Chulitna Lodge - A historical landmark on the shores of Lake Clark National Park It is located 180 miles from the nearest road, with fly-in access only, across the lake from Port Alsworth on Lake Clark The remote flight through Lake Clark Pass is adventure enough. Then we get started. Boating, hiking, rafting, fishing, kayaking, climbing, plus excursions to other areas of Alaska, like Kenai and The Wrangell Mountains!!!
A very special place run by very special people, Chulitna Lodge offers up an opportunity to be part of a true Alaska experience. Flying over the glaciers to get there, you are picked up by boat on Lake Clark and greeted by the entire staff as the boat pulls up to the lodge. A cozy operation with several cabins, the folks running the place make you feel so welcome. Surrounded by majestic mountains, we went fishing for Arctic Grayling, hiked to a magnificent waterfall, walked along the beach viewing a gigantic beaver dam. There are so many things to do, but some of the best moments spent were sitting on the porch taking it all in, or hanging out at the communal dinners sharing stories. The food is so great, including the lunches packed for our daily excursions. The residency program for artists offers visitors an opportunity to interact with these talented individuals, and the handcrafted details from bathroom counters to cabin furniture make for a unique place. The staff is talented, knowledgeable and share a love of the outdoors. Good Times.
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An extraordinary location, comfortable lodgings and an outstanding crew result in an Alaska experience that is otherwise hard to access. We ate sockeye from the run, saw the smoking and canning process, hiked beautiful mountains without another soul, were picked up in a float plain to see bears on the tundra and paddle boarded on beaver ponds, all the while surrounded by the breathtaking views which make the Alaskan Wilderness so exceptional. Mara and her gang create a home stay experience which is hard to leave!
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Date of stay: September 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you want to experience the beautiful Alaskan wilderness the Chulitna Lodge is the place to go. Most visitors take advantage of the many activities offered. However, we went there to relax and celebrate my husband's 90th birthday. If was perfect. The friendly staff did everything to make us feel comfortable providing a "family" atmosphere. We came home with special memories including those of a surprise birthday party.
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Date of stay: July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great location and staff, but trips are overpriced and not as advertised and accomodation is log cabin basic at best with only two bathrooms for all guests - not bush luxury
Specifically, we left our trip to Chulitna management to give us the best wildlife experience so we took the package recommended 1. Coastal bear viewing ex anchorage - good value and experience 2. Wildlife Stinson trip - wildlife was bears at great river location. No other wildlife sighted, Stinson flight was good fun 3. Bear viewing - poor value and experience as this was at same location as Stinson trip and instead of an 8 hour day trip , we were returned within 4 hours without explanation 4. Hike to river falls - poor value as the same staff from lodge took the $1000 hike 5. Visit to historic cabin - good value as delivered to described destination 6. Boat tour of the lake was simply a trip in the lodge motorboat around the shores with little interesting sights and points of interest - not good value
We recognise most trips were with outside service providers, but if the point of booking is Chulitna, then it is their responsibility to provide good experience and value for money - this accountability wasn’t taken on board by management when we raised concerns on duplication and misrepresented experiences
Despite Steve’s self praise of his facility, if you are looking for a value for money lodge experience, look elsewhere
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Date of stay: July 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Check inclusions of side trips and select carefully
Be prepared for bathroom treks and timing...
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We (family of four, kids ages 13 & 15) had a wonderful five night stay at Chulitna Lodge. We were so impressed with the location and owner and staff at the lodge (Thank you Mara, Steve, Justin, Coco, Tian and Adam). We went on three excursions (hike up Tanalian Mt, bear viewing and fishing) and explored locally by hiking, SUPing kayaking. The lodge arranged the excursions for us and took such great care of us. The meals everyday were excellent- even working around our family’s dietary restrictions (our kids loved the pancakes)! We also highly recommend the sauna followed by a jump in the lake and back to the sauna again. There are many games to play in the evenings or chat with the artists in residence. The five days went too fast. Thank you Chulitna Lodge- we hope to be back!
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had an incredible time here with about 20 people for a retreat. Denali was seen the whole time, the northern lights were dancing, and the host was superb. Very comfortable, very hospitable, lots of amenities. Sauna, several docks, an airstrip, and they took us on tours of the property on ATVs.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
Room Tip:Â Think of this place as a large, rustic themed hotel. They have everything for you, this is not...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Chulitna Lodge August 29 to September 2 2021. The setting is ideal for a relaxing private getaway in a beautiful National Park right on the shores of Lake Clark. We welcomed the quiet and solitude. All aspects of our stay were outstanding — the location is gorgeous, the resort is well managed, our room was very comfortable, the staff were friendly and attentive (and very interesting to talk to and get to know), and as a memorable bonus all the meals were at a gourmet level. The logistics in terms of getting to and from Anchorage, and for our excursion to see caribou were all arranged flawlessly.
We would definitely go back. Highly recommend
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I was planning my Alaska trip primarily to see Polar Bears and watch the Grizzlies up-close during the Salmon run. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon Chulitna Lodge and I am so glad I did!
Steve and Mara helped me plan my entire Alaska trip, everything from kayaking in Seward, to flightseeing and watching bears in Katmai and Polar Bears up in the Arctic circle in Barter Island.
The Lodge itself was amazing. The staff was very friendly. The food was outstanding. I stayed there for 3 nights and loved every minute of it. The view from the lodge is stunning. The hot water showers in the cold weather were very welcome. And they also have a Sauna! I enjoyed the tradition of getting really hot in the Sauna and then jumping in the freezing river and then running back in to the Sauna and repeat. And did I mention that they have fantastic chefs (Jacob and Sid). With all the natural beauty and wilderness, last thing I expected was to be blown away by the mouth watering, delicious dinners. I was lucky to have clear skies in the night and I saw half a dozen shooting stars and numerous satellites. Steve is very knowledgeable and friendly. He took me on a Jet boating tour and fishing. It was a great experience.
If you want to experience Alaskan wilderness and get a taste of the bush life, highly recommend spending a few days at Chulitna Lodge! I hope to be back again soon.
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Date of stay: September 2018
Value
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Steve S, Owner at Chulitna Lodge Wilderness Retreat
Responded Sep 16, 2018
I am so glad you had such a great trip! I love those phone calls where someone basically says, "Steve, show me Alaska." I hope to see you again, and would love to share Kaktovik pics with you as well. There is little that inspires us more at Chulitna than seeing in the eyes of those who visit here, a respect and awe for the beauty and bounty this land has to offer. Thank you for furthering our resolve!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What made our trip to Chulitna Wilderness Lodge so wonderful? Location, location, location, and staff, staff, staff. We were immediately treated as one of the family with the staff -- eating together, hiking together, enjoying the incredible wild country of Lake Clark together. All of the staff are artists, practicing a diverse array of mediums, and it was an absolute joy to spend time with creative, fun, and energetic souls. Excellent fly fishing on the nearby Kijik River, and do not miss hiking the only two maintained trails in the park -- both are strenuous, but the views on a clear day are well worth the effort. The lodge itself has an interesting history, and the place just feels like an Alaska homestead. Accommodations are glamping -- more than enough creature comforts given its wilderness location. Oh -- and the food was outstanding. Byron, the New Orleans chef, rocked it.
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Date of stay: September 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would recommend Chulitna lodge for people seeking to disconnect in a remote and community atmosphere, with the intention of fishing or going on multiple day trips and who are comfortable with rustic accommodations. While the staff was very friendly, it lacked some of the comfort and professionalism we would have expected for the price paid.
What we enjoyed about our trip: + remote area with beautiful landscapes (including even the hour flight through the mountains and glaciers to reach Lake Clark) + community atmosphere, with friendly staff and artist residents as well as dinners shared with all other guests at the main table + guidance and knowledge shared by Steve, who knows very well the area
What we were disappointed by: - average comfort level, especially having been lodged in a rustic (and not luxurious) cabin, with beds which were too short for us (bearing in mind that I am 5'2'' // 1m59) and which was cluttered (inside, with stored boxes showing from the mezzanine, and outside, with plastic in front of the cabin) - limited professionalism, which included lack of timeliness on multiple occasions (e.g., showing up at 19h despite a 18h-18h30 planned meeting time) and no apology/ compensation for the various ways the lodge did not deliver on what is claims (esp. lack of gourmet food and beer brewed on site mentioned below) - lack of gourmet food, although we should mention that there was no chef at the time on site; which we were only informed of on the 3rd day of our stay and for which we did not get any compensation; there was also no more beer brewed on site, so we did not get to enjoy the local beer and were on top of that charged a premium for the IPA beer cans they had available (3$ vs. 2$ mentioned)
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Date of stay: July 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Steve S, Manager at Chulitna Lodge Wilderness Retreat
Responded Aug 5, 2018
Hi Jess, I am so saddened to hear of any disappointments you may have had. We had such a lovely hike into the mountains here together, saw lots of wildlife, ate wild fauna, and you were shown incredible vistas! It certainly seems the exception that people are not completely thrilled with their trip, but I will do my best to take your words to heart and use them as an opportunity for growth. We are constantly searching for ways to improve! I have to say though, I am a bit surprised, especially considering the lengths we went to squeeze you in at last minute notice. Our biggest and most consistent praises tend to be the incredible comfort level afforded to our guests. Specifically, the praises most often sited in customer comments happen to be the exact things you seem most dissatisfied with. The 4 most often sited positive comments are: 1 - Our Mattresses (funny, but true, that is our number one praise) 2 - Our Food 3 - Our Cabins 4 - Our Professionalism/Customer Service No-one is prefect, and the one thing I do see in your comments I wish to directly address is that there was no apology for picking you up late with the boat. I wish to apologize for that now, and to explain that due to weather, it can be difficult to boat in large waves. That was a particular wavy day and was very difficult for me to cross to come get you. Alaska can be like that at times, the weather is very much a part of our daily rhythm. Apologies for anything about your trip that was not perfect. Hope so much of it was fantastic and that you got what you were looking for in a wilderness experience. And mostly, the absolute best of wishes to you Jess for the future, Steve
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Port Alsworth area.
LOCATION
United StatesAlaskaLake and Peninsula BoroughPort Alsworth
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
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