Winter & Spring Adventures

Skiing and snowshoeing are available for anyone who wants to just walk out of the lodge and onto the trail. Our winter trails serve as guided access to the quartz-streaked bluff that dominates the eastern ridgeline far above the lodge.  Beginning, intermediate, and expert groomed trails provide quick access to some of the most pristine areas of the Alaska range.  Trail maps for unguided guests are available. Skiing and snowshoe equipment is available for rent for the unguided guests.

Northern Lights viewing begins in early fall in the Alaska Range. We can arrange outings now with Northern Lights photographers who teach you how to take photos of the Northern Lights and escort you on excursions to “Chase the Lights” late at night!

Forecasts of the Northern Lights can be found at the following websites:

• www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast
• spaceweather.com
• www.swpc.noaa.gov
• auroranotify.com (This comprehensive website has everything combined. They will also send “alerts” to your phone or other device to let you know it’s visible. Look for Coronal Mass Ejections!)

If the main focus of your visit is Northern Lights viewing, then a visit to the lodge during high forecast times is recommended.

The Aurora can be seen from many viewpoints at the lodge, with panoramic views, north and south from the dining area, decks, and the belvedere. The lodge is located “off grid” which means minimal artificial light interferes with viewing the aurora.

You can also be transported, via the Snowcoach or POD, to viewing sights near the lodge, including a mountaineering lodge located within one mile of our lodge. Evening rides and outings are frequent but do depend on weather conditions. Depending on the weather, we can arrange for a drive to “chase the lights” if the view is better north or south from the lodge.

Winter flying and adventures are amazing in Alaska! Come see glaciers and mountains in their truest form in winter! Spring ski adventures and glacier landings are beyond your wildest dreams! During a flightseeing adventure, we will land on glaciers where you can take your time exploring and taking in the views. When there is a good amount of snow, we also give you the option of taking you up for a backcountry skiing adventure!

Guests will experience what the trip to Fairbanks was really like in the gold rush days for residents of the Interior of Alaska. This experience will trade in the warmth of their van heater for the adventures that only dog mushing in the crisp winter air of Alaska can provide.

Whether it be dog mushing at kennels within 20 miles of the lodge or adventuring out to the Denali Highway, guests will be delighted by the perseverance and power of dogs pulling sleds through mountain passes, our adventures will bring this powerful mode of travel up close and personal. Dog teams are led by Yukon Quest winners, Iditarod racers and accomplished outdoorsmen and women, along with equally multi-talents chefs. Guests will have the opportunity to help steer dog sleds or ride snuggled under the warmth of Alaskan furs.

Guests will have opportunities to interact to meet and interact with dogs at the kennel, and at times dog mush under the northern lights.

Dog mushing to winter campout spots include a catered dinner and breakfast for one to two people and sleeping overnight in an arctic oven under the Northern Lights.

You are transported 30 miles south in the wide-open spaces above timberline on the south side of the Alaska Range. A guide leads only two quests at a time in one of the most pristine areas of Alaska. Depending on the amount of daylight, rides last from one to three hours.

Ah the wonder of ice… cold is our friend in Alaska. We enjoy ice skating on Black Rapids Lake, less than a quarter mile south of the lodge.  Our tiki torches light up parts of the lake where we often have large fires to roast marshmallows!  Experience an amazing walk on frozen crystal clear lakes, rivers and creek beds, or visit our waterfalls, about an hour snowshoe or hike from the lodge.