Is it possible to embrace the frontier in luxury, rather than conquer it? Here are seven exceptional lodges that take you off the beaten path and combine iconic experiences with exclusive accommodations.
For most of the lodges, “no roads lead here” is true. Expect to take a boat or plane to get to your destination. The all-inclusive lodges feature locally sourced food, premium beverages, activities, and many include the round-trip flight/boat ride to get you there.
- Sheldon Chalet
Arrive by private helicopter to this 5 room 6000 ft. hexagonal mountain retreat at the base of Denali. Enjoy sledding, glacier trekking, snowshoeing and snow cavern spelunking. This is a perfect location to view the aurora borealis. - Stillpoint Lodge
Arrive by float plane from Anchorage or private boat from Homer to this 25-guest secluded lodge on Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. Enjoy sportfishing, glacier lake kayaking, guided boat tours, fly-out bear excursions, paddleboarding, and hiking. - Tutka Bay Lodge
Arrive by water taxi from Homer or charter your own float plane flight from Anchorage. Next to the Kachemak Bay State Park on the Kenai Peninsula, this secluded lodge with 5 guest cabins is surrounded by water and hugs the glacier studded Kenai Mountains. Enjoy saltwater sportfishing, hiking, kayaking, and tidal pool exploration. Guests choose between a fly-out bear viewing or deep-sea fishing excursion. - Winterlake Lodge
Arrive by float plane or helicopter to this intimate 20-person wilderness retreat located on the historic Iditarod trail. Enjoy guided walks by a naturalist, kayaking and canoeing. In the summer, the lodge hosts helicopter excursions for glacier-trekking, heli-fishing, heli-hiking, and rafting. - Ultima Thule
Arrive by the private air provided by the hotel from McCarthy. Located on a glacier river in the Wrangell/St. Elias Mountains, this 5 cabin lodge offers the ultimate American safari experience. The lodge has a fleet of five planes equipped with “land anywhere” tires. Experiences are customized to your interests and fitness level. Enjoy a combination of daily fly-out drops and flight tour adventures with a guide. Every day is different. - Crystal Creek Lodge
The lodge will meet guests at King Salmon for the 5 mile journey by road. On a bluff overlooking the Naknek River, this lodge with 5 guest rooms and two private cabins is world famous for river and stream fishing, wildlife viewing, photography, and hiking. Fishing and bear viewing are very popular. Enjoy beachcombing, rafting, kayaking, hiking and walrus viewing as well. - Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Arrive by 45-minute chartered flight from Anchorage. Featuring 6 guest rooms and 2 cabins, the lodge is located near Denali Park on the banks of the Talachulitna River and Judd Lake. Large cedar decks showcase the outdoors with views of Judd Lake and the Alaska Range. Enjoy hiking, fat tire biking, canoeing, kayaking, wake boarding, and paddle boarding.
Remember last summer? Escape the desert heat and take an American Safari this summer in the last frontier.
Helen Jordan is the owner of Jordan Luxury Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell Travel, a member of Virtuoso. She can be reached at 602-692-9379 or [email protected].
