Northwoods Lodge

For 35 years, Northwoods Lodge has been offering visitors the unique experience of remote Alaskan lodging and expert-led fishing excursions. Owned by longtime Alaskans Eric and Shan Johnson, the intimate lodge sits on the banks of mountain spring-fed Fish Lakes Creek with room for only 12 guests. This authentic Alaskan experience is just a 45-minute seaplane flight from Anchorage.

Moose as Neighbors

Your home in the wilderness is in cabins, and you have a couple options: one deluxe cabin has a large living room, one is a duplex with shared bath, and two are standard cabins with bath nearby. But all are decked out in Alaskan-style décor and have decks or porches, where you can enjoy sunset views or look for moose.

Up Close and Personal with the Fish

Fishing is the focus here, with 8 to 10 hours of guided fishing each day; anglers come for runs of salmon—kings, pinks, sockeyes, and silvers—along with rainbow trout, arctic grayling, and northern pike. Excursions are also intimate; unlike other lodges, Northwoods doesn't combine groups, so your group—even if just a twosome—will have its own boat and guide. Longtime guides know the area's many fishing hot spots well, making for an exciting experience each day.

Anglers leave as early as 5am with a breakfast cooler; you'll return for a brunch buffet, then go back out fishing or just relax in the hot tub or wood-fired sauna.

Dinner, Games and Great Fish Tales

You can go kayaking, canoeing, walk the trails, then have a dinner buffet, check e-mail, watch TV, or sit out on the large deck and screened-in porch overlooking the creek. Sit down to a buffet dinner with dishes like Prime Rib, Baby Back Ribs, salmon with shrimp etouffe or baked salmon with orange beurre blanc. Then enjoy the game room with its pool table and poker table, check out the library, and have a drink at the bar while talking about the day's big catch.