Nakochna River Lodge

Your adventure begins at the Anchorage or Talkeetna airports, where you’ll board a plane that’s part of the lodge’s own air taxi company, Willow Creek Aviation. Then fly 90 miles north, looking down on gorgeous Alaskan tundra and out at snow-capped peaks, anticipating the adventure to come.

You’ll touch down on the airstrip at Nakochna River Lodge. Set at the base of the stunning Kichatna Spires and at the confluence of the Nackochna and Kichantna rivers, the area is a hidden gem within the Alaska Range—a relaxing spot far from any noise or light pollution.

The Cabins of Nakochna River Lodge

Check into one of the cozy, two-person cabins, paneled with pine with a rustic feel. Six of them are on site; two more are perched upstream on the river and great for anglers floating downstream. And over in the main lodge, you’ll find a full-service kitchen, dining room, two communal bathrooms with showers, and a common area.

You’ll be greeted by your enthusiastic hosts, who will cook delicious, hot breakfasts and dinners with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. These might include crab legs, moose chili, smoked salmon and brie, or salmon chowder with cornbread. They’ll also whip up great packed lunches to take on your adventures.

Activities for Everyone in the Family

When it comes to activities, you’ll have plenty of options! Since the lodge has its own air taxi service, you can book an airplane or helicopter for an unforgettable flightseeing adventure.

Explore the extensive network of hiking trails on foot or in one of the lodge’s 4WDs. Go to get a view of Denali Ridge, or drive along the river to check out the site of a plane crash and mining site from the early 1900s.

Anglers will love it here, too—the area’s rich in King and sockeye salmon, rainbow and lake trout, and arctic grayling and char. You can fish from the lodge, from a jet boat, or from a raft as you float downstream. Or book a helicopter out to remote streams and cast a line there.

Choose to take a guided packrafting trip down the Class 2+ Kichatna River, starting with a helicopter ride to the put-in point. You can also book the helicopter for a lift to a mountaintop and enjoy a gourmet lunch with a stunning view.

Year Round Adventures

Make plans to come back in the fall for hunting and winter for cross-country skiing!