two people paddling canoe across lake on camp denali adventure
seven hikers trek across field on camp denali adventure in alaska
A perfect view of the white snowy Denali seen from Camp Denali and North Face Lodge, infront of the mountain range is a green hilside framed by green pine trees
wildflowers and wooden houses at sunset on camp denali adventure land tour
moose and cub on camp denali adventure in alaska
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North America Alaska Land Tour

Camp Denali Adventure

The 8- to 9-day Camp Denali Adventure offers true, customizable Denali National Park exploration in true remote Alaska style—arriving by scenic flight to and from your accommodations at Camp Denali. This distinct wilderness lodge on private, family-owned land near Wonder Lake offers the best views of Denali and the Alaska Range from within Denali National Park.

Spend your days exploring the heart of Alaska’s premier wilderness with naturalist guides leading day hikes over alpine and tundra terrain, along rivers, lakes and to ridge-top trails with unbeatable views. Paddle a canoe across Wonder Lake; pick blueberries on the far shore; bike ride down the park road; or take an optional flightseeing tour around Denali. Fishing poles, daypacks, walking sticks and raingear are available to every guest to ensure no one misses an activity. Evenings are filled with relaxation and learning from guides and guests alike. Your Camp Denali stay is bookended with scenic arrival and departure flights, and finishes with an informative ride on the Alaska Railroad back to Anchorage where you will skirt past landmarks like the Matunuska Valley, the most fertile farming area in Alaska.

Unique to Camp Denali is its longstanding history that grants access into the wilderness core of Denali National Park. Nearly six million acres constitute Denali National Park and Preserve, and you get to spend your days right in the middle of it. The lodge is dedicated to excellence in natural history interpretation, stewardship and hospitality. Camp Denali offers 19 individual guest cabins that are dotted along an ascending ridgeline with sweeping views. The cabins sit on private, family-owned land, surrounded by close to six million acres of Denali National Park and Preserve.

Not only will you enjoy the finest accommodation in the park but also expert naturalist-led activities. Each Camp Denali Adventure arranged by the experts at AdventureSmith Explorations includes all transfers, hotels and activities and can be further customized to include other hotels and lodges to suit any travel style. Perfect for small groups, couples or families who want to experience Denali in style, the Camp Denali Adventure is the ideal choice for the discerning Denali National Park visitor.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about visiting Denali National Park and AdventureSmith’s Alaska land tours or all Alaska trips by land and sea.



Itinerary

8-Day Camp Denali Adventure Itinerary

The 8-day Camp Denali Adventure tour offers true, customizable Denali National Park exploration and begins and ends in Anchorage, Alaska. This itinerary spends 3 days exploring Denali National Park and includes a scenic flight to and from your accommodations at Camp Denali.

Map showing placement of Camp Denali within Denali National Park, Alaska.
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Day 1
WED - Arrive Anchorage, Alaska

Arrive to the Anchorage airport, where you’ll be met and transferred to your downtown Anchorage hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this cosmopolitan Alaskan city on your own.

Accommodations

Hilton Downtown Anchorage, The Lakefront Anchorage, or similar

Meals

n/a

Read More
Day 2
THU - North to Denali

Today the adventure begins on a narrated, scenic drive along the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Denali National Park & Preserve. Arrive at your hotel in the Denali entrance area by noon. This afternoon is yours to visit the Denali National Park & Preserve Visitor Center, hike the interpretive trails throughout the area, or simply relax.

Accommodations

Denali Cabins (or similar)

Meals

n/a

Read More
Day 3
FRI - Scenic Flight Into Denali National Park

Instead of seeing the park from a bus window, you’ll begin your experience of Denali by viewing glaciers, mountains and tundra lowlands from the air on a scenic charter flight. Weather-permitting, your flight in will also include a fly-by of Denali and the Alaska Range.

*In the event that you are not able to fly to Camp Denali due to weather this day, this package includes an additional overnight at Denali Cabins.

Accommodations

Camp Denali

Meals

dinner

Read More
Day 4
SAT - Denali National Park

Spend the day exploring the heart of Alaska’s premier wilderness. A naturalist guide leads a hike through alpine and tundra environments along rivers, lakes or ridge-top trails with magnificent panoramic views of the Alaska Range. The beautiful scenery of Denali National Park is also home to grizzly bear, black bear, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, arctic fox, moose and more. Activities offered at Camp Denali include hiking on daily outings that explore Denali’s trail-less terrain. The lodge’s longstanding history in the area has awarded its guests the opportunity to hike into the wilderness core of Denali National Park. As the camp is owned by the park’s historic operator, its guests enjoy the exclusive rights to commercial guided hiking in Denali’s designated wilderness. Each evening, staff naturalists and visiting specialists present programs to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the Far North.

Accommodations

Camp Denali

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 5
SUN - Denali National Park

Spend a second full day exploring Denali from your backcountry lodge. In addition to daily guided hikes, there are numerous independent activities to pursue. There is a dock and five canoes at Wonder Lake for use during your stay. Paddle across the lake to pick blueberries or take a nap in the tundra. Drift in silence into the reflection of Denali.

Trail and topographic maps, self-guided interpretive booklets and bikes to ride on the park road help you strike off on your own. There is fishing gear, walking sticks, day packs, rain gear and more for you to borrow. Bring your curiosity to Camp Denali’s resource center, with its natural history exhibits; plant, animal and insect collections; resource library and microscope. For quiet relaxation, the living room offers an extensive library of literature related to Denali, Alaska and the Far North, as well as photography and field guides. Pick out a book, stake out a comfortable seat and relax by the fire.

Accommodations

Camp Denali

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 6
MON - Scenic Flight Out of Denali National Park

This morning brings a final chance to view wildlife and wonder on the spectacular return flight to the park entrance. Upon arrival, take the included transfer to your hotel for one final night in the Denali area.

Accommodations

Denali Cabins (or similar)

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Day 7
TUE - Alaska Railroad to Anchorage

This afternoon, board the historic railroad for the return trip to Anchorage, crossing over Alaska’s highest bridge at Hurricane Gulch. Skirt past the Matanuska Valley, the most fertile farming area in Alaska, which produces bushel-basket-sized cabbages along with other huge vegetables due to long hours of sunlight. The conductor announces points of interest along the way, with prime views from your luxury dome car and meals are available for purchase on board. Arrive at the Anchorage Rail Depot around 8:00pm and be transferred to your Anchorage hotel.

Accommodations

Hilton Downtown Anchorage, The Lakefront Anchorage, or similar

Meals

n/a

Read More
Day 8
WED - Depart Anchorage, Alaska or Begin Trip Extension

This morning, take an included return transfer to the Anchorage airport or begin your Alaska small ship cruise or trip extension.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

n/a

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Airport hotel transfer; round-trip transportation between Anchorage and Camp Denali; round-trip flights from the Denali Park entrance to Camp Denali; all meals and lodging, as indicated in itinerary; naturalist-guided activities and evening programs; use of canoes, bikes, fishing equipment and outdoor gear; national park entrance fee.

Exclusions

Airfare; excess baggage charges; any additional hotel nights in Anchorage; items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages; insurance of any kind; and $200 in taxes per person (2024).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 40% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 91 days – 50% of deposit
90 to 75 days – 100% of deposit
74 to 46 days – 50% of total trip cost
45 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Camp Denali Adventure begins and ends in Anchorage, Alaska (ANC). Plan to arrive anytime on Day 1 and depart anytime on your final day. Airport transfers will be provided upon arrival on Day 1 and departure on your final day.

Internal Flights

Due to a major landslide in the Pretty Rocks section on the Denali Park Road in August of 2021, the road was closed at Mile 43, and will remain closed for the 2024 summer season. Consequently, there is no longer road access to Kantishna, where Camp Denali is located. For 2024, Camp Denali will provide round-trip fixed-wing aircraft transportation to the lodge from the Park entrance area. Luggage limit will be 25 pounds per passenger, and must be packed in soft-sided luggage. Storage for additional luggage is available at the Camp Denali office, near the Park entrance. Flight times are about 55 minutes inbound (including a scenic fly-by of Denali and the Alaska Range, weather-permitting) and 35 minutes return.

Activities

Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the guides can tailor most excursions to suit your skill level. Adventure activities include daily naturalist guided hikes with a unique, historic status of being able to hike both deep in the park near Wonder Lake, as well as in the park’s six-million-acre, trail-less wilderness. Each year Camp Denali invites guest speakers to share their expertise in the field and through evening presentations.

Guided hikes

The strenuous hike (all-day outing, 4-6 miles, up to 1,800 feet elevation gain) is for guests who want to hike at a steady pace for longer distances and gain significant elevation. Moderate hikes (all-day outing, 3-5 miles, up to 800 feet elevation gain) allow guests to travel through a variety of terrain at an average pace. Forays (all-day outing with 1-3 walks of a quarter to a half mile each) operate from a van and take short walks on the gravel park road, on unimproved trails or in firmer tundra, as group members are able.

Independent activities

Independent activities consist of canoeing on Wonder Lake, biking along the Denali Park road, photography and fishing for grayling in Moose Creek or trout in Wonder Lake.

Room Configuration

There are no discounts offered for triple or quad rooming. Upgrades may be available, contact us for details.

Families & Children

In our experience, families with children 8 years and older tend to gain the most from the opportunities at Camp Denali. Note that daycare is not provided and the guest complement may not include other families. Children 12 and under at time of travel receive a 15% discount when sharing a room with a full fare adult.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of adventure travel unique.

9-Day Camp Denali Adventure Itinerary

The 9-day Camp Denali Adventure tour offers true, customizable Denali National Park exploration and begins and ends in Anchorage, Alaska. This itinerary spends 4 days exploring Denali National Park and includes a scenic flight to and from your accommodations at Camp Denali.

Map showing placement of Camp Denali within Denali National Park, Alaska.
Read More
Day 1
SAT - Arrive Anchorage, Alaska

Arrive to the Anchorage airport, where you’ll be met and transferred to your downtown Anchorage hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this cosmopolitan Alaskan city on your own.

Accommodations

Hilton Downtown Anchorage, The Lakefront Anchorage, or similar

Meals

n/a

Read More
Day 2
SUN - North to Denali

Today the adventure begins on a narrated, scenic drive along the Parks Highway from Anchorage to Denali National Park & Preserve. Arrive at your hotel in the Denali entrance area by noon. This afternoon is yours to visit the Denali National Park & Preserve Visitor Center, hike the interpretive trails throughout the area, or simply relax.

Accommodations

Denali Cabins (or similar)

Meals

n/a

Read More
Day 3
MON - Scenic Flight Into Denali National Park

Instead of seeing the park from a bus window, you’ll begin your experience of Denali by viewing glaciers, mountains and tundra lowlands from the air on a scenic charter flight. Weather-permitting, your flight in will also include a fly-by of Denali and the Alaska Range.

*In the event that you are not able to fly to Camp Denali due to weather this day, this package includes an additional overnight at Denali Cabins.

Accommodations

Camp Denali

Meals

dinner

Read More
Days 4 - 6
TUE-THU - Denali National Park

Spend the next 3 days exploring the heart of Alaska’s premier wilderness. A naturalist guide leads a hike through alpine and tundra environments along rivers, lakes or ridge-top trails with magnificent panoramic views of the Alaska Range. The beautiful scenery of Denali National Park is also home to grizzly bear, black bear, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, arctic fox, moose and more. Activities offered at Camp Denali include hiking on daily outings that explore Denali’s trail-less terrain. The lodge’s longstanding history in the area has awarded its guests the opportunity to hike into the wilderness core of Denali National Park. As the camp is owned by the park’s historic operator, its guests enjoy the exclusive rights to commercial guided hiking in Denali’s designated wilderness. Each evening, staff naturalists and visiting specialists present programs to enhance your understanding and appreciation of the Far North.

In addition to daily guided hikes, there are numerous independent activities to pursue. There is a dock and five canoes at Wonder Lake for use during your stay. Paddle across the lake to pick blueberries or take a nap in the tundra. Drift in silence into the reflection of Denali.

Trail and topographic maps, self-guided interpretive booklets and bikes to ride on the park road help you strike off on your own. There is fishing gear, walking sticks, day packs, rain gear and more for you to borrow. Bring your curiosity to Camp Denali’s resource center, with its natural history exhibits; plant, animal and insect collections; resource library and microscope. For quiet relaxation, the living room offers an extensive library of literature related to Denali, Alaska and the Far North, as well as photography and field guides. Pick out a book, stake out a comfortable seat and relax by the fire.

Accommodations

Camp Denali

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

Read More
Day 7
FRI - Scenic Flight Out of Denali National Park

This morning brings a final chance to view wildlife and wonder on the spectacular return flight to the park entrance. Upon arrival, take the included transfer to your hotel for one final night in the Denali area.

Accommodations

Denali Cabins (or similar)

Meals

breakfast

Read More
Day 8
SAT - Alaska Railroad to Anchorage

This afternoon, board the historic railroad for the return trip to Anchorage, crossing over Alaska’s highest bridge at Hurricane Gulch. Skirt past the Matanuska Valley, the most fertile farming area in Alaska, which produces bushel-basket-sized cabbages along with other huge vegetables due to long hours of sunlight. The conductor announces points of interest along the way, with prime views from your luxury dome car and meals are available for purchase on board. Arrive at the Anchorage Rail Depot around 8:00pm and be transferred to your Anchorage hotel.

Accommodations

Hilton Downtown Anchorage, The Lakefront Anchorage, or similar

Meals

n/a

Read More
Day 9
SUN - Depart Anchorage, Alaska or Begin Trip Extension

This morning, take an included return transfer to the Anchorage airport or begin your Alaska small ship cruise or trip extension.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

n/a

Read More
Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Airport hotel transfer; round-trip transportation between Anchorage and Camp Denali; round-trip flights from the Denali Park entrance to Camp Denali; all meals and lodging, as indicated in itinerary; naturalist-guided activities and evening programs; use of canoes, bikes, fishing equipment and outdoor gear; national park entrance fee.

Exclusions

Airfare; excess baggage charges; any additional hotel nights in Anchorage; items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages; insurance of any kind; and $240 in taxes per person (2024).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 40% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
Up to 91 days – 50% of deposit
90 to 75 days – 100% of deposit
74 to 46 days – 50% of total trip cost
45 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Camp Denali Adventure begins and ends in Anchorage, Alaska (ANC). Plan to arrive anytime on Day 1 and depart anytime on your final day. Airport transfers will be provided upon arrival on Day 1 and departure on your final day.

Internal Flights

Due to a major landslide in the Pretty Rocks section on the Denali Park Road in August of 2021, the road was closed at Mile 43, and will remain closed for the 2024 summer season. Consequently, there is no longer road access to Kantishna, where Camp Denali is located. For 2024, Camp Denali will provide round-trip fixed-wing aircraft transportation to the lodge from the Park entrance area. Luggage limit will be 25 pounds per passenger, and must be packed in soft-sided luggage. Storage for additional luggage is available at the Camp Denali office, near the Park entrance. Flight times are about 55 minutes inbound (including a scenic fly-by of Denali and the Alaska Range, weather-permitting) and 35 minutes return.

Activities

Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the guides can tailor most excursions to suit your skill level. Adventure activities include daily naturalist guided hikes with a unique, historic status of being able to hike both deep in the park near Wonder Lake, as well as in the park’s six-million-acre, trail-less wilderness. Each year Camp Denali invites guest speakers to share their expertise in the field and through evening presentations.

Guided hikes

The strenuous hike (all-day outing, 4-6 miles, up to 1,800 feet elevation gain) is for guests who want to hike at a steady pace for longer distances and gain significant elevation. Moderate hikes (all-day outing, 3-5 miles, up to 800 feet elevation gain) allow guests to travel through a variety of terrain at an average pace. Forays (all-day outing with 1-3 walks of a quarter to a half mile each) operate from a van and take short walks on the gravel park road, on unimproved trails or in firmer tundra, as group members are able.

Independent activities

Independent activities consist of canoeing on Wonder Lake, biking along the Denali Park road, photography and fishing for grayling in Moose Creek or trout in Wonder Lake.

Room Configuration

There are no discounts offered for triple or quad rooming. Upgrades may be available, contact us for details.

Families & Children

In our experience, families with children 8 years and older tend to gain the most from the opportunities at Camp Denali. Note that daycare is not provided and the guest complement may not include other families. Children 12 and under at time of travel receive a 15% discount when sharing a room with a full fare adult.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the guides’ discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of adventure travel unique.

Rates & Dates

Trip Rates & Details

From early June through mid-September. 8-day trips start on Wednesdays, 9-day trips start on Saturdays.

2024 Special Emphasis Series Speakers:

  • Jun 3-6: Dr. Jon AtwoodConservationist & Ornithologist
  • Jun 10-13 & 14-16: Susan PaskvanFormer Native Language Coordinator of Yukon-Koyukuk School District
  • Jun 19-22:
    • Carolyn Finney, Ph.D.—Author, Storyteller & Artist/Scholar-in-Residence, Franklin Environmental Center, Middlebury College
    • James Edward Mills—Journalist
  • Jun 24-27 & 28-30: Sarah Roeske, Ph.D.—Research Geologist, Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California, Davis 
  • Jul 15-18:
    • Carolyn Finney, Ph.D.—Author, Storyteller & Artist/Scholar-in-Residence, Franklin Environmental Center, Middlebury College
    • James Edward Mills—Journalist
  • July 22-25 & 26-28: Ben Rawlence—Award-Winning Writer & Activist
  • July 29-Aug 1: Dr. Nikoosh Carlo—CEO, CNC North Consulting
  • Aug 9-12: Princess Daazhraii Johnson—Writer, Actor & Producer
  • Aug 19-22 & 23-25: Ronn & Marketa Murray—Photographers & Northern Lights Specialists
  • Aug 26-29 & Aug 30-Sep 1: Ralph Clevenger—Photographer
2024 Rates
From $6700USD
Per Person
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Accommodations

Learn About the Lodge & Hotels on Your Itinerary

Lodge
Camp Denali

Located on 67 acres of sweeping ridgeline, Camp Denali's 19 guest cabins reflect the spirit of Alaska with a presiding sense of open space and natural surroundings.

Lodge
Denali Cabins

Sitting 8 miles south of the Denali National Park entrance, the Denali Cabins offer a peaceful property with a complimentary shuttle and easy access to the park. The 46 cedar guest cabins feature rustic charm, and an onsite pub and hot tubs invite guests to unwind between explorations.

Hotel
Hilton Downtown Anchorage

Located in the heart of downtown Anchorage, this hotel is walking distance to popular attractions and a 10-minute drive to the International airport.

Hotel
The Lakefront Anchorage

This lodge-style hotel is known for its hospitality and upscale yet comfortable amenities. Set on the shore of Lake Spenard, The Lakefront Anchorage offers modern décor accented with classical hints of Alaska. Daily flightseeing and fishing pickups from the hotel dock offer specialized opportunities for Alaska-based adventures.

Expert Review

Reviews from Our Experts So You Know What to Expect

Todd Smith • March 20th, 2018
Expert Review: Camp Denali Adventure

AdventureSmith's founder reviews his Camp Denali Adventure with his family of four. Learn why he says there is no better way to explore Denali National Park.

Testimonials

Hear It from Travelers Who Have Explored with Us

"Overall Our Trip Was Perfect!"

Both my husband and I absolutely loved our trip and wouldn't have changed a thing about it. We highly recommend AdventureSmith, Taylor and our itinerary to anyone who is looking for an active, outdoor adventure trip in Alaska. Let AdventureSmith plan your trip and you won't regret it!

Overall
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Meals
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"This Was Certainly One of the Top Three Trips"

This was certainly one of the top three trips we have taken in our 35 years we have been married. I'm waiting a while to put it into perspective, but it is probably the top one. We got to see beautiful scenery, wildlife, and learned a lot about the places and animals we were seeing.

Overall
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