our private bus, your driver will introduce you to the park, its wildlife and the wildlands in Denali. You'll learn about Denali's history, geology, and so much more. The leisurely bus trip to the lodge takes about 6 hours. Your bus driver will stop along the way for wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. Be sure to stock up on film and extra batteries long before you get on the bus! There are scheduled rest stops along the road where you can get off the bus to stretch your legs, use the restroom facilities, and smell the tundra flowers. Your driver will provide delicious snacks and beverages during the breaks to tide you over before you eat a hearty dinner at the lodge.

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