Alaska Wilderness Resorts: Where Luxury Meets Adventure
Alaska boasts no shortage of unique accommodations, and wilderness lodges and resorts are no exception. If you’re looking for the comforts of a hotel, but want direct access to Alaska’s wilderness, look no further. Here, visitors can enjoy an array of cozy stays – all with a focus on luxury, comfort, hospitality, and experiencing the grandeur of Alaska on guided and do-it-yourself outdoor activities. These resorts range from fly-in backcountry lodging to easily accessible lodges off of the Alaska road system – but still surrounded by wilderness. Staying at an Alaska wilderness resort means you’ll get the best of both worlds: luxury and adventure.
What is a Wilderness Resort?
What makes staying at a wilderness resort so unique? They give you access to unparalleled backcountry and wilderness settings without sacrificing the comfort of plush accommodations, fine dining, and other amenities. Plus, many wilderness lodges focus on a specific activity, like fishing or bear viewing, so you can spend your days exploring with experienced guides and retreat to your cozy accommodations at night. Many wilderness lodges are all-inclusive, with food, transportation, lodging in private cabins or guest rooms, and activities included in the package price.
Remote wilderness lodges are located statewide and are only accessible by plane or boat. The scenic flight on a small plane or boat ride to off-the-grid locations are the ideal start to your wilderness adventure. These lodges are inaccessible by road and give you a front-row seat to amazing views of Alaska’s breathtaking scenery – along with access to backcountry activities where you likely won’t see any other groups. Staying at one of these lodges gives you the opportunity to disconnect, unplug, and truly connect with your surroundings. If you prefer not to stray too far off the beaten path, some wilderness resorts are accessible by road in beautiful natural settings. While not as remote as the fly-out lodges, they still give you the opportunity to relax and enjoy comfortable amenities while surrounded in nature.
Luxury Experiences in Alaska
It's important to note that luxury wilderness resorts in Alaska look different than resorts found near cities in more populated areas around the world. You generally won’t find opulent furnishings, room service, pools, large spas, or high-end shopping. Luxury in Alaska means offering the utmost amenities and comforts in backcountry wilderness settings: meals prepared with freshly caught seafood and locally-grown produce, accommodations built to maximize your comfort and adventure, activities curated to meet your interests and adventure level, and attentive service and hospitality. It’s all about access to wilderness settings from cozy accommodations with incredible amenities.
That being said, many wilderness lodges and resorts offer luxury and wellness experiences like hot tubs and saunas, massage, spa treatments, yoga classes, and more – along with customized itineraries and activities. That means that instead of spending your time planning the details, you can let the lodge staff plan the ultimate Alaska adventure for you. Be sure to check with your wilderness resort on their amenities and added services.
Activities
During your stay, wilderness resorts offer a variety of activities to enjoy, based on location and season. These can include fishing, bear viewing, hiking, kayaking, helicopter tours, cooking and foraging classes, northern lights viewing, dog sledding, and more. Everyone in your party can enjoy activities that suit their interest, or just sit back by the fire and take in the surrounding views.
Wilderness Resorts by Region
Wilderness resorts can be found in each of Alaska’s five regions - ensuring there’s no shortage to choose from!
Wilderness Resorts in the Inside Passage Region
Fishing enthusiasts, nature lovers, tranquility seekers, and wildlife enthusiasts – rejoice! The Inside Passage is home to wilderness lodges that bring the luxury as much as the awe-inspiring experiences. With Glacier Bay National Park and Tongass National Forest at your doorstep, the possibilities are truly unique – usually combining a variety of both land and water experiences. Glide through glacial waters and fjords on a kayak, go saltwater fishing for halibut and salmon (and sometimes have it cooked up for you that night), spend the day whale watching, or enjoy a relaxing afternoon beach combing and looking for wildlife. Visitors will find a wide variety of wilderness lodge options both off-the-beaten-track and accessible in the Inside Passage, ideal for those who are interested in coastal views, fishing, and wellness experiences.
Wilderness Resorts in the Southcentral Region
This region is the most populated area of Alaska, but don’t let that fool you. Wilderness lodges in Southcentral Alaska are many, with beautiful views and plenty of amenities. Many lodges in this region are easily accessible by road, and some are even open year-round. Several lodges are located in and around the region’s national parks, including Kenai Fjords National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and access by road to Denali National Park (located in Interior region). You’ll find a wide variety of options here, including lodges overlooking rivers and glaciers, lodges on their own private islands, boat-out and fly-out lodges, and easily-accessible lodges on the road system. With ease of access, loads of activities, and fantastic amenities, this region is a great option for year-round wilderness lodge stays.
In summer, lodges offer opportunities for visitors to enjoy summer dog mushing, guided hiking, ATV tours, canoe and kayak trips, fishing, bird watching and wildlife viewing, flightseeing and helicopter tours, yoga, and more. In winter, embark on dog sled rides, ice fishing, snowmachine tours, skiing, and northern lights viewing.
Wilderness Resorts in the Interior Region
Wilderness lodges in the Interior region focus primarily on two of Alaska’s grandest attractions: Denali and the northern lights. Many of the region’s lodges are located in and around Denali National Park. Fly-in lodges can be found in Kantishna, in the heart of the park, and in remote areas on the park’s outskirts, while drive-up lodges can be found near the park entrance and along the Parks Highway. Backcountry lodges in Denali include activities like hiking, wildlife viewing, and fishing, while front-country lodges bring you in and around the park on bus tours, flightseeing trips, rafting trips, and more.
As one of the best places in Alaska to view the northern lights, the Interior region is home to a variety of wilderness lodges and resorts dedicated to the aurora. These lodges are located in prime aurora viewing locations, in areas with sweeping panoramic views of the sky and little ambient light. They often feature specialty designs to maximize northern lights viewing and comfort, like large viewing decks, big picture windows, and heated viewing areas. These winter wilderness lodges offer some of the best chances of seeing the northern lights with experienced hosts and guides who will keep track of the aurora forecast and let you know when the lights are out.
Wilderness Resorts in the Southwest Region
Home to Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park, this region is known for its famous brown bears and salmon-filled rivers. Here, visitors fly or boat in to remote lodges and resorts, as the area is mostly inaccessible by road. Wilderness lodges in the Southwest region bring visitors up close and personal with some of Alaska’s most incredible wildlife, including brown bears, black bears, moose, and more – all while providing incredible comfort, dining, and amenities. Fishing is also a major draw to this region, with remote fishing lodges leading daily fishing trips via boat or plane to prime fishing spots on rivers and lakes. Packaging and freezing your daily catch is often available, with options to ship your bounty home, so the visit will stay with you long after you leave.
Wilderness Resorts in the Arctic Region
With Gates of the Arctic National Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, and the Brooks Range at your doorstep, wilderness lodges in the Arctic region offer unparalleled backcountry experiences. Visitors fly out to remote lodges in the Arctic to spend their days fishing, hiking, flightseeing, canoeing, wildlife viewing, and more against the backdrop of some of the most immense landscapes in Alaska – or you can use the lodge as a basecamp before embarking on a backpacking or rafting trip in the backcountry. Some lodges are open in winter and feature northern lights viewing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. These lodges give you the opportunity to relax and unplug in off-the-grid accommodations surrounded by the beauty of one of the most remote places on earth.
Want to learn more? Browse wilderness resorts and lodges in Alaska. Read more about fishing lodges and wellness experiences & yoga retreats.
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