Ultima Thule Lodge

The Ultima Thule Lodge is for people who want to experience the real Alaska. People who are craving wild places and raw experiences. To escape, for a moment into nature and come away with memories that will last a lifetime. It is for travelers who are looking for authentic experiences and aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and feet wet. Adventurers who want to be left in awe of nature and can appreciate the value of a place where the mountains are still without names. They call it the land beyond – the place of the unknown.

Up Close to Wrangell-St. Elias

At 13.2 million acres, Wrangell St. Elias is bigger than many small countries, or Rhode Island and Vermont combined. Ultima Thule is Greek for land that is remote beyond reckoning and when you’re here, it’s not hard to hike a mountain that has never felt the press of a human foot, or to explore a glacier that no one else has ever seen. No surprise, the best way to grasp and appreciate the sheer scope of this park is by air, which is why Ultima Thule keeps a fleet of airplanes, each equipped with “land anywhere” Bush Wheel tires. Paul Claus—dubbed the “king of the bush pilots” by Outside Magazine—has logged more than 35,000 hours of flight time, most of which he’s done in this area. He and all of the Ultima Thule family of pilots take pride in their impeccable safety record.

Glaciers, Bears & Salmon (Oh My)

When you stay at Ultima Thule, your days are personalized, based on your interests and tailored just for you. With the Claus’ vast knowledge of the area, there is something to be said for letting your pilot chart the course. Much like secret fishing holes, the Ultima Thule pilots have their favorite locations in the park to take guests—and with no restrictions on where they can land, the entire area is available to explore.

On a typical day, you might spend the morning flightseeing over the massive Bagley Icefield—the largest non-polar glacier in the world—or spiraling up the largest vertical gain in the world to the summit of 18,000-foot Mt. St. Elias. You could land on a gravel river bar to watch grizzly bears fishing for salmon, eat a picnic lunch on a soft carpet of tundra, or take a walk to scoop up handfuls of sweet wild blueberries.

A Family Affair

Certainly, the Clauses know this territory well. Grandpa John Claus first started operating on this land along the Chitna River in the 1960s, and in 1982, his son Paul and Paul’s new bride Donna made the lodge their permanent home. Paul and Donna raised their three kids here while also cultivating the whole family’s deep knowledge of the terrain. The family and the crew are all enthusiastic to share their love of this corner of wilderness.

That said, there is no “roughing it” at Ultima Thule. Every detail is well thought out, from handcrafted furniture, the sheepskin rugs and the extensive collection of Alaskan art and artifacts. Your stay is all-inclusive so your private cabin, meals, flights, and all the guided activities are part of the package. Before you come, they’ll also send you a suggested list of items to pack so you’ll be well outfitted during your stay.

Each handcrafted cabin has a unique arrangement, some with two bedrooms, one room boasting an over-stuffed King size feather bed, a full bathroom, and a sitting room with amazing views of the Chitina River and surrounding mountains. Although Ultima Thule is 'off the grid', all of the cabins have 24-hour electricity and running hot water which is a real nod to the crew for making this happen day in and day out.

Home-Grown, Gourmet Cuisine

When you return from your adventures each day, you’ll be treated to a healthy, hearty Alaskan dinner. The Lodge prides itself on using locally harvested fish and game and combining them with their homegrown vegetables and fresh herbs from the lodge’s extensive gardens and greenhouses (home gardeners will want to check out the Claus’ rich soil). Over dinner— with the hosts and guides— you’ll hear plenty of tales, such as trips that the Clauses have taken in their SuperCub, the “Legend of Paul Drazenovich,” or when Paul himself got stuck in a tent for 16 days during an intense storm. After dinner, you can retire to your cabin and slide between your high-thread-count sheets, or head to the lodge’s luxurious Alaskan sauna to relax before the next day’s adventures.