Denali Backcountry Lodge

The Lodge Photo #1 of 9 Denali Backcountry Lodge offers forty-two comfortably appointed cedar cabins. Photo copyright Denali Backcountry Lodge.

Overview

Come join us deep within Denali National Park. Our remote lodge, located at the end of the 92 mile Park Road in Kantishna, offers you a complete Denali Park vacation experience -- and surprising comfort.

Most park visitors limit their visit and stay near the developed and crowded Denali park entrance. The more adventurous take one of the grandest drives on earth and stay inside the park. Winding through the Alaska Range, deep into the heart of the Denali park, the "Park Road" offers opportunities to see Denali's famed wildlife: Grizzlies, Caribou, Moose, Dall Sheep, Wolves, and Eagles. And, should the weather smile upon you, above all of it towers Mt. McKinley (Denali) itself, the highest point in North America (20,320 feet).

At the very end of the Denali Park road, past Wonder Lake, you'll find a unique enclave in the park known as Kantishna. This area is home to Denali Backcountry Lodge.

Our program lodge hosts special natural history presentations by our staff and many featured guest speakers. Two outdoor gazebos near Moose Creek are great places to relax, and a suspended foot bridge spanning the creek offers access to many hiking trails.

When Denali itself is "out," Guests can hike or shuttle to spectacular viewing areas, where even the novice can end up with truly stunning photographic results. When the mountain does grace us with an appearance, we are overwhelmed by the awesome Wickersham Wall, reputed to be the largest vertical surface on earth.

Hot breakfast is served buffet style. For lunch, a hot soup and sandwich buffet is served in the lodge, but most guests pack up a lunch for their day's explorations. At the end of the day, everyone is invited to join our naturalist guides for gourmet appetizers and a recap of the day. Evening dinners are served family style in the lodge. All of our food is fresh, hearty, and wholesome. If you have a dietary consideration or special food request, just let us know. And if you're celebrating an anniversary or special event, let us know ahead of time so we can "surprise" you.

Traditional cabins are the original rustic rooms that include all the comforts of a cozy Alaska Cabin. Each cabin is heated and has its own bathroom and shower.

The famous park road offers your best chance for seeing the wildlife that makes the Denali area so unforgettable. In the comfort of our specially permitted private vehicles, it is not uncommon to witness astounding natural displays. During your journey, our experienced bus drivers share their knowledge of the park and offer wildlife searching tips to help you locate the park's animals and birds. Whether through binoculars or with the naked eye, you may be fortunate enough to see a grizzly sow nursing her first-year cubs; a band of bull Caribou with huge racks browsing along the tundra; or Dall Sheep on the high mountain ridges, playing and frolicking as if they knew they were being observed.

Each trip to and from the lodge is a spirited and suspenseful event, loaded with anticipation. Although Denali National Park is a wilderness - and wildlife events don't occur on a schedule - the scenery is always superlative, and it's rare that a trip doesn't produce numerous wildlife sightings.

The spectacular trip to the lodge takes around six hours, depending on weather and wildlife sightings. We run a little faster on the return trip, since many guests must connect with the train.