Camp Denali

Camp Denali is simply the best place to stay if you want to visit Denali National Park. (And visiting the Park is wonderful). The Camp is family-run, and it shows. Everything is well run, and the staff is amazing. The hikes are beyond description. And because of the naturalist guides, you can safely experience the wonderful scenery and wildlife. Most people who visit the Park stay outside, and ride in and out on buses on about 40 miles of Park road. The experience at Camp, which is 90 miles inside the Park is so very different. It is expensive - but worth every nickel. I've been there about 8 times over the last 25 years, and look forward to returning. It's my favorite place on the planet.

My wife and I spent our 20th anniversary here. If you are going to stay near Kantishna in one of the lodges, and your goal is to experience the Mountains and wildlife of Denali NP, this is by far the best choice. There is a view of Denali from each cabin. The food was outstanding. The naturalists know their stuff and greatly enhanced our outings. They staff were beyond kind and made us feel very welcome. I believe this is also the only lodge that currently has access to drive vehicles on the back 60 miles beyond the landslide. We were able to access parts of the park others weren’t. During this time of the road closure there is a magical window where the Western park is nearly empty of people. We saw more bears than other people on all of our outings. If your goal is to experience the wilderness of Denali NP with a luxury cabin experience, I can’t recommend Camp Denali highly enough.

I stayed at camp with my wife and 10 year old son in July of 2024. The experience was the best in our two weeks in Alaska. There is a magic in this place that traces back to the founder's commitment to experiential learning and environmental stewardship. My son was the only child in the group and the staff made an extra effort to learn about his interests and engage with him. I dream of going back daily. And this isn't advertised: Camp Denali has special concessioner status that the other lodges in Kantishna don't have. This allows them to drive along the Denali Park Road and guide hikes within the original park boundaries (Wonder Lake area and along park road). The other lodges cannot guide within the original park boundaries. Additionally, there no views of Denali from the other lodges which are situated in much lower lying areas.

There is a place . . . Camp Denali is hands down the best off the grid lodging experience I’ve encountered. I’ve had the privilege of staying in a number of very special places, particularly those that require a plane, boat, or hike to get to. From the coordination to the hospitality to the cabins, to the guided hikes, to the delicious food, this is worthy every penny (and it does cost a few pennies). Jenna and Simon and their team are incredibly gracious, kind, and thoughtful. My son and I will treasure the memories of Camp Denali the rest of our lives, and I plan to return BEFORE the road reopens. We enjoyed amazing wildlife, and peeks at Denali. Our fellow guests were just delightful also. Thanks again Camp Denali for an amazing stay!

We recently booked Camp Denali for one of our solo travelers and it was an amazing experience, for both us and the traveler. She described her stay there as a "whole experience" and actually rated her stay a 12 out of 10. She said she felt like the experience was "just for us". The food was outstanding. Everything was well-organized. The one thing that she absolutely raved about was the plane ride in to the camp. She said it was the "most amazing experience". We truly look forward to booking with them again.

The best way to see the Denali National Park backcountry. 19 luxurious hand built wood cabins each with their own wood stove and view of Denali. Gourmet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guided hikes each day provide outstanding views and lots of wildlife viewing. The small plane fly in was unique and spectacular. When we were there in August there were only 24 guests, so it was like having the entire national park to yourself. Staff and the other guests were a large part of the trip's charm. One of the most special and unique trips I have ever taken. It made memories for a lifetime.

Camp Denali is an incredible experience. Since the outdoor lodge is no longer accessible by the 90 some mile Denali National Park road, it is fly in only. This means your first introduction to the park is an up close and personal flight seeing tour above the Alaska range. "A spot of hospitality in the middle of the tundra" as previous owner Wally Cole would say. You stay in you own cabin with your very own outhouse with meals and presentations in the central Potlatch building and original lodge. It is the perfect balance of roughing it, challenging yourself and being spoiled rotten. The food is exquisite being intentionally sourced and prepared with expertise. The views you get here are like no where else you can stay in the park with a clear panoramic view of the Alaskan range, Denali its shining star. The staff are wonderful, all so knowledgeable and kind. As a guest you feel welcomed into the small community that calls Camp Denali home for the summer season but some for as many as 40. A place to go for a once in a life time opportunity to connect with nature, experience true wilderness and learn about this incredible place. A place to return to year after year.

Spent a memorable week here a few years ago, and it left a lasting impression! What a special place! Everything was perfect. The staff were top notch: friendly and knowledgeable. The food was delicious, the gear available for activities was great (hiking poles, rain gear, etc.). The cabins are so cool! Just you, a hot kettle, wood fire stove, a bed and a view. Even your own personal outhouse set in a private location right near your cabin - mine had a view of Denali! Loved the small group hiking with a skilled naturalist- it felt like having your personal David Attenborough along with you! Evening offered optional interesting presentations, such as a slideshow and lecture by a local ornithologist. I was fortunate to have had someone else pay, as it’s not inexpensive, and would absolutely jump at another opportunity to ever return to such a magical place.

Camp Denali is simply the best place to stay if you want to visit Denali National Park. (And visiting the Park is wonderful). The Camp is family-run, and it shows. Everything is well run, and the staff is amazing. The hikes are beyond description. And because of the naturalist guides, you can safely experience the wonderful scenery and wildlife. Most people who visit the Park stay outside, and ride in and out on buses on about 40 miles of Park road. The experience at Camp, which is 90 miles inside the Park is so very different. It is expensive - but worth every nickel. I've been there about 8 times over the last 25 years, and look forward to returning. It's my favorite place on the planet.

My wife and I spent our 20th anniversary here. If you are going to stay near Kantishna in one of the lodges, and your goal is to experience the Mountains and wildlife of Denali NP, this is by far the best choice. There is a view of Denali from each cabin. The food was outstanding. The naturalists know their stuff and greatly enhanced our outings. They staff were beyond kind and made us feel very welcome. I believe this is also the only lodge that currently has access to drive vehicles on the back 60 miles beyond the landslide. We were able to access parts of the park others weren’t. During this time of the road closure there is a magical window where the Western park is nearly empty of people. We saw more bears than other people on all of our outings. If your goal is to experience the wilderness of Denali NP with a luxury cabin experience, I can’t recommend Camp Denali highly enough.

I stayed at camp with my wife and 10 year old son in July of 2024. The experience was the best in our two weeks in Alaska. There is a magic in this place that traces back to the founder's commitment to experiential learning and environmental stewardship. My son was the only child in the group and the staff made an extra effort to learn about his interests and engage with him. I dream of going back daily. And this isn't advertised: Camp Denali has special concessioner status that the other lodges in Kantishna don't have. This allows them to drive along the Denali Park Road and guide hikes within the original park boundaries (Wonder Lake area and along park road). The other lodges cannot guide within the original park boundaries. Additionally, there no views of Denali from the other lodges which are situated in much lower lying areas.

There is a place . . . Camp Denali is hands down the best off the grid lodging experience I’ve encountered. I’ve had the privilege of staying in a number of very special places, particularly those that require a plane, boat, or hike to get to. From the coordination to the hospitality to the cabins, to the guided hikes, to the delicious food, this is worthy every penny (and it does cost a few pennies). Jenna and Simon and their team are incredibly gracious, kind, and thoughtful. My son and I will treasure the memories of Camp Denali the rest of our lives, and I plan to return BEFORE the road reopens. We enjoyed amazing wildlife, and peeks at Denali. Our fellow guests were just delightful also. Thanks again Camp Denali for an amazing stay!

We recently booked Camp Denali for one of our solo travelers and it was an amazing experience, for both us and the traveler. She described her stay there as a "whole experience" and actually rated her stay a 12 out of 10. She said she felt like the experience was "just for us". The food was outstanding. Everything was well-organized. The one thing that she absolutely raved about was the plane ride in to the camp. She said it was the "most amazing experience". We truly look forward to booking with them again.

The best way to see the Denali National Park backcountry. 19 luxurious hand built wood cabins each with their own wood stove and view of Denali. Gourmet meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guided hikes each day provide outstanding views and lots of wildlife viewing. The small plane fly in was unique and spectacular. When we were there in August there were only 24 guests, so it was like having the entire national park to yourself. Staff and the other guests were a large part of the trip's charm. One of the most special and unique trips I have ever taken. It made memories for a lifetime.

Camp Denali is an incredible experience. Since the outdoor lodge is no longer accessible by the 90 some mile Denali National Park road, it is fly in only. This means your first introduction to the park is an up close and personal flight seeing tour above the Alaska range. "A spot of hospitality in the middle of the tundra" as previous owner Wally Cole would say. You stay in you own cabin with your very own outhouse with meals and presentations in the central Potlatch building and original lodge. It is the perfect balance of roughing it, challenging yourself and being spoiled rotten. The food is exquisite being intentionally sourced and prepared with expertise. The views you get here are like no where else you can stay in the park with a clear panoramic view of the Alaskan range, Denali its shining star. The staff are wonderful, all so knowledgeable and kind. As a guest you feel welcomed into the small community that calls Camp Denali home for the summer season but some for as many as 40. A place to go for a once in a life time opportunity to connect with nature, experience true wilderness and learn about this incredible place. A place to return to year after year.

Spent a memorable week here a few years ago, and it left a lasting impression! What a special place! Everything was perfect. The staff were top notch: friendly and knowledgeable. The food was delicious, the gear available for activities was great (hiking poles, rain gear, etc.). The cabins are so cool! Just you, a hot kettle, wood fire stove, a bed and a view. Even your own personal outhouse set in a private location right near your cabin - mine had a view of Denali! Loved the small group hiking with a skilled naturalist- it felt like having your personal David Attenborough along with you! Evening offered optional interesting presentations, such as a slideshow and lecture by a local ornithologist. I was fortunate to have had someone else pay, as it’s not inexpensive, and would absolutely jump at another opportunity to ever return to such a magical place.

If you are craving a bite to eat after arriving at Princess Lodges (from Anchorage) and want something warm, come here to get some yummy soup! My husband ordered the following to-go items: (1) Salmon corn chowder soup, bowl at $6.99 - this was yummy especially if you like salmon; wasn't too heavy either, just the right hint of corn and some mid-size chunks of salmon thrown in there (2) Chicken noodle soup, cup at $4.99 - tastes like any ordinary chicken soup; nothing too special A convenient stop for food if you are staying at the Princess Lodges.

What an incredible place. The park is magnificent, and staying at Camp Denali only enhances the experience. Although the cabins sound spartan in the literature, they are actually very nice. Very clean, and there is no problem with lack of electricity or water in the cabins. The spigot outside the cabin is fine for cold water, and there is a propane fired hotplate inside to heat water if needed. There are also propane lanterns in every cabin. The outhouses are the cleanest I have ever seen - immaculate with no odor. The shower facilities are very nice and the lodge dining hall is great, with incredible food. The staff takes a lot of pride in showing every guest a great time. The guides and daily treks around the park are wonderful, and available for every hiking level. Above and beyond the call of duty - We had a problem with out rented vehicle that we left at the park entrance during out stay. Simon, the owner, had our problem fixed while we were in the park for the 3 days of our trip. Had we had to deal with the problem after leaving, we would not have made our flights in Anchorage. I believe all the employees model themselves after Simon's example and give the absolute best service possible. It is also apparent that all the employees love being a part of Camp Denali and the park experience. I highly recommend this location.

If I could give zero stars I would. Waited over an hour for food. People that came in after us were leaving long before our burger and salad arrived. When it finally came my portobello burger that was supposed to be fire grilled, came floating in pool of oil. Literally it was dripping and pooling on my plate. I didn't eat it. The manager comped our food for the wait time, thank goodness because I really didn't want to pay for that gross thing. Eeeew.

The most awesome and incredible wilderness lodge & cabins located in Denali National Park near Wonder Lake and the end of the 95 mile park dirt road. Guest cabins mostly line a ridge with views of the snow covered 20320 feet Denali (Mt. McKinley) and the Alaska Range. Below is Moose Creek with lots of hungry Greyling fish. Wildlife, inspiring vistas and wild flowers are everywhere (this was July). Everything you could want or need is included: meals, hiking gear, bikes, canoes, etc. (except for souvenirs & candy). Each cabin has a fresh water tap, wood stove, propane lights, front porch and personal out house with reading material. The beds are heavenly comfort. These cabins are REALLY nice! Men's and women's showers are in a building up the hill by the lodge. Gourmet food, interesting activities for all tastes/abilities and super staff make this a wilderness experience you never want to end. Be aware that there can be lots of mosquitoes some years and Denali is known for being obscured by clouds so seeing it is not guaranteed. Thankfully, we had views of the mountain most of the time we were there and few bugs.

It makes sense to me if you're visiting a national park, only an overnight will do to really take it in. Camp Denali delivers you 90 miles into the park with their own buses, stopping for restroom breaks at Teklanika River, the 4pm picnic on the East Fork of the Toklat and the Eielson Visitor Center. They stop for wildlife sightings and explain the history of the park, surrounding scenery which is spectacular! The busy entrance area gives way to intermittent road construction, the forested taiga and open tundra, glaciated gravel stream beds. Once at Camp Denali established in 1952 the visitor is greeted the guides, hosts for the 4 or 7 night stays in 18 cabins with a dining hall, library/ store, showers, outhouses and lent equipment like trekking poles, waterproof pants, rubber boots, use of canoes and bicycles. I was given bear spray for my first day solo walk into the wet, rocky tundra above, viewing sedge, wildflowers, white spruce trees, balsam poplar and blueberries! Hikes are arranged in three abilities to see the region. And the food is to die for: NY Strip, salads from their own greenhouse, salmon steaks, carrot cauliflower cream soup, barley/ oatmeal, eggs, the chocolate lava cake and more. On a Tuesday night we all exited our dinner tables to grab our cameras; the mountain Denali appeared from the clouds as a giant white massif glistening in the late sun! Camp Denali is a paradise.

I've just returned from Camp Denali the most professionally run accommodations I have ever used including the Waldorf-Astoria and the Paris Intercontinental hotels. Everyone is there for you to make sure your experience is great, which ours was. The hikes were great and the guides exceptional.