At over four million acres, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve is one of the least visited park units. Less than 20,000 people visit the park each year. We decided to visit Lake Clark in Summer 2024 during our southern Alaska tour. There are a few privately owned lodges within the park, mostly in Port Alsworth. We picked Redoubt Mountain Lodge on Crescent Lake, in a very remote area of the park.

The only way to get to Lake Clark is by air. The 70 minute flight from Lake Hood Seaplane Base in Anchorage was included in the cost of staying at Redoubt Mountain Lodge. Seaplanes are small and with the addition of the remote location of the lodge, fights are weather dependent. On the morning that we were supposed to leave, there was a pretty bad rain storm that delayed us for several hours. However, we finally managed to get out once the rain and fog cleared.

Our flight was with Trail Ridge Air. The base of operations is at the seaplane base right by Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage. We found the folks at Trail Ridge Air to be very professional and helpful. It is important to know that you are limited to 40 pounds of luggage per person when you fly with Trail Ridge. Since we were only there for three nights, we did not find this to be a problem. Trail Ridge will also allow you a place to store your luggage, if you have extra bags.

The flight to Crescent Lake was impressive. The flight takes you over Cook Inlet and the Chigmit Mountains. The views are outstanding and the Trail Ridge pilots point out as much as they can. Trail Ridge Air and Redoubt Mountain Lodge offer day trip for bear viewing, but we went for a three night stay in the lodge instead.

Why Redoubt Mountain Lodge

There is not really one single reason why we picked Redoubt as our lodge of choice. We originally came across it on Instagram and just kept following it. We like Redoubt because of its beautiful and remote location. We also wanted a place that was all inclusive with special meals and nice lodging. Redoubt also offers a wide range of activities, all centered around exploring this special part of Alaska. We were excited about this trip from the moment we booked it, but we knew we made the right choice as we started to land at the lodge and got to see where we would be staying.

What to Expect

There are so many great things to expect when visiting Redoubt Mountain Lodge.

A guide dedicated just to your party

• Each day you have a guide dedicated to you. Your guide will spend several hours with you each day. A few hours after breakfast and then a few more hours after lunch. Our guide, Brandon, was great. He tailored our experience to our love of exploring and wildlife viewing. We were led on hikes, boat rides, bear viewing, and salmon fishing. We also found the guides to be very knowledgeable. Brandon told us about different plants, animals, and the surrounding area. We normally do not like going fishing. However, Brandon convinced us to try it during the summer salmon run. It was an amazing experience that we really look back on fondly. The guides at Redoubt are one of the many things that make this place so special.

A comfortable cabin

• Redoubt Mountain Lodge is small. Less than fifteen visitors are at the lodge at a given time. Comfortable cabins and a cozy main lodge make up the grounds, that the guests have access to. We found our cabin to be clean and comfortable. A private shower and comfortable bed is in each cabin. Each cabin also offers a great view of Lake Crescent and the surrounding mountains.

Delicious cooked meals

• All of the meals at Redoubt are made fresh. Many are made with ingredients that are found in the local area. From specially made coffee drinks in the morning, to freshly made salads and sandwiches at lunch, and delicious gourmet meals at dinner you will not go hungry. You can tell that the staff love taking care of their guests and sharing the highest quality with them. Meals are all served in the central lodge which provides a great opportunity to interact with the other guests and hear about their adventures each day.

Solitude and beauty

• We have been lucky enough to visit so many beautiful places within the United State. Lake Crescent is one of the most beautiful areas we have ever visited. We loved that it was quiet, wild, and pristine. Other than the lodge buildings, you will get to experience untouched Alaska wilderness.

Won’t be disappointed

We loved every minute of our trip to Redoubt Mountain Lodge to visit Lake Clark. We would go back in minute, and are already saving to return. You will be well treated and provided with endless opportunities for outdoor adventures.

For more travel stories and tips, stay tuned to Wild Path Wanderings. Also, check out the Moon and Fodor’s Travel Alaska Guide Books that we used help plan our trip. Let Glacier Bay’s untamed beauty inspire your next adventure!

For this trip I used Osprey Stratos 34L Daypack. This pack was big enough to pack all our of our needed supplies, but also small enough to use as a carry-on. I have smaller pack too, but found this was the perfect size to carry our camera, lens, binoculars, and some layers.

You can’t visit Lake Clark without having a good camera. We use the Sony Alpha Mirrorless Camera.

Bring a good rain coat. I love my Marmot GoreTex Rain Jacket.

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