Alaska's Black Bear & Blueberries

Every year we look forward to a few key things here at Caribou Lodge Alaska that signal the seasons.

The bird migration is a refreshing sign of spring.

Cow moose move in closer around the lodge and use the open tundra as a nursery as they raise their calves, and that is a sure sign that summer has arrived.

But one of the biggest signs for us that summer is almost over is every August after the millions of blueberries ripen and instinctively the black bear know that it is time to pack on as many extra calories as they can before they head into the hills and begin hibernation. 

Black bear will spend more than 20 hours per day eating berries and only take brief naps between feedings just to make sure they get as fat as possible. It has been recorded that a black bear will consume up to 20 pounds (9 kg) of berries in one day.  

As completely wild animals black bear are never to be trusted or approached, which is why we never guide a hike without bear spray and a firearm for protection of our group. But as long as there are no young cubs around these bears just want to be left alone and also do a great job to leave us alone as they are just busy eating almost non-stop! 

A large boar black bear forages for berries just a few hundred yards from our hiking trail 

Why You Should Visit Caribou Lodge Alaska & How To Get Here

Caribou Lodge Alaska is located only 20 air miles from the Denali National Park boundary. We have many of the same wildlife species around the lodge that people enjoy inside the park while on a tour bus, including moose, caribou, grizzly bear, black bear, and many species of birds. The main difference between a Denali Park experience and a Caribou Lodge experience is the number of annual visitors. While over 600,000 tourists visit the park in a span of about 90 days, we host approximately 200 guests at Caribou Lodge per year, truly making a visit here a Denali experience without the crowds. We love Denali park, but for some folks, it's just far too crowded to really enjoy the experience.

Caribou Lodge Alaska is the only remote wilderness lodge outside the park with an unobstructed view of the highest mountain in North America. Denali rises up over 20,000 feet and is easily seen from our lodge only 75 miles away.

For any visitor to Alaska, the float plane is such an iconic symbol of access into true wilderness. Here at Caribou Lodge, we are only accessible by float plane in the summer. So to experience an off-grid, remote wilderness lodge - where your transportation to and from the city is a float plane - is an amazing experience in and of itself.

If you are interested in the local flora and fauna of south central Alaska, Caribou Lodge is the perfect place to stop and enjoy the unique plants and animals of this region. Many types of migratory birds come to our location every summer, from tundra swans to Wilson's warblers and so many in between. This is truly a birding paradise. For the wildflower enthusiast, there is no shortage of photography opportunities of all the beautiful plants here on the alpine tundra. (See our blog about Alaska wildflowers)

These are just a few amazing reasons (besides the primary activities posted on our website HERE) why we think you would really enjoy it here at our family-owned and operated lodge. If this seems like a great fit for you or your whole group, we look forward to hearing from you soon! Don't hesitate. We only book 3 cabins at a time June - September, and groups no larger than 6 - 8 people. (Two guests per cabin, plus additional beds for families if desired)

HOW TO GET HERE

Planning your trip to Alaska can be challenging enough, but trying to determine how to get from Anchorage to the middle of nowhere to visit a wilderness lodge can seem downright daunting! So I hope to have explained it here in a way that helps you understand how easy it really is to get here.

-First things first....
We schedule flights to the lodge for 10:00 AM if you are driving yourself, and 11:30 AM if you are arriving in Talkeetna by train.
If you do not plan to make it to Talkeetna in the morning, please let us know. We may be able to set up an afternoon flight to the lodge or will be happy to recommend a place to stay overnight in Talkeetna before your arrival at Caribou Lodge. Do this soon, because accommodations in Talkeetna book up fast!

-After you have arrived in Anchorage, the next step is to decide how you would like to get to Talkeetna, a 2½ hour drive north of Anchorage.

Your options for getting to Talkeetna are:
1: Rental car
2: The Alaska Railroad train
3: Shuttle bus
4: Fly directly to Caribou Lodge from Anchorage. (Very expensive option, but we are happy to coordinate this)

-Once you've booked your stay here months in advance, we will coordinate the air taxi service from Talkeetna to Caribou Lodge, which is one less thing you have to worry about.

-After your arrival in Talkeetna (unless you chose option #4), there are two options for the day of your stay at Caribou Lodge.
1: Park your rental car at the float plane office FOR FREE on the morning of your flight.
2: Let us know where you're staying in Talkeetna the night before, and we can coordinate a shuttle to bring you to the float plane office.

(Also, check out THIS PAGE of our website for more details on flights to our lodge)

We hope you find this information helpful and encouraging during your trip planning process. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any additional questions.
You can reach us by:

Phone:  1 (907) 733-2163

E-mail:  info@cariboulodgealaska.com

or Facebook: facebook.com/cariboulodgealaska

We hope to see you here!

Caribou Lodge Alaska Photo Tour

We have only owned the lodge for 4 years, but have already made so many great memories with people from literally all over the world.  Mike & Pam (the original owners) didn't have the amazing photography technology during the 1990's and early 2000's, so we prioritized a nice Cannon Rebel camera and a very expensive zoom lens to go with it. That investment has paid off as we have gotten some great photos over the past few years.  

Our goal is to help people connect with nature, and unplug from their crazy lives. I hope you see that in these photos. A genuine look at my family running a wilderness lodge, hiking, camping and feeding people some of the best home cooked meals this side of the Canadian border.