About the Denali Backcountry Lodge

The Denali Backcountry Lodge is situated in a quiet and remote river valley. Explore the area, it’s forests, hills and creeks, as you make yourself at home.

The lodge is made up of a spacious two-story Main Lodge, where meals are served, and comfortable and cozy sofas and chairs await upstairs in the vaulted ceiling lounge accompanied by a full service bar. Your home for your stay will be one of 42 individual cabins, which are comfortably heated and appointed with individual private baths and blackout curtains for a peaceful night's sleep.

To enhance your stay, indulge at The Nest Spa & Wellness Center. Join our Naturalist Guides for a guided hike, botanical walk or exploration of a nearby historic site. Or, if you prefer to go at your own pace, ask our guides to point out the best areas to explore for hiking, or biking on one of our mountain bikes. You can also try your luck by the water, fishing or gold panning right on-site in Moose Creek.

If after a full day of activities, you still want more, attend an after-dinner talk on rotating topics about Denali National Park, or relax those tundra-tired legs fireside, indoor or outdoors.

While you're here

Guided hikes in a trail-less wilderness

The treeline is low in Alaska—it doesn’t take much to get high enough for wide views. Hiking the trail-less tundra of Denali is very rewarding!

We offer three types of guided hikes: Casual, Moderate, and Challenging. Each evening when guests arrive, there is a sign up sheet for the next day’s guided hikes. Hikes range from about 2 hours to up to 7 hours. They typically leave between 8 AM and 9 AM.

Bike, Explore, Fish.. or just relax!

Some people come to Denali for adventure. For them, we offer mountain biking, hiking and fly-fishing right at our doorstep. Our team of guides can connect you with the best trails and fishing holes so you can explore on your own.

Others come here to be still. There are many nooks and spots to be quiet and to soak up the Kantishna air. From an early morning moment next to the creek to an evening fireside story, the days are long and opportunities are many.

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Experience

Backcountry Dining

At Denali Backcountry Lodge, our on-site dining serves up delicious meals and flavors to round out your day.

Our breakfast buffet is served in the Main Lodge with a variety of fresh fruits, cereals, baked pastries, hot eggs, bacon, sausages, French toasts or waffles, coffee and juices.

Join us for a hearty buffet-style lunch in the Main Lodge for some mid-day nourishment and choose from a selection of house-made hot soups, sandwiches and fresh salads, topped off with tasty dessert and juices.

Round off your day of exploring with a classic American dinner served with an Alaskan twist in our Main Lodge dining room. Our menus are prepared in-house on a daily basis to include the freshest seasonal ingredients and flavors.

Getting here is half the adventure

Included in your stay is transporation to and from the backcountry via an exclusive guided wildlife & sightseeing bus tour.
Discover more about your journey along the 92 mile restricted access Denali Park Road below.

Mile 0

The trip into Denali Backcountry Lodge is unforgettable. Join your friendly, professional and expert driver-guide for a 92 mile ride into the heart of Denali. Access to the Denali Park Road is very restricted. That means you’ll be in an exclusive group.

Mile 30

Take a short scenic stop at Mile 30, a picturesque landscape of the meandering Teklanika River before continuing on towards Mile 46.

Mile 46

At Mile 46, the Polychrome Overlook, see an incredible vantage of colorful vegetation, streams, glaciers and mountains. The gorgeous kaleidoscope of colors formed by volcanic rock is at the end of the a spindly, curvy section. Watch for grizzlies, moose and caribou below!

Mile 53

Stretch your legs at Mile 53, Toklat River. The road drops back down to 3,000 feet here as it crosses the Toklat River. Glacial rivers converge in a sediment-rich braided stream that opens into a broad U-shaped valley.

Mile 66

The view is incredible—you're only 33 miles from the summit of Denali! Take a short walk through the high alpine vegetation, where each plant and flower that grows is miniature and mighty, or head into the Visitor’s Center to learn more.

Mile 92

After a complete afternoon of sightseeing, you will arrive to the historic mining district of Kantishna. Welcome to your comfortable lodging in the heart of Denali National Park. Check out your cabin or spend some time exploring the property with a stroll along Moose Creek before enjoying dinner with fellow travelers.

Views from above

For travelers whose transportation plans are tight on time, or those who would like to add an aerial perspective of the park’s landscapes to their Kantishna experience, we suggest a bus-flight combination.

Adventure into Denali on our Denali Backcountry Adventure bus tour. When it’s time to bid farewell, board Kantishna Air Taxi and soar over the park for your return. This short 35 minute flight makes it possible for travelers to see glaciers, wildlife, the Alaska Range and scenic areas of Denali National Park from the air!

Stories from Denali Backcountry Lodge