Alaska Cruises: Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge
Bordering the south side of Denali National Park near the Chulitna River, the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge® is a splendid wilderness retreat, with cozy places to unwind with friends, nature trails, gift shops and authentic dining venues like 20,320 Alaskan Grill, named for the elevation of Mt. McKinley, North America’s tallest peak.
The lodge’s spacious Great Room and outside wood deck provide the perfect setting to unwind and look out on majestic Mt. McKinley. And there are a variety of ways to explore the inviting wilderness up close on optional land excursions, like flightseeing, river rafting and fishing.
From the moment you arrive at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, you know you're somewhere special.
Alaska Wilderness Amenities
You accommodations include a comfortable guest room with lofty, nine-foot ceilings with fans and a sitting area to relax. The Great Room truly lives up to its name with an impressive stone fireplace, cozy sofas and chairs, and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows to soak in the dramatic scenery.
Alaskan Dining
Anytime you travel with Princess Cruises, you're sure to sample outstanding cuisine in remarkable settings. The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge carries on that tradition with a dining experience for every taste. Enjoy sophisticated cuisine and panoramic views in the Mountain View Restaurant or casual fare in the Grizzly Lounge. Try the Twenty-320 Alaskan Grill, named after the elevation of Mt McKinley, for a casual atmosphere.
Alaska Land Excursions
At our Mt. McKinley lodge, it’s all about the mountain. You can soar over this towering peak on a flightseeing tour and even land on a glacier. Or explore Denali by horseback, ATV, boat, helicopter or by foot.
Click below to view excursions that interest you most.
Nature Hikes & Scenic Tours
Byers Lake Nature Walk – Experience Alaska’s incredible beauty on a two-mile nature walk in Denali State Park, with magnificent views of Byers Lake and perhaps even Mt. McKinley. Learn about the flora and fauna from an expert naturalist and explore the historic log cabin of a wilderness family.
Denali Wilderness Hike – Explore Alaska’s spectacular wilderness on an exhilarating trek with an experienced naturalist guide. Hike through lush vegetation along forested trails while your guide tells you about the local history and wildlife of the area.
McKinley Wilderness Trail Ride – Enjoy a guided horseback ride through the Alaska wilderness on mountain trails as a guide directs you to majestic views of Mt. McKinley, glaciers and the surrounding peaks of the Alaska Range.
Helicopter & Flightseeing Tours
Glacier Landing Explorer Tour – Your amazing flightseeing tour of the Alaska Range is highlighted by a spectacular landing on the Ruth Glacier in Sheldon Amphitheater. You’ll be awe-struck by the views, 5,600 feet above sea level.
McKinley Discovery Tour – Soar to places you can only imagine. Fly by the south face of Mt. McKinley, Mt. Foraker and Mt. Hunter before crossing over the Kahiltna Glacier, the longest glacier in Denali National Park. Descend into immense Sheldon Amphitheater through Great Gorge, the deepest gorge in the world.
Rafting, Fishing & Boating
Alaska Sportfishing – Board a jet boat or raft and travel to a secluded spot to fish in the shadow of Mt. McKinley for salmon, trout, grayling and more. Your guide will offer fishing instruction and tips and take you to the best fishing holes in the area.
Byers Lake Paddle Trip – Come see the beauty of Byers Lake as you glide through tranquil waters on single or tandem Sit-On-Top kayaks. Start your tour with brief and easy paddle instruction then embark on one of the most beautiful experiences in Alaska. Take pictures of the breathtaking views of Denali and the Alaska Mountain Range.
Chulitna River Rafting – This four-hour rafting adventure floats through 20 miles of untouched wilderness in search of wildlife. You’ll float past active eagle nests and through the habitat of bear, moose, wolf and beaver with Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range in view.
Devil’s Canyon Adventure – This tour takes you 130 miles into the National Wild River Park of “Devil’s Gorge,” where you’ll experience the unforgettable thrill of an Alaska river experience on a fully enclosed vessel. Along the way, you will visit an authentic trapper’s cabin, learn about early Alaskan Indians and enjoy lunch on the river.
Talkeetna River Float Trip – Take a leisurely two-hour float on the Talkeetna River, gliding though the serene wilderness as your guide points out bear, moose, beaver and spectacular Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range.
Three Rivers Tour – Board the McKinley Queen Jet boat for a thrilling 60-mile river cruise on the Talkeetna, Susitna and Chulitna Rivers en route to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of Mt. McKinley, visit an authentic trapper’s cabin and Native Alaskan encampment.
Wilderness Jet Boat Adventure – Board the 55-passenger Talkeetna Queen and speed 200 miles into the Alaska wilderness in comfort while looking for wildlife and spectacular scenery. You’ll also enjoy a nature hike and a visit to an authentic trapper cabin to learn how early Alaskans lived in the “bush.”
Four-Wheel-Drive Tours
Alaskan Culture & Heritage
Historical Gold Panning Adventure – Visit the Trapper Creek Museum and learn how to pan for gold as you travel down the historic corridor of South Denali. You’ll meet modern-day gold miners and learn about mining and its storied history.
Horse-Drawn Wagon Ride – Experience the only horse-drawn covered wagon ride that provides spectacular views of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. You learn about the history and geology of the area at an open-pit bonfire, get a chance to gold pan and visit with reindeer.
Iditarod Sled Dog Kennel Tour – Discover everything you’ve always wanted to know about the grueling Iditarod. Meet musher Bill Hall for an in-depth look at the sport and see a demonstration by a team of sled dogs, as well as receive sled dog souvenirs.
Sun Dog Kennels – Learn about the history of Talkeetna and sled dog racing as you visit the rustic log home of champion sprint musher Kathleen Holden and Iditarod musher Gerald Sousa. You’ll learn about the training program and see a demonstration by a team of sled dogs.
Trapper Creek Homestead Tour – Visit an authentic homestead for a glimpse at the lifestyle of early settlers in untamed Alaska. Take a walking tour to see the garden and livestock areas and visit with an original homestead family.
How to Book Princess Land Excursions
Pre-Reserving a Princess optional land excursion is simple and by doing so, you’ll ensure your spot on the tours that interest you most. Plus we take care of all the details so you get the most out of your cruisetour.
Pre-Reserving a land excursion
- Review your cruisetour itinerary in the Cruise Personalizer®. Included is a list of land excursion options that are customized to best fit your itinerary with detailed information about each excursion. You may browse through these options or create a personalized brochure of your excursion options to save, print and/or review at your leisure.
- When you are ready to pre-reserve your land excursions, have your booking number and credit card information ready to enter. A credit card must be registered for each passenger that wishes to participate on a land excursion. Although a credit card is required to reserve your excursion(s), you may pre-reserve all of your land excursions with no deposit required. An auto-charge of all pre-reserved excursions will take place two days prior to your first land excursion booking. Confirmed pre-reserved excursions can be viewed at any time in your detailed itinerary in the Cruise Personalizer.
- The Cruise Personalizer will remain open until your cruisetour departure date so you may add or cancel tours prior to the cancellation deadline without penalty. Excursions cancelled once the auto-charge has been processed are subject to a 100% penalty. Note that excursion availability is based on cruisetour date, capacity limitations, and suitable weather conditions. Excursions are subject to change at any time and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are encouraged to book early as space is limited and flightseeing tours in particular may not be available for pre-reserving right up to tour departure date. Prior to travel, print your Travel Summary which will have a listing of all of your pre-reserved land excursions. You will also receive information on confirmed excursions in your Welcome Envelope upon arrival at each location.
Why choose a Princess Land Excursion?
Variety – A wide range of customized tours geared for all interests and activity levels, from less than an hour to all day immersions, so you can get the most out of your cruisetour. Availability – You can pre-reserve your tours through the Cruise Personalizer® to ensure your spot on the most popular tours. | Expertise - Each tour is led by experts, often residents of Alaska, who truly know the Great Land. Convenience - Princess organizes your tour so your time is maximized and worry-free. Peace of mind - All tours are carefully selected by Princess to ensure your safety | |||
Click below to see excursions available at other Princess locations:
Denali | Copper River | Kenai | Anchorage | Fairbanks
Learn More
- Alaska
- Alaska Cruises
- Alaska Cruisetours
- Why Take an Alaska Cruise Vacation?
- Ports & Excursions
- Ships to Alaska
Video
-
Experience Alaska
Watch Video (05:47) -
Alaska Lodges
Watch Video (04:00) -
The Heart of Alaska
-
New! Go North
Watch Video (02:07)
Related Information
- Onboard an Alaska Cruise Vacation
- Alaska Cruises: National Parks
- Alaska Cruises: Princess Wilderness Lodges
- Alaska Cruises: Princess rail service
- Extending Your Stay
- Land Excursions
-
2012 Alaska Overview Flyer
