This is the ideal place to stay in Denali for the budget savvy traveler. Denali lodging is pricey…read moreand highly seasonal so it is a relief to find comfortable lodging that's close to the park and far below the cost of all the neighboring resorts. I only found one place at a similar price and it was 25 miles away from the park entrance! The Bake cabins run a shuttle to the park all day but I don't mind the 15-20 min walk. I walk that distance everyday to get to work in the city! They offer a deluxe suite with all the trimmings, and a middle tier, but i was happy in the economy cabin. I spent my time exploring and came back to comfortable rest. Check-in was actually in the bar/restaurant at the entrance to the property. It wasn't too tricky to navigate.

Went here last night and again this mourning. We had Cajun…read moreRockfish, very good. For breakfast my wife and I split the Lumberjack, two very large pancakes, two eggs, two bacon, potatoes and toast. More than enough for us to split and very good.

Right on a beautiful running creek, with the soothing sound of water taking all your stress away,…read morethis lodge is ideal for recharging life's battery. Totally off the grid: no phone, no tv, no internet. Can't get any better than this. The cabins have comfy beds, a great bathroom and spectacular views if you book one right on the creek outside. The meals are excellent and their bar with its huge fireplace is perfect for sharing stories from the day's adventures. This lodge has it all, fishing gear, hiking equipment, bicycles, vans, and much more. Their experienced staff will either take you on a private tour or they can customize a special one just for you. We walked, hiked and took hundreds of photos. We made friends and stared in awe of the wildlife surrounding the compound. Ok, they have WiFi in the main lodge only but it's very slow - it's just a reminder that you're there for something bigger than the internet. Breathe in sunshine.

The only reason to stay at Denali backcountry lodge is to get the most interior into the park as…read morepossible, this review is based on experience to price ratio. There are two other lodges located this far into the park, but one is clearly more for families and the other for those who are cool with sharing bathrooms with a number of guests. I fit neither of those categories, hence why I picked backcountry lodge. To start off, I went during June 2020 when there were only 8 total guests at the lodge(usually have 70+) and the trains were not running so barely any "day tip visitors" which I was told is anywhere from 100-200 extra guests at the lodge for the day. To say I was spoiled to be there with it so deserted is an understatement, but to make up for that the staff was anything but spoiling to us when it came to activities, going with the flow, or accommodating for the weather. Let's start with what everyone else talks about on here- the food! So, the food is pretty good. Breakfast and lunch exceeded my expectations. Dinner was so-so (any time you order a prime rib and they don't ask you how you would like it cooked should be a red flag). Dessert was above and beyond every night, so overall I say the food was a 4/5. The lodge and cabins are beautiful, maintained well and had no issues with heat in the room or bathroom water temperature. The bus ride into the park with Eric was phenomenal, he went slow for everyone to be able to spot wild life accordingly and he was very personable and kind with the guests. We saw 5 bears, a fox, caribou, a couple moose and even got to see a baby bear. The drive out of the park was a different experience, I felt like the driver was racing to get back for literally no known reason(trains weren't running) and he went so fast that there was no way to spot wildlife efficiently (I've been to Africa twice so I know a thing a two about spotting wildlife). He also mentioned to not bring up politics to him because we probably wouldn't like what he had to say. There was only 5 of us in the bus and we only knew his first name, so I'm not sure why he thought any of us would bring up politics with him to begin with so that was beyond strange IMO. I didn't realize that this lodge can only bring you out so far and you cannot do certain hikes near wonder lake because the other lodge there doesn't allow it (?) and the lodge only allows you to do 4-6 hikes nearby. A rogue bear in the area kept us from using the bicycles on site so that didn't help to the "not much to do situation" either. Steven took us on a guided hike which I had never done before but it was great because he taught us about the tundra and the history of Kantishna/gold mining. The staff kept saying we could do hikes on our own as well, but when asking to bring us out to a hike for us to do alone the seemed hesitant for some unknown reason. Sebastian also took us on a quick outing to Fannie Quigleys home and he was very knowledgeable about her and the overall history of the area as well. Garrett at the bar was fantastic, super personable and great talker. Other staff members who did not have direct verbal communication with us seemed a little unpleasant in the common areas considering we're all here in the middle of no where together. A smile back or simple hello is appreciated from someone like me but I do understand some guests there don't even want to look up from their phones let alone smile. Read the room! My biggest complaint of this place would be the manager. I did not even know who he was until the last day. I was sitting at the breakfast table where I just got my meal 5 mins prior (for whatever reason it took longer this day) and the manager had the audacity to scream "if you're leaving today you need to get on the bus now!". No joke, there were only 3 of us in the dining hall and I was the only one leaving since the other two just got there. Why he didn't have the courtesy to walk over to me to let me know I needed to stop eating and board the bus is beyond me, but when I found out later on the bus he was the manager I was livid. How dare you bring this place down in the last minutes of my time there. If you treat paying guests this way, how do you treat the staff? Might explain a thing or two.. Because of that incident, this place became hard to recommend. If you are thinking of staying here it should be because you want to get as far into the Denali interior as possible, sleep and bathe comfortably, and eat well. You can stay at the other lodges and do these hikes plus more, see Wonder lake and hike near there as well.

This was a great hotel! The rooms were kind of small and pretty basic, however the hotel itself…read moreand the location made this an awesome spot to spend the night. Located along the Nenana River wih great views from the restaurant and outside patio. You can also grab a picnic lunch or pastry & a latte at the snack shop and enjoy it at a secluded little spot just off the main deck directly overlooking the river. The restaurant has a good menu & wine list and the breakfast buffet is large and has a lot of variety. The hotel also has a nice little gift shop.

Stayed there 3 nights in July. Rooms are very small with 2 Double beds except in 700 Building that…read morehas larger rooms with 2 Queen beds. Night manager made comment they did not need our business since cruise ships book out 90% of their rooms. Will never visit again. Denali is ok but the Cruise Industry has taken over the area. That along with Alaska's road construction leaves this place less than desirable.