Avens Alaska (formerly Wrangell Mountains Wilderness Lodge

This lodge and its cozy cabins are located at mile 28 of the Nabesna Road, a remote and lightly developed corner of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It’s worth stopping at the Slana ranger station at the beginning of the road to pick up the free audio CD, which provides fascinating commentary on the area’s history and natural features during the drive. ||The road is in good condition up to the lodge with only 8 miles unpaved. Mountain views along the way are excellent.||There are a variety of cabins and yurts to choose from. We stayed in the Raven cabin, which was very comfortable, with an en-suite bathroom and functional kitchen. The friendly owners were available to chat and offered helpful local tips and information.||Jack Lake, just a short walk from the lodge, offers a peaceful place to paddle or fish. A canoe is available for guests to use, and the lake is rich with bird and animal life in a beautiful, tranquil setting.||Beyond mile 28, if you’re up for exploring or hiking, you’ll encounter several stream crossings – so high clearance and four-wheel-drive vehicles are essential. The hikes in this area also often require crossing streams and walking along rocky stream beds, but the effort is rewarded with sweeping mountain views, and the chance to discover old mining relics. ||The lodge’s dinners were a real highlight. Each evening began with a super fresh salad, homemade dressings, and warm sourdough bread. The main courses varied nightly: bison bourguignon with mashed potatoes; Mediterranean stuffed chicken with pasta; and cod in a coconut curry sauce over rice. Each night ended with a choice of decadent desserts, like Berry crisp, brownies with ice cream, and flourless chocolate cake. Meals were served by the teenage children of the owners, and chatting with them about their life in this remote part of Alaska was a delight.||A stay here as highly recommended for those seeking the peace and quiet of the Alaska wilderness – without sacrificing comfort.

Avens Alaska is all about getting away from the hectic life we all live. Going to a place that has no ringing phones, or too many people is so rejuvenating. We spent 3 nights in Foxs Den, without running water, but with 30 feet was the Wash House, that made that a non issue. There was a bottle with a pump of water for drinking and cooking in the cabin. The bed was very comfortable, and it was so peaceful and quiet for sleeping. Fording the creeks in 4 wheel drive was one of the best highlights!! Michael and Victoria are very knowledgeable about the lands around them, and more than willing to share stories, and suggestions to make your stay exciting. We will be going back for the fall colors, and can't wait!!

After a week of driving around Alaska for a family vacation, we ended our journey at Avens Alaska for one night — it was nowhere near enough time to explore this beautiful area! The cabins completely exceeded our expectations and there were so many thoughtful touches throughout to make it cozy and comfortable. The area is peaceful and it was the perfect way to relax and decompress after so much travel through the week. One of our vehicles decided to quit on us a few miles from the property and Mike was so helpful and attentive to make sure we could get on the road safely the next day — we are so appreciative! I read the glowing reviews of Avens Alaska and was still blown away by our experience there and how it became a highlight of our entire trip. I would recommend this spot for anyone wanting a peaceful, cozy place to stay while exploring such a remote area — hope to be back next year!

If you are lucky enough to get to the Nabesna/Slana area of Wrangell-St. Elias, this is the place to stay! We thoroughly enjoyed being in this remote area of the park, surrounded by unspoiled wilderness and close to all the many hiking trails and glacier carved lakes. Spending some time in this wild, rural setting of Alaska gave us such sense of peace and greater connection to the land. It felt like a trip back in time, but with all the modern comforts of home provided by our friendly and hard-working hosts. The Avens Alaska cabins are cozy and clean and the property is ideally set with wonderful views of the Wrangell mountains. Walk the property and you may see caribou, moose, bald eagles and other wildlife. There is a lake at the back of the property, and we thoroughly enjoyed being able to get out on the canoe for beautiful views while paddling with the loons. Michael and Victoria are wonderful and friendly hosts. We loved the atmosphere of the dining room / common area. Make sure you request the meal plan with your reservation - the home cooked meals are delicious and locally sourced, and they also give you a great bagged lunch each day for your outdoor adventures. If you come from outside of Alaska like we did, spend some time talking to Michael and Victoria about the history of the lodge, their family, and learning about their way of life - subsistence living as a necessity for survival, connection to the land, and conservation is an admirable endeavor and labor of love. The only thing I would change about our experience is that we'd opt to stay longer the next time around so that we could explore more of the hiking trails! Thank you Michael and Victoria for a memorable stay!

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!

The staff was highly professional, knowledgeable and hospitable. Michael and Victoria’s attention to detail for every facet of the accommodations was outstanding. We (family of 4 with children 15 & 11 years of age) stayed 3 nights with the 3 meals a day option: One night in the cabin loft and two nights in the yurts. The accommodations including bedding, blankets, stove heating, kitchenettes, showers were all impeccable. The meals were plentiful and tasteful with fresh and farm-to-table ingredients, each with art and care. Our three course dinners consisted of homemade dressing salads, main dish (chicken, fish curry and braised beef), wine pairings and dessert options. Our experience at Wrangell–St. Elias National Park was well enhanced by a UTV tour and hiking that wouldn’t have been possible without Avens. We’d highly recommend this lodging for adults and families.

An extraordinarily special place! We stayed the weekend in Orion’s Yurt to celebrate my 31st birthday. And, what a wonderful birthday weekend it was. The lodge is quite the hidden gem nestled inside the park on Mile 28 of Nabesna Road. The area is quiet and breathtakingly beautiful. We hiked the nearby trails (and were the only ones), paddle boarded around the lake, read, sipped our coffee while listening to the birds chirp, and soaked in all the sunshine. We also got to enjoy dinner at the lodge one night; the food and the conversation were exceptional. The owners, Mike & Victoria (and kids), were so incredibly kind and welcoming to us and our three dogs. You certainly leave there feeling like you’ve gained a friend. They go above and beyond to make sure their guests are well taken care of. The yurt itself was clean, cozy, and well appointed. Equipped with a full kitchen and bathroom. I genuinely wish I could have stayed longer! If you are looking for a place to unplug and explore the great outdoors, this is absolutely the place to stay! It was perfect in every way. We will definitely be back!

Don’t miss the Nabesna Road experience if you go to Wrangell St Elias National Park. Stay at Avens Alaska cabins. The hosts are wonderful, the location is ideal and we stayed in the Alaska cabin. It was very well appointed with a great kitchen and comfy beds. We hiked 15 plus miles around this part of the park, but my best outing was a hike to the lakes just behind the cabin. Great wild flowers, beaver dams and a stunning lakes. If I had more time to just chill, I am sure I would have seen moose there. Great job Avens Alaska.