Camp Denali Reviews & What It’s Like Flying

Overall Standout – Camp Denali’s Exclusivity

What made this trip so special was that it truly felt like our small intimate group had Denali National Park to ourselves. At 52 guests, Camp Denali by far holds the smallest amount of guests at any lodge located deep within the park in Kantishna. The others are least double this.

And while some other lodges welcome day-trippers to their grounds, Camp Denali is fully exclusive to its overnight guests. This combined with everything else that sets Camp Denali apart made everything effortless so that I could fully enjoy a wilderness experience in the backcountry, all in relative luxury.

Some of my clients are initially hesitant since the nightly rate at Camp Denali and other lodges in Kantishna are significantly higher than those at the park entrance, but when you factor in all the inclusive benefits, superior location (views!), expert-led activities, outstanding meals, etc., the rate is more than worth it.

Most Memorable Moment – The Flight

The goal of my trip was to try the Camp Denali flight model, now the AdventureSmith preferred way to depart the camp. Though you can choose to take the Camp Denali bus for both your arrival and departure, flying gave me such a deep appreciation of the vast wilderness of Denali. For perspective, Denali National Park is 9,492 square miles, slightly larger than New Hampshire which is 9,351 square miles. Seeing it by air gives a memorable POV into the true grandeur of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America at 20,310 ft, compared to the historic gold mining town of Kantishna, located at only 1,575 ft where the lodge is. These small planes typically fly between 7-10,000 ft through this area.  

The flight was 45-55 minutes, and it went by quick. I had the back of the plane to myself and was constantly turning my head to look out both windows as we went into and above the clouds.

We had close-up views of the snow-covered Alaska Range, flew by the Muldrow Glacier, through valleys sculpted by glaciers and winding rivers, and countless ponds and lakes throughout the tundra. Our skilled pilot also acted as a local tour guide and among many other interesting things during our narrated flight, I learned that Denali National Park has approximately 12,206 lakes & ponds, which we could see in every direction from the air.  

The forecast called for overcast, rain, with a chance of snow, so I did not have high expectations to see Denali’s peak. But I was pleasantly surprised that we had incredible views of the Alaska Range during the flight and the clouds broke long enough to get a few glimpses of Denali. Our pilot did a full 360-degree turn so that both sides of the plane could get good views while Denali was in sight.

Cabin Highlights – Views from Bed

The “Discovery” cabin I stayed in was one of the five original housekeeping tent cabins built during Camp Denali’s first operating season in 1952, when it rented for $10 per night! The top highlight was the view! My cabin had a perfect view of Mt Denali. I could see Denali through the large front windows while sitting in either of the beds. It was quite possibly the best view I will ever have waking up in the morning.

I also loved to sit in one of the chairs on the front porch, that way I also had better views of the Alaska Range and even a peek of Wonder Lake. Luckily, we had no mosquitoes during my June trip, so it was comfortable to sit outside on the porch. When it got colder in the evening, I was happy to move inside and sit next to the fireplace and still enjoy the view. When the housekeeping staff came in daily to clean the cabin, they would also set up the logs inside the woodstove so all I had to do was light a match.

Favorite Place – The Potlatch Dining Room

The Potlatch dining room at Camp Denali was my favorite spot on the property. Perched high on the ridge, its almost floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows perfectly framed the surrounding scenery. Every seat offers a breathtaking view of Nugget Pond, the historic Main Lodge and the majestic Alaska Range in the distance. It was impossible not to feel deeply connected to the wilderness while dining there.

Beyond the spectacular scenery, I found a strong sense of community here. It truly lived up to its name as a gathering space where guests and staff alike could share stories, reflect on their day’s explorations and simply enjoy each other’s company over a fantastic meal. The presence of cozy couches around a fireplace further encouraged lingering and conversation. While initially, the assigned seating for dinner seemed a bit unusual, it proved to be a wonderful way to connect with different guests each evening. The fact that several staff members would join us for meals also enhanced the experience, allowing us to get to know them.

I also loved the traditions they keep:

• The ritual of ringing the dinner bell before each meal signaled not just that food was ready, but that it was time to gather.
• Before dinner, the introduction of different kitchen staff, complete with their personal backstories and descriptions of the evening’s meal, made the experience more than just about the food. It was about the people who crafted it and where it came from.
• After some meals, the prompts for guests—like sharing the highlights of our day or describing a hike in one word—were a fantastic way to learn about everyone else’s adventures. These simple exercises encouraged presence and gratitude, and made each meal an engaging experience.
• Every year Camp Denali sends a “Ptarmigan Tracks” newsletter updating their guests on life at the lodge, notable wildlife and experiences, conservation efforts, etc. These newsletters, including the original from their founding year in 1952, are kept in a book near the fireplace and I enjoyed reading through the history.

What Sets Camp Denali Apart

The scale of and views from Camp Denali are incomparable. It is the only lodge with direct views of Denali and the Alaska Range, and its property is 67 acres, while the other lodges are about 8 acres each. This is all due to Camp Denali’s history of being purpose built as a wilderness lodge (higher on the ridge) vs. the other Kantishna lodges being established as mining claims closer to the river.

While other lodges will have beautiful views of nearby hills and it’s nice to hear the creek from your cabin or dip your feet in after a hike, to see Denali, you have to drive 15-20 minutes to Wonder Lake. It doesn’t sound that far, but it makes a difference. I spoke with two guests who stayed at another Kantishna lodge after their stay on the same dates as me, and they said they did not see Denali at all during their trip.

The other key differences are park access and family (versus corporate) ownership. You can read more detail about this on our Camp Denali lodge page, but essentially Camp Denali has special grandfathered-in rights allowing them to lead guided hikes in more places. The other Kantishna Lodges have about 7 miles along the west end of the road where they can hike, but they cannot explore east past the Wonder Lake area.

Camp Denali guides regularly take guests more than 20-30 miles farther east into the park for excursions than the other lodges can go. Plus Camp Denali’s 67 acres of private property has excellent hiking straight from your doorstep that you can easily do on your own.

Most Surprised By – The Freshness of the Food

I heard the food at Camp Denali was great, but I was curious if maybe the quality or variety had diminished due to the fly-in operations. I’m happy to report back that the meals exceeded my expectations. The meals at Camp Denali were better than any of the other lodges or restaurants I ate at in Alaska, which is impressive with the fly-in operations to a remote corner of the park.

Camp Denali has an on-site greenhouse that adds a nice, fresh touch to each meal, but they also carefully hand select all the food that gets delivered. They are proudly picky with the quality and origin of their ingredients with 100% of the meat, poultry and seafood Alaska-grown.

While I stayed at Camp Denali’s Parkside Guest House in Anchorage (June 4), the hostess spent the morning gathering provisions (she had a very specific list of last-minute requested items in addition to the regular orders) and those items were going on a delivery truck from Anchorage to Denali, then a flight from the park entrance to Kantishna. And all those items made it fresh to Camp Denali before I did (June 6).

Don’t Forget to Pack – Power Banks & Binoculars

There are no outlets in Camp Denali’s cabins to charge any devices, so I wish I had brought my small travel power bank for convenience. While there is no cellular service or WiFi, I still used my phone a lot taking photos and notes, so I needed to charge it more than I thought I would. There are plenty of outlets in the shared spaces (dining room, lodge, and resource center). 

Also, definitely bring binoculars. Camp Denali does not have any to borrow and the wildlife can be very far away. They do have some binoculars available to purchase if needed.