Avens Alaska (formerly Wrangell Mountains Wilderness Lodge

To make your Alaskan backcountry experience the best ever, we recommend staying at Avens Alaska, enjoying their fantastic Alaskan cuisine and enjoying beautiful scenery by going on nearby hikes. Aven Alaska's hosts, Michael and his family were very gracious and provided excellent service.||Avens Alaska allowed us a pristine backcountry Alaskan experience with the comfort of a small two story cabin with a plumbed bathroom and kitchen(The Alaskan Cabin), with the enjoyment of prepared gourmet dinners in the dining room, with a fully equipment kitchen in our cabin to prepare our breakfasts and lunches and with the access to great hikes in the backcountry of the Wrangle Mountains. ||We selected the meal plan with dinners only. We were very pleased with the delicious dinners and desserts, the service and the backcountry Alaskan dining room that showed off the furs of many animals including Black Bear, Brown Bear, Lynx and more. ||We thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in every morning and going on hikes and even canoeing in a pristine lake near our cabin with views of the mountains and wildlife. We saw white swans, ducks and (we think) an otter. We went on a few easy to moderate level hikes including to Jack Lake, Caribou Creek Trail, and Gold Mine Trail. On the Caribou Creek trail, we picked blueberries that were delicious.

Avens Alaska is a gem of a family-owned lodge in a remote area of Wrangell St. Elias NP. It is an off-grid location with a lodge for dining complete with a bar, and various types of lodging accommodations from Yurts to cabins with different levels of amenities. Ours (The Alaskan) included an indoor private bathroom. The wash house is a nice building with two separate bathrooms with showers for accommodations without indoor plumbing. There are lakes close to the cabins within easy walking distance. The beautiful property is conveniently located on Nabesna Road with lots of hiking options. The views of the mountains are amazing. Unfortunately, the Northern Lights were not active while we were there. The cabin we rented was clean and beautiful. The owner personally showed us through the cabin and explained how the pellet heater and appliances worked. There were two queen beds (one in the loft). The bed was comfortable and the plentiful blankets were warm. There is also a kitchen for preparing food. We did not use a hair dryer or curling iron as the wattage usage is very high when power is provided off-grid. The food was amazing! We bought the food package since there are no nearby convenience stores, restaurants, or grocery stores. The owners grow much of the food onsite and source locally. The culinary creations were fabulous with chef level presentation. The homemade desserts were marvelous. Even the boxed lunches were sensational. Their son was our waiter and he did a splendid job. Michael and Victoria were wonderful hosts! We would stay there again

We stayed in the Raven cabin which was cozy, comfortable and had everything we needed. We had no issues preparing our meals with the kitchenette. Bed was extremely comfortable, shower great, and heater kept us toasty. It was a perfect base camp for hikes off of Nabesna road. Mid September has amazing fall colors that we enjoyed both on our drives and daily hikes. Mike and Victoria were great at communication leading up to and during the visit.

From the moment I arrived at the cabins at AVENS Alaska (Mile 28), I was transported into a world where true peace reigns—and it was one of the most restorative stays I’ve ever had. Here’s my take: What made it unforgettable Cabin & amenities: I stayed in one of the fully-furnished cabins, outfitted with everything you need—hot water, a shower, well-equipped kitchen—all the comforts without detracting from the wilderness feeling. Scenery & atmosphere: The surroundings are jaw-dropping: the forest, mountains, sky… at times it felt like I was inside a painting. And the silence… such a powerful contrast with the bustle of regular life. I could feel the stillness. Hospitality: The caretaker family were warm, genuine hosts. Their kindness felt personal, not just professional. Meals they cooked were incredible, rich in flavor and heart. The love they pour into the place shines through every interaction. Sustainability: It’s rare to find a place where the infrastructure supports letting nature speak for itself—this camp is solar and battery powered, with diesel only as backup. Zero wasted energy, maximum respect for the land. Vacationing done right. Why I give it 5/5 Because everything aligned: the setting, the service, the simplicity, and the sincerity. It wasn’t just a getaway—it was a reset, a chance to reconnect with nature and humanity in equal measure.

Thank you so much for the wonderful stay!! We stayed in the Alaskan Cabin and it was perfect!! Two cozy queen beds, super well appointed kitchen and a great hot shower!! The owner Michael was incredibly responsive and answered all of our questions on road conditions and trail conditions. We stayed at Avens for a night before and after doing the Trail Creek/Lost Creek backpacking loop. We HIGHLY recommend that for anyone doing the trail it's so nice to have such a clean, cozy spot!! We didn't do the meal plan, but for those interested it looks like an awesome option!

Excellent service! The accommodations were perfect. The yurt was large, comfortable and exceedingly clean. Plenty of hot water! And plenty of the heat when it dropped below freezing one night. Comfortable mattresses.||The food was excellent with Michael proving he could not only adapt, but adapt well, to our dietary restrictions. Always hot and always prepared perfectly. ||Although he didn’t have a say in it, the weather was very nice and the scenery even more so. ||No one seems to want to offer great customer service anymore. NOT SO at Avens. Great customer service from Michael, Victoria and family. We would return for another visit in a second.||We stayed at four other venues on this trip to interior Alaska . Avens was absolutely the best spot of all!

A fantastic 3 day stay at the start of a 2 week Alaska trip. The cabins were sparkling clean, comfortable with especially comfortable beds.|What distinguishes them is the quality of the food--all 3 meals. Simple but elegantly prepared food featuring Alaskan cuisine. Even the box lunches we took on our hikes were superb--don't miss the salmon salad.|The staff, the owner and his family were attentive, and more importantly, fun. |The lodge is sited perfectly for access to tralils of all degrees of difficulty. The owner provides sound advice on the trails and sights.

The lodge is in a perfect location to explore the out-of-the-way Nabesna area of Wrangell-St Elias National Park. The yurt itself was well outfitted with everything I needed for my four night stay. The owners have put a lot of time, thought and effort into providing quality services. This was my 6th lodge/hotel during my three week visit to Alaska and by far the most comfortable and relaxing. I would hike during the day and just hang out and appreciate being off the grid the rest of the time. Also appreciated were the very tasty dinners that were served when I didn't want to prep my own meals. I found it very hard to pack up to leave and head to the hubbub of Anchorage.