Alaska Wildland Adventures is the proud owner and operator of three wilderness lodges on the Kenai Peninsula: Kenai Riverside Lodge, Kenai Backcountry Lodge and Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge. While we love exploring this region in southcentral Alaska, we also want to give our visitors the chance to visit one of the most iconic parts of Alaska, Denali National Park, home to the Big 5 wildlife, unbeatable vistas and, of course, the iconic mountain herself. We are proud to partner with Tonglen Lake Lodge near Denali National Park to host our visitors when they travel north to interior Alaska. Located on beautiful Tonglen Lake and away from the busy park entrance, this sweet lodge is the perfect place to explore the wilderness of Alaska in a beautiful and calm setting.
Tonglen Lake Lodge was founded by local fine artist and owner, Donna Gates. Donna first came to Alaska in the summer of 1980 for a job in Denali National Park and ended up deciding to make our beautiful state home. She has lived on the edge of Tonglen Lake since 1981. Inspired by her many years of living an off-the-grid lifestyle and raising a family, in 2012 Donna began turning five acres of land into Tonglen Lake Lodge, completing the project in 2013.
Tonglen Lake Lodge, including the main lodge, cabins and cafe, is a celebration of handcrafted talent by local artisans. Beautiful artistic finishes and attention to detail, including the railings, pottery, and stained glass windows, complete this endeavor. Similar to the cabin lodging at our AWA properties, Tonglen Lake Lodge has 11 secluded, Alaskan-style cabins tucked into the woods. They are both charmingly rustic and luxurious so that visitors enjoy comfort and quality alongside a wilderness experience. In the evening, visitors can enjoy a rotation of optional activities, which may include local nature walks, yoga, evening art and music events, Native Alaskan cultural presentations and more.
Denali National Park abounds with things to see and do. Our longer all-inclusive adventures, the 11-Day Grand Adventure and the 9-Day Grand Adventure, both spend time hiking in Denali National Park’s beautiful front country, learning about the Park’s history, ecology and geology; traveling deeper into the park on an interpretive bus tour starting from the Denali Visitors Center, with ample opportunities to spot wildlife, including eagles, grizzlies and moose; and visiting Alaskan sled dogs, learning about their spot in Alaska’s history and important roles in remote Alaska communities. And even if you only have a week of vacation time, our popular 7-Day Alaska Coast to Denali Adventure also includes two full nights at Tonglen Lake Lodge and is a wonderful way to see this iconic area!
Many images in this post are courtesy of Tonglen Lake Lodge. More information about the Lodge can be found by visiting their website. Explore more information about Denali National Park by visiting the National Park Service’s website.