Princess Wilderness Lodge | Fireplace | Mt McKinley

Denali View, Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is in Denali National Park about 2 hours south of the village at the entrance to Denali National Park. Princess Cruises owns the lodge and it’s busy with Princess Cruises land tours. However, others can book rooms online, subject to availability. We loved the Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. The lodge is set on a hillside intentionally chosen for the view of Mt McKinley, which is known as Denali to the native people. The 3 story open frame log construction foyer seats more than 60 people. The windows and deck face the mountain. Unfortunately the 20,000 foot Denali peak was shrouded in cloud. Staff indicated clouds had been covering Mt McKinley for nearly the entire month of June.

Fireplace, Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge – Fireplace

The lodge has a 3 story stone wood-burning fireplace that has a crackling fire going in rainy weather. The fireplace is decorated with snowshoes, fishing poles and furs, which made the setting warm and cozy. The Mt McKinley Lodge also has a coffee shop, a cafe, a bar and a restaurant in the lodge. Dress is casual at all these locations. We chose to eat at the restaurant and enjoyed an excellent New York steak, roast potatoes and broccoli. The setting and the meal were fabulous. Can’t recommend the desert though. We spent hours relaxing by the fireplace, using the free wireless internet and glancing out to see if the mountain might grant us a glimpse. A great way to spend a vacation!

Card Game, Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge – Second Visit

On our return trip to Anchorage from Denali, we made a second visit to the lodge. The Denali peak was out in full view for our second visit and it was spectacular. Have a meal on the patio in the sun and enjoy the view without getting up from your seat. Later on we experienced an earthquake that shook the building, but caused no reaction among the staff. The Mt McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge was my favorite part of the trip to Denali. I must admit though that the best part was sitting by the fire in the rain and glancing at the clouds to see if the mountain might reveal itself.