Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
The Princess lodge built for the view of Denali itself. What to expect, where to eat and how to make the most of a night or two in Denali State Park.
A front-row seat to the mountain
The whole lodge points at Denali. The Great Room has a huge stone fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Alaska Range, and the deck outside is where everyone gathers with a coffee or a local beer when the peak comes out. On a clear day you see the mountain from base to summit, with Mount Foraker and Mount Hunter alongside.
Guest rooms sit in separate buildings along wooded paths, with a free shuttle looping the property from early morning until late evening. There’s nothing else around, so this is a lodge for slowing down: naturalist talks, mountaineering stories in the Hudson Theater, s’mores at the fire pit and a walk up to the treehouse.
Inside the stay
Where to eat
North Fork is the dressier choice, with a vaulted timber ceiling, mountain views, a plated breakfast and Alaska seafood and steaks at dinner (reservations recommended). The 20,320 Alaskan Grill, named for the mountain’s old height, is the biggest restaurant, with a breakfast buffet and casual lunch and dinner. Base Camp Bar & Grill does burgers and fish and chips next to the deck, and Coffee Bruin Espresso opens early for coffee and grab-and-go breakfast.
The rooms & grounds
Rooms are mountain-lodge simple: two queens or one king, a desk, coffee maker and a shower-tub combo. Princess passes along bed requests but can’t guarantee them, and you can’t pre-book a specific view. The Great Room, deck and Fireside Patio are where the views are. Wi-Fi is available across the property, and laundry machines are in several guest buildings.
Things to do
The free stuff is good here: daily naturalist programs, talks by Denali climbers, the Cliff Hudson bush plane outside the Hudson Theater, a playground and four marked trails, including the steeper Treehouse Trail up to a lookout built by the Treehouse Masters team. A daily shuttle runs to the town of Talkeetna for a small fee if you want an afternoon of bakeries, shops and climbing history.
Out & about
Flightseeing with a glacier landing is the signature trip in this area, along with jet boats, rafting and floats on the Chulitna and Talkeetna rivers, kayaking and hiking in Denali State Park, a zipline, horse-drawn wagon rides, gold panning, fishing and an Iditarod sled dog kennel. Book through Princess or your advisor ahead of time; weather can cancel flights, and Princess refunds weather-cancelled tours.
Tours that stay here
- Princess 2027 and 2028 cruisetours
- How long. 1 to 2 nights here, most often 1 night.
- Want more time here? Some tours add an extra night. Tell your advisor and we’ll find the version that fits.
From our founderInside the lodge
Keep in mind the mountain doesn’t pop out each and every single day.
Select cruisetours do offer 2 nights at this lodge if you want to give yourself an extra chance at seeing it.
Watch the lodge tourBefore you go
- The mountain is a maybe. Denali makes its own weather and hides in cloud on many days. Guests who stay here often tell us to check the deck first thing in the morning and again in the evening, since a gap in the clouds can come at any time. The lodge also offers a mountain alert by phone.
- Plan to eat on site. The lodge is remote, so all your meals will be at the lodge restaurants unless you’re in Talkeetna for the day. Book North Fork for dinner when you arrive.
- Your ship packages stay on the ship. Ship dining and beverage packages don’t apply on the land portion of any cruisetour, with any cruise line. Lodge meals and drinks are pay as you go unless your tour includes them, and Princess sells pre-paid land meal plans you can add up to 14 days before departure.
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