Camp Denali

We splurged on a one-week, once-in-a-lifetime trip to Camp Denali with our two daughters for a 40th wedding anniversary. In retrospect, I can’t imagine how we could have made a better choice for our celebration. ||The cabins: |My wife and I had our cabin, and our adult daughters had their cabin, but theirs was split down the middle, into a duplex of sorts. So they could share a cabin without sharing rooms -- a perfect arrangement for them (one that we didn't ask for, so it was a really nice treat when we saw it). The cabins are well-crafted, and there are no two alike, which is just the sort of touch we came to expect from Camp Denali; standard-pattern cabins repeated across the campus like Monopoly houses wouldn't match their esthetics or their values. Our outhouse was clean and well-maintained, and had a direct view of Denali through the heart-shaped window. The small wood stove kept the place warm well into the night, but the spruce firewood burned fast and we needed to replenish it once or twice if it got too cold for us. ||The common areas and food: |-There's a building that houses the showers, the outdoor equipment for guests to borrow, and a resource room that has a microscope, maps, animal pelts and skeletons, textbooks (geology, botany, etc), and a host of other resources to help guests gain deeper knowledge and context about the nature surrounding them. I could have spent the better part of a day just in that space. |-There's the lodge which houses comfortable chairs, a writing desk, and a generous library, and also serves as the venue for presentations by visiting scholars and artists. |-And there's the main building where the meals are served. My family and I commented more than once that if the Camp Denali dining hall were a restaurant in our neighborhood, it would be our go-to place for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. ||The hikes: |We were there seven days, and I had originally expected that we'd do independent activities at least two of those days. In the end, we went on guided hikes every day. The guides were just too good, and the trips they offered were to places that were just too jawdroppingly beautiful, to think we could come close to having those experiences on our own. In another life, I would have stayed two weeks, and maybe done some independent activities the second week. As it is, we made the right choice. ||Before we went, I knew we would have a great time at Camp Denali. I had done the research. We dreamed about this trip and planned for it a long time. What I did not expect was to encounter the deep-seated ethic that informs this place. It's not an exaggeration to say that the current owners -- and the two generations before them -- carry on in all the best aspects of the tradition of Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and Aldo Leopold. It was an honor and a privilege and a joy to be part of it for even just a few days.

What an incredible experience. All the amenities were top notch and the staff was incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. We took daily tours and each day our guide was a gem, tayloring our jaunts to fit our desires whether it was animal watching, geology, hiking or just viewing the country. It was a "trip of a lifetime".

This is our fourth visit to Camp Denali - it is truly a world class venue. From the gracious welcome by staff and owners to the amazing food and beautiful lodges and cabins, it can feel like both a home away from home and a trip of a lifetime. There is always a feeling of camaraderie as we share events of the day after dinner. | As always, one can set one's own schedule, be it hiking short or long, canoeing, biking, exploring on an easy guided naturalist foray, or simply having some quiet down time among the many books on regional topics.| The guides have been uniformly excellent during our several trips. They are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and always cheerful and responsive to guests' needs and wishes. The guest speakers have always been educational and though provoking.| The setting is priceless and unique in wilderness lodges, especially now that the park road is closed. Most of the 6 million acres of Denali National Park wilderness can now be accessed only by plane. The plane trip is spectacular, passing over glaciers and seeing 20,000+ ft Denali up close.| A heart-felt thank you to Jenna, Simon, Jerry and Wally, the family who has loved, respected, and protected this special place for over 70 years.

Camp Denali is a gem. The owners, staff, food, lodging, activities and overall ethic is incredible. This was our second visit and we enjoyed it as much, if not more, than our first trip. We took full advantage of the daily guided hikes, enjoyed delicious meals, lovely conversations, fantastic guest speaker presentations, and views of Mt. Denali each day. The cabins are rustic (which we loved) and very comfortable. They’re stocked with everything you need to have a relaxing stay. The beds are very comfortable and you can gaze upon the mountain through the large cabin windows from bed or enjoy the view from your own porch. Each cabin has its own private (and spotless) outhouse. After a day of hiking you can take a nice hot shower at one of the lodge buildings.|The flights in and out from the main office were on time and our pilots were very experienced. |We traveled as a couple on our first trip and as a family with our college age son on the second trip. Each time we stayed 4 nights. Each visit was great and our son enjoyed it as much as we did. Highly recommend this as a travel destination for people who enjoy the outdoors.

Never ever did I think I would be happy in a rustic place using an outhouse. Well, I was wrong. Rustic at Camp Denali is unlike rustic anywhere else. The outhouses are nothing like I've ever seen or imagined-they're beautiful! The cabin was so well appointed it was hard to leave it. Camp Denali is located in one of the most spectacular places on earth. The views from every cabin are surreal. In addition, the food, the personal care, and the amazing staff made our stay a never to be forgotten experience. We also met people from all over the world, who were interesting and fun. The led hikes through the tundra were so unexpected. Its beauty is indescribable. I was surprised and delighted every moment of the day. There was no need unmet at Camp Denali. You will be spoiled beyond your wildest dreams. It's worth every penny and more.

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.

GO!GO!GO! Now is the time to go to Denali if you want to have the park to yourself. Camp Denali is such a special place and with the road closure, they are the only lodge who is able to access the road past Wonder Lake. Every detail is thought about from supplying supplies like mosquito net, back packs, fish poles, etc. The food is incredible and so thought out from having bakers, chefs and use quality ingredients. The cabin are perfect and don't be thrown off by the private outhouse. They are fine and we only really used it overnight and other times used the restrooms in the shower house and lodge. The shower house is pristine. The staff are knowledgeable about all things from plant and animals to the area. Having a guest speaker at night to share expertise about the region was a nice touch. Truly being able to explore the park with only 8 people, no cars, no other people and quiet is a once in a lifetime experience. We felt like the park was ours and ours alone. We saw bears, moose, wolves and Denali mountain 3 of our 4 days!!!

Once in a lifetime experience! The grandeur of Denali speaks for its self, but Denali stewards and owners Jenna and Simon have coutured an unparalleled experience. The Camp Denali ‘Family’ is comprised of culturally and environmentally conscious professionals as well as just plain down to earth humans! Gourmet meals, 5 star rustic lodging and of course setting with foremost Denali views within the National Park….Not too shabby. :)) Did not know what to expect, but this experience exceeded our expectations! Thank you Camp Denali.