Camp Denali, located at the 89-mile marker in Denali National Park, will reopen on June 2. The family-owned and operated lodge since 1952 has announced its 2023 summer speaker series, wildlife observation and guided nature excursions. While the park’s road remains closed for another summer at mile 43, Camp Denali will welcome guests back offering new fly-in access with flightseeing of Denali.
With 19 private cabins, each with direct views of Denali and adjacent peaks of the Alaska Range, Camp Denali’s historic operator status with the National Park Service gives them the ability to travel through the park and lead naturalist-guided hikes. It is also the only lodge allowed to moor canoes at the two-and-a-half-mile-long Wonder Lake near the foot of Denali. The absence of tour buses beyond mile marker 43 affords guests the rare opportunity to experience the park with virtually no traffic and more opportunities to look for wildlife on walking or driving safaris including grizzly bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and wolves.
Accessible this summer only by private charter, Camp Denali’s guests will enjoy a flightseeing tour of Denali viewing glaciers, mountains and tundra lowlands from the air upon arrival. Weather permitting, the flight will also include a close-up fly-by of Denali and Alaska Range glaciers and high peaks.
With the goal of helping guests learn and care about Denali’s sub-arctic ecology, geology, history, indigenous peoples and changing landscape, Camp Denali hosts a “Special Emphasis Series” that allows specialists such as biologists, ornithologists, conservationists, photographers and others, to share their expertise on field excursions, guided outings and evening programming. This season’s 2023 experts include:
- David Sibley – Ornithologist, author and illustrator; “Bird Identification & The Art of Observation” (June 9–15)
- Danielle Stickman – Arctic landscape director, The Wilderness Society; “Indigenous Stewardship and Land Conservation in Alaska” (July 7–9)
- George Bumann – Sculptor, wildlife biologist and author; “Entering the Conversation of Nature: The Art & Science of Animal Language” (July 28–August 3)
- David Shaw – Conservation photographer; “Autumn Photography” workshop (August 28-31 and September 1-3)
- Kesler Woodward – Artist and professor of Art Emeritus, University of Alaska, Fairbanks; “Painting in the North” (September 4-7 and 8-10)
Each day, guests can participate in guided off-trail hikes organized by physical ability, offering options from 2,000-foot ridges to casual walks of the lowland tundra scouting for wildflowers and birdlife. Every guide is an experienced backcountry traveler, a naturalist and an educator with natural history knowledge. Guests can also fill their days with canoeing, biking, fishing, berry picking, touring the onsite greenhouse or photographing the micro-flora or macro landscape. The onsite natural history resource room has museum-quality collections of animal pelts, skulls, insect collections, herbarium, maps, a resource library and a dissecting microscope.
A new member of Regenerative Travel, Camp Denali is committed to fostering stewardship of Denali National Park. Located 90 miles from the nearest power grid, Camp Denali sources nearly all of its electrical energy needs from the sun. It contributes direct and in-kind support to local and in-state organizations that focus on land conservation, education, environmental stewardship, advocacy and community. The on-site, off-grid greenhouse and gardens provide nearly all of the salad greens, cooking greens, herbs, radishes, peas and edible flowers.
The 2023 summer season at Camp Denali extends from June 2 to September 11. Camp Denali is accessible from Anchorage International or Fairbanks International airports followed by a car, bus or train to Denali Park. A required private charter from the park entrance to Camp Denali is $600 per person roundtrip and includes a 55-minute inbound flightseeing excursion.
For reservations, visit www.campdenali.com.
Related Stories
Above and Beyond Alaska Launches Multi-Sport Day Trip
Venture Ashore Expands Into Alaska With Three New Adventures
Alaskan Dream Cruises Bringing Back the Family Cruise in July