Winterlake Lodge - Alaska Fly Out
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WINTERLAKE LODGE

ALASKA RANGE

Quick Facts

  • Price

    Closed until 2026

  • Trip Starting Point

    Anchorage, Alaska

  • Lodge Type

    Adventure Lodge | Wilderness Lodge | Luxury Lodge

  • Capacity

    18 Guests

  • Location

    Alaska Range

Description & Activities

Situated near the western edge of the Alaska Range, Winterlake Lodge offers seclusion and spectacular scenery. Views of the Trimble Glacier and the beginnings of the Rainy Pass are visible from the lake. It is is located 198 trail miles northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, along Alaska's historic Iditarod Trail. The lodge sits on 15 acres, overlooking a finger-shaped 2-mile lake where they land by floatplane in the summer and ski plane in the winter. Winterlake Lodge offers five guest cabins, nestled along a mile-long lake that is home to nesting loons and swans. A main lodge sits near the middle of the property. Kayaks and boats are available to explore the lake. Winterlake Lodge is open during the winter and is situated by the Finger Lake checkpoint along the Iditarod Trail. Winter adventure packages are available from January 20 to April 30.

Winterlake offers the opportunity to explore the dramatic mountain life that dominates us to the west. Utilizing their on-site helicopter, you can visit their glacier dog camp, hike along vast and endless ridges, raft a stunning river, or fly-fish for rainbow trout or wild salmon. Enjoy the Winterlake Lodge rustic luxury ambience on the edge of nowhere. Behind the lodge, Wolverine Mountain offers intriguing hiking, helicopter-assisted trekking, and wildlife viewing. There are many species of Alaska birds, wildflowers and berries that are difficult to see in other locales. The lodge also offers a wellness program featuring complimentary massage and yoga classes, daily cooking classes, cheese tastings, and more. At Winterlake Lodge, they utilize the Robinson R-44 helicopter to access endless surrounding streams and lakes. Sometimes they float-fish for the day down a favorite river. A field-experienced guide always accompanies you and they offer quality equipment for guest use.

Lodge Details

The main lodge, where guests socialize and take meals, sits near the middle of the property. There is a comfortable main room for relaxing by the fire and viewing the lake from the large picture windows, a dining area and large kitchen for the preparation of their award-winning Alaskan regional cuisine.

In addition, the main lodge has a spacious bar where they offer wine tastings and evening appetizers, a wellness room where the wellness instructor offers daily yoga, meditation and stretching classes, a hot tub on the deck with a view of the Tordrillo Mountains in the summer and northern lights in winter, as well as a game area with Ping-Pong and darts.

Winterlake Lodge offers 5 distincly different, private cabins. With each having amazing views of the surrounding environment it is hard to go wrong. Choose from the Trapper, Red Lake Trail, Iditarod, Mountain Pass, or Happy River Cabins.

Dining Program

Winterlake Lodge employs a talented chef team that works hard to prepare approachable but intriguing meals that will bring you closer to Alaska and its foodways. ​The culinary team at Winterlake Lodge will forage daily for wild edibles, sea vegetables, herbs, berries and mushrooms. They serve only Alaska wild fish and seek out Alaska farmers and purveyor partners. They weave wild elements into the rustic modern lodge cuisine.

The lodge welcomes dietary restrictions, food allergies, gluten-free, vegan and special requests to the best of our abilities.

Sample Itinerary

3-Day / 3-Night Trip
  • Day 1

    You will be met at your hotel for a complimentary transfer service by the air taxi to Lake Hood. Depart Anchorage at 9:00 a.m. (Departure time is customizable) for a scenic float-plane flight to Winterlake Lodge. You will depart from Lake Hood, the world’s largest floatplane lake and land at Winterlake, the location of an Iditarod checkpoint. Winterlake is situated approximately one hour by air northwest of Anchorage. There are opportunities to see Mount McKinley en route.

    Check in to your cabin and join your hosts Kirsten and Carl Dixon at the main Lodge for a brief orientation to the activities and facilities at the lodge, then plan your days with your guides. Options include hike the Iditarod Trail, canoe or kayak around Winterlake, extended hike to Red Lake, fish for arctic grayling, massage, take a hot tub, yoga classes, cooking class in the kitchen.

    Luncheon is served at 1:00 p.m. in the main room. After lunch, take a tour of neighboring waters via helicopter and possibly some fishing in a neighboring stream. At the lodge, join the Winterlake staff for a stretch class, dog-lot tour, garden tour, or leisurely walk along the Iditarod Trail. In the late afternoon, they offer a cooking class in the kitchen with Kirsten, wine tasting in the main lodge bar area, and dinner at 7:00 p.m. After dinner, there is an evening education program on Alaska in the wellness room or fly-casting lessons on the lake.

  • Day 2

    Early morning gentle yoga class at 7:00 a.m. (optional). Breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m.

    After breakfast, meet your helicopter pilot and guide for a day-long adventure outing via our Robinson R-44 helicopter. One option, fly to a majestic glacier and take a lesson in dog mushing, or float down our nearby trophy rainbow trout river for the day. Enjoy Fly-fishing, wildlife viewing and hiking. In the afternoon, you may like lunch on the river or back at the lodge – your choice.

    End your day of adventure with a nice soak in the hot tub and a dip in the lake!

  • Day 3

    Join the morning yoga class in the Winterlake beautiful wellness room with views of the surrounding Tordrillo mountains. Breakfast is served at 8:00 a.m.

    Today, go on a leisurely hike to the saddle of Wolverine Ridge. Or, if you are up for an adventure, trek all the way to the summit for stunning views of Denali, the Tremble and Hayes glaciers and the entire valley.

    Enjoy a gourmet lunch at the lodge served at 1:00 p.m. – homemade snacks are available at all times.

    Dinner is served in the main lodge at 7:00 p.m. with activities available before and after dinner.

  • Day 4

    After breakfast, return to Anchorage via float plane arriving at 9:00 a.m. Winterake Lodge will arrange transportation to your Anchorage hotel or airport.

Travel Details

How to get there

Winterlake Lodge is located one hour northwest of Anchorage by small plane. The lodge serves as the Finger Lake Checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail along the edge of the Alaska Range.

You will fly via small floatplane into the Alaska backcountry to reach Winterlake Lodge. Guests are transported to the lodge utilizing Rust’s Flying Service, located at Lake Hood, near the Ted Stevens International Airport. You may fly in a variety of aircraft such as -206’s, DeHavilland Beavers and DeHavilland Otters. All flights to and from the lodge are arranged by Winterlake Lodge.

Rates & Package Options

  • ***Closed until 2026 ***

What’s Included

  • Accommodations in a private cabin
  • Three plated meals and appetizer hour
  • Customized guide service
  • One out-camp excursion every two days
  • Yoga
  • Hot tub and sauna
  • Cooking classes
  • Use of all adventure gear
  • House wine and beer

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What’s Not Included

• Fishing licenses
• Some alcoholic beverages
• Round-trip flight to Winterlake Lodge from Anchorage

Rates are based on double occupancy and are subject to change