Camp Denali Lodge

Today, travel 90 miles deep into Denali National Park along the Denali Park Road. Meet the lodge bus at the train depot near the park entrance in the early afternoon, where one of the lodge's naturalist guides takes the wheel and shares the geology, ecology, and cultural history of the park along the way. Stops for sweeping vistas and wildlife viewing break up the drive, and a hearty picnic is served at the midway point.

Arrive at your lodge near Kantishna, settle into your cabin, and get oriented to the way life works at the lodge before dinner.

Please note stays begin only on Mondays and Fridays. If traveling by train from Anchorage, plan to arrive the day before and overnight near the park entrance; the train from Fairbanks arrives in time to meet the lodge bus the same day. If driving, complimentary long-term parking is available. If you’d prefer to fly into Kantishna with Denali Air instead, let your Trip Planner know in advance.

Spend two full days exploring a different area of Denali National Park each day with the lodge's naturalist guides. After breakfast, choose from three levels of guided hikes and carry a sack lunch for the day. Easy guided walks, called forays, offer a slower-paced day outdoors with a naturalist, moderate hikes cover a variety of terrain at an average pace, and the strenuous "Stren" climbs ridges of up to 2,000 feet at a steady pace over longer distances. Along the way, guides share the area's biology, geology, sub-arctic ecology, birdlife, and history. See the full list of guided outings to compare the distance, elevation gain, and duration of each level.

Please note guided hikes go out rain or shine and cross uneven ground, so bring good hiking boots.

For time on your own, ride a bicycle along the Park Road, paddle a canoe on Wonder Lake, fish for Arctic grayling in nearby Moose Creek, or set out on the local trails. The lodge's resource center, with exhibits, a natural history library, and a microscope, offers a quieter option indoors. Dinner is served in the dining room with views of Denali, and the evening closes with a presentation by a staff naturalist or guest speaker on Alaska's natural or cultural history.

To time your stay with a Special Emphasis Series guest speaker, talk to your Trip Planner before you travel.

Rise early for a light breakfast before boarding the lodge bus for the drive back along the Denali Park Road. The bus reaches the rail depot near the park entrance by late morning, in time to connect with the Denali Star Train or the Park Connection bus to Anchorage.

For travelers who want to see Denali National Park from above, a Denali Air flight from Kantishna to the park entrance can replace the drive out, pairing aerial views with the naturalist-guided drive in. Let your Trip Planner know in advance if you'd like to fly.

If you'd like more time in Alaska, talk to your Trip Planner about extending your trip.