Experience Wild Luxury at These Alaska Lodges

They don’t call it the Last Frontier for nothing… Alaska’s broad expanse of wilderness is an adventurer’s playground. There’s so much to discover: glaciers, pristine lakes, and epic wildlife at every turn. For most remote destinations of a similar description, visitors compromise by leaving luxury, and even comfort, in the rearview mirror. Not so in Alaska, if you know the right places to look.

These wilderness lodges pair everything that is magnetic about Alaska– its wildness, its scenery, its fresh foods– with warm hospitality and high end accommodations. Perfect for people who may fancy hiking a massive glacier and mushing along the Iditarod by day and watching the sunset in a jacuzzi with a glass of wine by night. As true Alaskan locals (and legends), the people behind these lodges are well equipped with the expertise and passion to ensure a quintessentially Alaskan experience.

Tutka Bay Lodge

Tutka Bay is nestled on its own private cove within an ancient glacial fjord in Kachemak Bay State Park. The lodge exemplifies a happy marriage between wilderness and luxury– offering massages, waterside yoga classes and access to explore the stunning Tutka Bay by sea kayak.

The people behind it: 

Carl and Kirsten Dixon are the couple behind Within the Wild, a group of luxury adventure lodges in some of Alaska’s most remote corners. The couple sold everything and moved to Alaska in 1983 to start a fishing lodge. Withstanding the learning curve of operating in the wilderness, the Dixons opened Tutka Bay Lodge, their second property, in 2009. 

Unmissable experience: 

Tutka Bay has one of the most authentic local food programs, not only in Alaska, but in the United States. Owner Kirsten Dixon hosts a daily “cooking school” in an old World War II boat run aground on the property. Expect the menu to be full of ultra-local, seasonal ingredients, such as wild salmon, foraged berries and even reindeer!

Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge

Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge is the only wilderness lodge within Alaska’s vast Kenai Fjords National Park. The lodge sits on the remote banks of a protected lagoon within Aialik Bay, offering guests incredible views of Pedersen Glacier, plenty of wildlife viewing and endless adventure opportunities. 

The lodge and 16 comfortable log guest cabins reside within Native-owned Pederson Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary. Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge was developed with deliberate care and concern to minimize its impact on the surrounding area to help protect the Sanctuary for generations to come. 

The people behind it:

It’s been over 40 years since Kirk Hoessle began Alaska Wildland Adventures, the adventure travel company behind Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. When Hoessle visited Alaska in his twenties, the vastness and endless intrigue that Alaska has to offer made a lasting impression and he made it his life goal to share that experience with others. 

Unmissable experience: 

Take advantage of your proximity to Alaska’s glaciers with a kayaking expedition in Aialik Bay offering close views of waterfalls and the impressive Aialik Glacier. Be on the lookout for sea otters!

Ultima Thule

Ultima Thule / Credit: Arturo Polo Ena

Hundreds of miles from paved roads, Ultima Thule exposes visitors to the heart of Alaskan wilderness in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the largest protected reserve in the United States spanning 13.2 million acres of wilderness. The ancient Greeks used the word ultima thule to describe the unknowable realm beyond the northern bounds of their maps. The property lives up to its name, considering the opportunity to experience the unknown on a daily basis is at the heart of the Ultima Thule experience.

The people behind it:

Ultima Thule’s story began in 1958 when John and Elenor Claus settled in this untouched corner under the Homestead Act, which granted land to U.S. citizens who would settle in Alaska. John’s son Paul turned the property into a lodge and named it Ultima Thule in 1982. Today, three generations of Claus family members are still dedicated to running the property. 

Learn more about the epic adventures of the Claus family here.

Unmissable experience: 

In a land with no roads, it’s all about air travel. Explore your epic surroundings by bush plane. The team can fly you up into a mountain valley, put you down on a sandbar at the edge of the forest, and guide you on a hike that literally no one has ever done before.

Sheldon Chalet 

There is no better basecamp to showcase the grand scale and unspoiled beauty of the Alaskan landscape than Sheldon Chalet. The small lodge is perched on a nunatak of Denali’s majestic Ruth Glacier just 10 miles from the summit. 

The people behind it:

An aviation legend, Don Sheldon began mapping the vast expanse of the Alaskan Range more than 70 years ago. The rocky outcrop that is now the home of Sheldon Chalet was the only place suitable as a basepoint in this ten-year long endeavor. Don had a vision to share the incomparable beauty of Denali with others through a wilderness lodge, but tragically passed away from cancer before his dream was realized. His children, Kate and Robert, inherited both the rocky outcrop and the vision: under their leadership, Sheldon Chalet was constructed. 

Unmissable experience: 

Staying in this epic amphitheater of rock is a truly epic experience in and of itself, but the lodge also offers several other mountaineering experiences that can’t be missed. After attending the property’s “Glacier School” for safety information and proper training, head out for a glacier trek lit by the light of the full moon.

Chelatna Lake Lodge

Chelatna Lake Lodge is a fly-in wilderness lodge just outside Denali National Park. The main cedar chalet overlooks the marine waters of Chelatna Lake and the towering Alaska Range in the distance. The culinary team and the knowledge of local guides will make this a truly one-of-a kind experience in the remote backcountry. After a day’s adventuring, end your day taking in the views from the wood-fired sauna set alongside the lake.

The people behind it: 

Matt Berke is a lifelong Alaskan resident, a private pilot, and the owner and general manager of Chelatna Lake Lodge. He lives at the property year-round, sharing his love of the Alaskan wilderness with guests. 

Unmissable experience: 

The waters surrounding the lodge are clean, clear, and incredibly remote– lending itself to the perfect fishing experience. The area is only accessible by aircraft, meaning the wildlife is your only competition in catching rainbow trout and grayling. Whether you are an expert or a beginner, are interested in spin or fly fishing, Chelatna Lake Lodge has something for everyone.

For more Alaska inspiration, check out these itineraries:

Luxury Alaska Adventures on the Kenai Peninsula: The Kenai Peninsula offers pristine forests, turquoise rivers, and rugged coastline, and is the backdrop for many iconic Alaska adventures.

An Epic Alaska Road Trip: With rolling hills of tundra framed by majestic mountain ranges, Alaska’s interior region is a place for grand adventures. On this adventurous Alaska road trip you’ll fulfill nearly every Alaska checklist item.