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If you want to learn while vacationing, these small, family owned and operated lodges are probably the best way to experience Denali. They are the only destinations in the heart of Denali National Park in view of Mount McKinley – just 28 air miles away. The naturalist-guided hikes (there’s even a remote warm-up hut high on a ridge above Camp Denali) and other field trips, meals, and accommodations are superb. Evening programs presented by staff naturalists or visiting specialists explore natural and cultural history topics, environmental policy, and the arts.
Although they don’t coddle guests with regimented activities, the lodges’ hallmark is their active learning adventures. Naturalist-guided hikes explore remote places in Denali’s trail-less back country, and field trips for wildlife observation, birding and botanizing are in-depth and unhurried.
You can also create an independent experience. Explore on your own, whether by foot, by bike along the park road, or by canoe on nearby Wonder Lake. Or just relax – observe Denali’s many moods on a clear day, or when rain settles in curl up next to a warm fire with a book from the lodges’ libraries. Quiet is everywhere. There’s no TV, no bar (byob) – just a wilderness experience that is personal, insightful, and inspirational, along with a natural camaraderie among guests and staff.
Historically, these lodges go back over 50 years to Alaska’s homesteading days and its early conservation movement. Today, that strong wilderness and land stewardship ethic imbues your experience, demonstrated in part by the owners’ investments in sustainable living practices – from recycling to renewable energy production. Locally grown and organic ingredients, including produce from the on-site greenhouse, are incorporated into the hand-crafted artisan food served in the lodges’ respective dining rooms.
Neither of these remote visitor destinations is a resort. Neither features luxurious accommodations, TVs, a bar, or even unlimited electricity. Instead, creative handwork, attention to detail, and careful stewardship of the land create a simple elegance that does not detract from the surrounding wilderness.
Choosing Camp Denali or North Face Lodge depends mainly on the style of lodging you prefer. Camp Denali’s elevation provides better views of Mount McKinley, and its privately situated, rustic guest cabins incorporate more walking and living with the outdoors. It also hosts a Special Emphasis Series throughout the summer and is more suitable for families. The classic amenities of North Face Lodge make it more fitting for those who may walk with less confidence over uneven ground or need/want the convenience of a private bath instead of a private path.
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