These people feel like family. They are kind and just have goodness in their eyes and actions. Life is wonderful up on the mountain side. On a clear night you can see the Aurora's and take photos beneath them. There are cross country ski's and snow steppers to borrow to go for a lovely trail trek through the snow. There is Skiland near by where you can ski or snowboard. Chena hot springs is about an hour and a half away. I'm so glad I stayed here!!! TRUELY A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU I enjoyed the peace and feeling of being away from it all. charming. (No tv in the rooms which is ok by me. ) read more

If you're staying in Fairbanks to see the northern lights, Mount Aurora is the right choice! Visited Fairbanks during the month of March, we weren't guaranteed to see the aurora but Jeff told us that March is a great month for it. Out of the two days we stayed in the lodge, we saw the aurora borealis both nights!!!! We were fortunate enough to see it, off of our bucket list! (if you want to see it better, bring a digital camera or a professional one for a better view since human eye doesn't really capture the lights) Location: Before we checked in, we made sure to visit other places near the airport, since this lodge is farther from the airport. But heading there is not as bad. When we got there, we were greeted by Jeff. He showed us the place, and he told us he'll give us a knock once the aurora is out. They were right next to a little trail, so we managed to hike it for a bit before the sun set. Room: Our room was simple, but cute and rustic. It had two beds, but the main bed is so comfortable that we slept so well! It's also near a window that has amazing view of the trees and mountains. When we arrived, the sun was barely setting and it was breathtaking! Shared bathroom--it's not that awkward at all. Just make sure you always lock your door if not used, and locked the other room's door if you're using it. Food: Breakfast is part of the cost, but you can tell them ahead of time if you want lunch and/or dinner. Of course, there's a charge. They also sell beverages such as water, soda and alcohol. You can either pay cash or add it to your payment. They have microwave and complimentary food and drinks such as tea, coffee, muffins, and other snacks. Feel free to go to downstairs to hang out there, watch tv, relax on the couch, etc. Lori was so nice, that we didn't really make it for breakfast since we woke up late but she still made us eggs and toasted bread!! We missed their dogs Hank and Blaze! They were very friendly and playful. Overall, it was a great experience staying in this lodge. It's a family run; we even met this one lady who helped us the way to get to Chena Hot Springs. read more

Mount Aurora Lodge - The view, perfect for northern lights viewing - Hotels Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

Some friends and I traveled up for the Aurora Borealis and found it difficult to get lodging during the peak season. We happened upon the Mount Aurora Lodge because they are a relatively new operation and don't have a lot of internet references yet. I must say that we had a great experience. We also stayed a couple of days at Chena Hot Springs and I found the Mount Aurora Lodge MUCH better situated for aurora photography. The staff monitors the forecasts and will even wake you if the aurora rolls in past your bedtime. Visitors use the common area as a staging area for viewing and you can come in and out quite easily to warm up if you get cold. The aurora was frequently on the horizon during my stay and the high altitude nature of the location enabled great viewing that otherwise might have been obscured by high mountain peaks (like Chena Hot Springs has). The owners couldn't be nicer or more accommodating and I fully recommend this venue if you're up for adventure. As mentioned on the website, the bunk house walls are incredibly thin and conversations next door come right through the walls. However, the layout also provides quite a camaraderie for travelers and single travelers won't feel isolated. Another caveat is that, unless you rent a suite, you'll be sharing a bathroom with the guests next door, which can potentially be awkward. read more

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Worth every penny! Jeff & Kate make their home feel like your home. They send you to bed early & wake you up when the lights come out. The scenic location in the hills outside Fox, AK (north of Fairbanks) make it ideal for northern lights viewing & photography. After nights of aurora viewing, Max made a huge, delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, and alternating pancakes, waffles & French toast, plus yogurt, bagels, toast, cereal, etc. The lodge is a historic miners bunkhouse with tons of rustic charm. The beds are very comfortable with great linens and rooms are cozy, clean and warm. I have been visiting Mt Aurora Lodge since 2013 and have seen lights every time (September, March & April). I wouldn't stay anywhere else. I highly recommend staying with Jeff & Kate. read more

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Everyone here was very friendly. Camille was amazing! Very friendly and very enthusiastic. She was just as excited as the guests when the Aurora came out. It looks rustic on the outside (which I love!) and it is very cozy on the inside. No need to travel to see the Aurora. They inform you when the Aurora begins, you can step outside to watch and when you get cold warm up with coffee or hot chocolate then step back out. Camille watches the Weather Service website to tell you when the upcoming spikes will be. Couldn't be easier. read more

I really really like the lodge! And the owner Max& Jeff is pretty nice, they would stay up and wake you up if the aurora comes out.Room is clean and cozy, highly recommend if you want to watch the aurora here. read more

Don't consider staying anywhere else in Fairbanks! We ended up staying at the Mount Aurora Hotel more out of luck than anything - and this is now the only place we'd consider staying in the Fairbanks area. I think we might even plan another trip just to have another chance to stay with Jeff and Lori! This is not your typical hotel experience - to start with, you're staying in an old miner's camp (how cool!). It is a simple metal two-story building, with small but more than adequate rooms. The rooms are clean and outfitted with fluffy duvets and very plush white towels. Each pair of two rooms shares a bathroom, but you can pay a modest amount extra to have a bathroom to yourself. Your hotel stay includes a daily cooked breakfast - during our stay we had coconut milk pancakes, bacon and scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, and a variety of other things. Yum! Lori monitors the aurora forecast and will wake you up (if requested) if the aurora looks good and you're missing it. Jeff is a gold miner at the gold mine a few miles down the road. Both are unintrusive, but very fun to talk to. They have two very well behaved dogs, Dash, a small sheltie (shetland sheep dog) who is deaf but very sweet and gentle, and Hank, a loving chocolate lab who wants nothing more than to be able to chase balls all day. Also, for you connected folks - get this: they have wifi. It is not fast but it will keep you connected to the outside world (a requirement for us). Very highly recommended. Their website doesn't do it justice. read more

This is a wonderful place to stay in Fairbanks and enjoy viewing aurora. The rooms- very comfortable, hosts - very friendly and make you feel like home, aurora viewing - right from the backyard. We stayed at the lodge for 4 nights in January and were more than satisfied with our experience here. The lodge is outside the city of Fairbanks, about 15mins drive, on top of Cleary summit. We drove from Vancouver and had no trouble with finding this place or driving to t. You get the theater seating for viewing the aurora right from the lodge, no driving at night searching for the spot or paying for it. Hosts, Laurie & Jeff, were very friendly and made sure that we felt like home. They have a lot to share about Alaska and helped us in finding various activities to do during our stay, we were able to do dog sledding and arctic tour. The rooms were clean, very warm with a variety of options from 3 full beds to 1 queen bed to suit the number of people in your party/preference. Now for the main part of our trip, viewing the aurora. We were able to see the aurora on 3 of the 4 days we stayed at the lodge. Some spectacular displays. All we had to do was stand outside the lodge and look up. You could step in to grab a cup of coffee to warm yourself, very convenient. We had great experiences on our trip and staying at this wonderful lodge was a highlight. read more

Great service. The breakfast is great and although it is a little way away from Fairbanks the scene is amazing and the lodge is warm and home-y. Definitely recommend coming here if you want to see the Aurora lights. read more

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Cozy lodge. Really clean and cozy. Staff is friendly and thy offer free coco and bagel for you.

This wonderful rustic lodge/B&B is the perfect place to stay when you go to the Fairbanks area to view the Northern Lights, or just to be in rural Alaska. The owners (Laurie and Jeff) are warm, friendly and helpful hosts, who made sure our stay exceeded our expectations. Through them we were able to connect with other activities in the area or just outside the lodge. The accommodations are excellent, with clean and cozy rooms and a very nice living and dining area. The food was delicious (better, and more reasonably priced, than what we had in area restaurants). The location is perfect for viewing the northern lights. It is far enough away from the city, up on Mount Aurora, that we did not have to travel anywhere to view the night sky. And the winter sunrises and sunsets could be enjoyed from the warmth of the lodge. Laurie and Jeff made our stay comfortable and memorable. read more

This cozy B&B was the perfect picturesque setting for a perfect Alaskan New Years! My friends and I were the first guests of new owners Laurie and Jeff, but everything was top notch professional. You'd be hard pressed to find warmer and more genuine hospitality anywhere on this latitude. Up on a mountain and far away from the city lights of Fairbanks, the location is ideal for viewing the northern lights or just a quiet getaway! The views of the mountains and the sunrise/sunset are stunning. There are trails for cross-country skiing or snow machining. If that's not enough adrenaline for you, there's a kind of sketchy ski resort (skiland) just a few minutes away. The imminent-near-death experience of their ski lift should satisfy any adrenaline junkie. The lodge itself is rustic with a homey ambiance that is inviting and comforting. The rooms have north facing windows, making them ideal for waking up in wee hours of night to check the aurora activity without having to brave the Alaskan winter. They're reasonably sized and most-importantly, very clean! Insulation must also be great because we did not feel a single chill during our stay. We visited several of the neighboring lodges during our time in Fairbanks, and I beseech you to not squander your hard earned cash at any other lodge (Chatanika Lodge and Chena Hot Springs...yikes). These sites are sketchy, contrived, have questionable sanitation, and you can practically see them siphoning the money right out of your wallet. Even without the stark contrast of lesser establishments, the comfort and northern hospitality at the Mt. Aurora Fairbanks Creek Lodge is truly unparalleled. By the end of our stay, I wanted to pull Laurie and Jeff into a big hug and tell them that we're moving in forever. While, this option is unfortunately not feasible (for now!), I plan to be back again and hopefully see some aurora next winter! read more

Mount Aurora Lodge - Hotels Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

Greatest cabin for chasing the norther lights. They provide hot drinks, hot meals, breakfast, and, what is the most important, FREE-FAST-FULL COVERAGE WIFI. The rooms are newly renovated, clean, and cozy. Reasonable price. Much much much better than those in Chena Hotsprings Resort. Though the road condition to the lodge is a little bit rough and hard to find, the lodge is definitely worthy. read more

Mount Aurora Lodge - Lobby - Hotels Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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Great place to stay at. We were here for 1 night last week (September 2 2019) and were lucky to see aurora. Very cozy place with home like feeling. Kate is a wonderful person. My kids were so happy to be here. read more

One of the most charming and authentic places I have stayed. Service was warm, friendly and really captured the local charm of the area. The lodge was super cozy feeling. I played piano and mandolin in the main room during my morning coffee. Very affordable and comfortable. Highly recommend! read more

It was difficult finding lodging for catching the Aurora Borealis this time of the year, especially when there is a new moon. We were fortunate to have found Mt Aurora Lodge because the location was optimal for the viewing. The lodge is located on top of a hill about 40 minutes away from the city lights. As it turns out, one can just go outside the lodge on to the top of the driveway turnaround to get a perfect viewing. My husband is a photographer and for him having the trees in the foreground was perfect. One could also easily walk out to skiland, (10 min), to get a vast open aurora viewing. Only issue with that is maneuvering the busloads of tourist dropped off there for the same reason. We were very fortunate and saw the Aurora 3 nights out of 3. The lodge itself has a lot of history and charm. It was a bunkhouse for miners back in the day. The rooms are small with many that are shared baths. The walls are thin !!! Throughout the night, you may hear people walking the halls, clumping down the stairs, opening and shutting doors, and conversations carrying-on. You may need need ear plugs if you want any sleep. When we first arrived to the lodge, we walked into the great room to register. There were a number of people in the room but no one came to check us in. We stood around for about 5 minutes before someone who was sitting down chatting came up to us. This person ended up being the owner Lori. We were finally checked in and oriented to the ins and outs. There were lots of nice touches offered at the lodge. In the great room, aka the gathering room, games and magazines and socialization with other guests were available if you wanted to partake. Hot and cold beverages were always available as were snacks. A couple of nights there were fresh baked brownies for the guests. A microwave, toaster and a small refrigerator was available for guests to use. Outside of the bedrooms they had travel size toiletries for guests in case we had forgotten ours or ran out. Ample bottled water was readily available. Our interactions with the owners were minimal and brief albeit not by choice. All in all our stay here at the lodge was pleasant and it was ideal for watching the northern lights. read more

Very good location for aurora viewing. Friendly staff and owner with great knowledge of aurora. The rooms are very cool albeit little small with thin walls. But overall I was very happy meeting other travelers at the common area and chatting with hosts. They got coffee when u wait for aurora and also snacks. read more

Even tho this place is outside of Fairbanks, my mom and I enjoyed the scenic drive to it. We were surprised to share the bathroom with our neighbor, but thankfully he was clean and respectful. Our room was simple w a bed and blankets and towels. But we appreciated the simplicity. Beautiful scenery and we saw an amazing sunset as we were visiting in July. I plan to go back to see the aurora lights in the winter. The breakfast was delicious and it's cute how everyone comes down and eats together. My only disappointment was that we were referred to a man named Norton to drive us from the train station to the lodge. He picked us up within 5 minutes of calling him, but he charged us $70 for the ride. The next day we caught a ride with another tenant, but the kind property manager offered to bring us to our rental car for free. A lovely family running a very loving and simple b&b. read more

15/01/2016 There are many things you can read about this lodge - good and bad ones as well. About the bad ones: I think it's all up to you what you experience there. If you arrive cranky and wanting privacy, you won't enjoy your stay. But if you are open-minded and curious, this is the right place to be. Yes, the walls are thin, you would hear noises, and people talking or just simply walking around the whole time you are there. But it's ok - it wasn't bothering us at all. We were planning a trip to our favorite city, Seattle, when we thought we can come to Alaska to see the "lights", since it's relatively close. Before our trip I did an extensive research where we should stay - to found Mount Aurora as the best choice. We spent only two nights at the lodge - the first night we had to crash at a hotel at Fairbanks, since our plane arrived late. We were rather excited to get out of the city, and have some peace after New York. We took a cab from Fairbanks to the lodge, which cost us $100 with the tip. Yes, we don't drive, so getting around was expensive. When we arrived, we had our room assigned. Since they weren't busy, we got a room next to no one, so we didn't have to share the bathroom. And I want to stress here, that they are totally aware how awkward the "shared-bathroom-situation" can be, so they are doing their best to for you to avoid it. Kudos for that. Since the sun was settling about 2pm, we didn't have much time to walk around after we arrived. But what we saw was nature and beauty. The place is far away from the city lights, so once the sun sets, its pitch dark outside. You can see the stars perfectly around 4pm at this time of the year. The rooms are small, but very cozy with an excellent view. The lounge area is warm and welcoming - as you can see it on the pictures others put up here. They have puzzles and other games to kill time while you have nothing else to do. And of course you can socialize with other travelers. Everybody is here to see the Aurora - and in between, there is not much to do. Unless if you have something planned. Or you can just ask Dana - the manager - if she can recommend something. She is extremely nice and helpful. About the stuff: they are very nice folks. I can't remember everybody's name (forgive me). There is a lady who comes to prepare breakfast and dinner. Oh, boy - she has some skills! Please, have dinner here. You won't regret it. From salmon chowder to stuffed pork chops - everything was very tasty. There is always coffee and some snacks at the lounge - you can help yourself. The housekeeper lady does a great job to keep the place tidy and shiny. You will need a pretty good camera to capture the lights. Sorry, iPhone won't work. We didn't have one, but we were lucky with a fellow traveler, Fred and his mom - they took pictures of us, and sent them to my email. About the transportation: non-existent, unless you are driving. If you are not, it is very expensive. But there is Dan, who can drive you around for a bit cheaper than other cab companies - but you have to ask for his phone number. I advise you to do so before you go, so he can drive you there from the airport. He is a cool guy. About things to do: please, visit Lance Mackey's sleepover for dogs. If you like dogs, they will give you an experience you'll never forget. We went there for sledding on the second day. Ask Dana - the manager - to arrange an appointment for you. She will be more than happy to help you. Those folks up there at the kennels treat their dogs as family - and so will you as well. An hour tour/sledding going to cost you $125, but believe me: worth it. And finally about the lights: breath-taking, spectacular and everything beyond. We were very lucky - not because the lights were out for every night we were there, but we were flying by it for about 40 mins on our way to Fairbanks. There are a couple of things you should know: for one, the naked eye can NOT capture it as you see it on pictures. It looks mostly like swirling clouds. At least for the first 10 or so minutes. You have to let your eyes use to it first, then the miracle will come. The first night we spent at the lodge the lights were out, but were just ok. Still: amazing. The second night was spectacular! We are so lucky to saw them. I cannot describe it well enough, so you need to go to see it for yourself. And no, you won't be able to see them from the city. But of course, Mother Nature is the boss. Cross your fingers, that the circumstances will be right on the night you are on a hunt. All and all: thank you for the stuff at the Mount Aurora Lodge for the fantastic experience! Footnote: Our flight out from Fairbanks was scheduled at 9:30 pm. We had to check out from our room about 1 pm - so we were worried, that we will have to spend like 6 hours "somewhere". We asked the stuff if we could stay, and they said: you are more than welcome! So from 1pm to 6:00pm they let us hang out at the lounge, which was very n read more

We had a wonderful week here! The lodge has so much personality and the staff was friendly, helpful, and accommodating. This is the best place in Fairbanks to see the Aurora! We were there in March and saw the most amazing Northern Lights! This is also a good location to see and do other fun activities in the area. The dog sledding was a highlight! The staff is great to recommend places to go and things to do. We loved our time here! Highly recommend it!! read more

We could not have chosen a better place than this lodge to witness the magical Northern lights. The service was top notch and the people were extremely warm. The only disadvantage were the thin walls of the rooms. But I dont mind that considering its the best location to watch the lights and that the people were the nicest and friendly. read more