Summer Activities
June - September
Guided Hiking
Hiking in Alaska is one of the ultimate wilderness adventures, and Caribou Lodge is known best as a hiking destination.
During your stay we offer guided half-day hikes, full-day hikes, and overnight camping trips. As well as some customized
back-country trips. Click HERE for more info on our all-inclusive camping trips.
The only hiking trails around the lodge were carved out many years ago from large caribou herds, and we use them every day.
If we are not on an old caribou trail we are walking over untouched tundra which can be very wet sometimes, so come prepared with good hiking boots.
With custom-tailored options to accommodate anyone from the novice hiker to the experienced cross-country trekker, we have many trails and hiking opportunities, ranging from a 10 minute walk up Blueberry Hill for an unmatched view of Denali, to a multi-day back-country excursion deep in the heart of the majestic Talkeetna Mountains.
Our guided day trips include hiking to nearby lakes, plateaus, streams, or beaver ponds to observe the wildlife, or just enjoy the cool, pristine mountain air and bask in the scenery around you.
Whether you’re packing a lunch for a day hike or outfitting a pack with everything you’ll need for multiple days out in the Alaskan bush, you are going to have an adventure!
Camping
There is nothing quite like the simplicity of tent camping. For us, it's always great to see our guests turn off their cell phones, reconnect with nature, and head into the wilderness with us for some peace and quiet. If that sounds like your idea of a good time, then there is no better place to do it than the beautiful Alaskan wilderness. Let us handle all the logistics, and gear, so all that's left to do is enjoy the experience!
Camping above tree line on the rolling alpine tundra is a unique experience where views never end and blueberries are almost always underfoot. Along with one of our experienced naturalist guides and all the gear and food you’ll need, it is always our pleasure to guide you into the foothills of the Talkeetna mountains for as many days in the Alaskan wilderness as you see fit.
Loading up a frame pack for a trip into the backcountry is not for everyone. We require all guests to carry their own backpack which can be 25 - 40 lbs, and hike over open tundra with no trails. Please contact us with any questions about our camping trips, and check out some of our most popular, preset camping packages by clicking here.
Blueberry Picking
From late July through September, large portions of the tundra are blanketed with berry patches. We’ll show you the ones that are tasty and the ones you may want to stay away from. There are crow berries, watermelon berries, salmon berries, and low-brush cranberries just to name a few. But in our experience, nothing beats a batch of fresh picked blueberries to add to the hotcakes being cooked for breakfast!
Kayaking, Canoeing
& Fishing
Lake kayaking is a great experience for everyone, and very relaxing.
Most guests tell us that they have never been in a kayak before but that doesn't seem to stop most from trying it. We will help you get started and make sure you have a safe time out on the water.
If you have experience with kayaks then you know how easy they are to use, and we will just leave you alone to enjoy it.
The kayaking is unguided.
Our canoe, and 4 kayaks are at your disposal, and it would
be a shame to visit without paddling around the lake
to enjoy the scenery and perhaps see wildlife.
Fishing is an option here at the lake, but not something we are famous for. We have trout, but no salmon. We have basic tackle on site that you are welcome to use. A fishing license is required.
Wildlife Viewing
The abundance and diversity of wildlife in Alaska is one of the main reasons people visit our beautiful state.
Whether you’re an avid birder or more excited about the larger animal species, there is no doubt that Alaska's wildlife is on your “bucket list,” so make sure to bring your binoculars and a camera!
The area surrounding Talkeetna to Denali National Park is such a special place for wildlife viewing opportunities, and our guided tours are the best way to get onto the tundra and hiking through their natural habitat with a naturalist guide who knows the flora, fauna, and can safely guide you in bear country without feeling nervous about actually seeing one!
While a spot of luck and a lot of patience play a huge role in any wildlife viewing opportunity, you are almost sure to see some of the animals that call central Alaska home while on one of our guided wildlife viewing trips. Animals seen from the deck of the lodge or during a day hike, just to name a few, are moose, caribou, grizzly bear, black bear, wolves, beavers, swans, ducks, mergansers, etc.
Remember that if you visit Caribou Lodge, you will not see these animals from a tour bus window. You will not share this view with hundreds of other people all clicking their cameras and pushing you out of the way to get the best photo. Our lodge is NOT located in a national park; it is not a game preserve. Most of the animals viewed from or around the lodge have never seen a human being in their life. Thus, the organic, special feeling you get when you see an animal in its true natural habitat is an experience you will not soon forget.
Summer activities Caribou Lodge Alaska
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Relaxing Around the Lodge
If nothing from the list of activities seems to quite do it for you, and hiking and picking berries seems just a little too strenuous, there are always more relaxing things to do around the lodge. Strumming a guitar in the living room or on the deck, playing a round of horse shoes or bocce ball, roasting marshmallows over the campfire, a friendly game of cribbage, or grabbing a good book off the shelf... Whatever it is, we’d love to have you join us!