Truly a trip like no other! You will experience true, remote Alaska and all it has to offer. A dream vacation filled with helicopters, horses, remote log cabins, wildlife viewing and much more. All with the most beautiful backdrop you could imagine. Around every corner is a postcard view, but pictures just won't do it justice - You simply have to be there and feel it! Experience firsthand this ultimate wilderness excursion into the Alaska Mountain Range. Your trip includes five days at Rainy Pass Lodge facilities, helicopter rides, charter flights between the lodge and Anchorage and more. All meals, lodging and activities are included.
Your journey begins as your bush plane takes off from Anchorage. You'll cross Cook Inlet and fly West up the Susitna Valley with amazing views of Sleeping Lady (Mount Susitna) and if the weather allows you will have a stunning view of Mountain McKinley (Denali, North America's tallest mountain). Glaciers and wildlife are also regularly seen on your flight tour into the Alaska Mountain Range. After about an hour you will land at Alaska's oldest recreation lodge, Rainy Pass Lodge which was established in 1937 while Alaska was still a Territory.
Rainy Pass Lodge is located on Puntilla Lake in Ptarmigan Valley, a 3-5 mile wide glacial valley with mountains in every direction. The lodge is right at the top of tree line so you can experience a good mix of forest vegetation and open tundra for amazing scenery views.
Rainy Pass Lodge is located on Puntilla Lake in Ptarmigan Valley, a 3-5 mile wide glacial valley with mountains in every direction. The lodge is right at the top of tree line so you can experience a good mix of forest vegetation and open tundra for amazing scenery views.
The lodge is your well-appointed yet rustic-comfort base camp for all wilderness activities. You will be very comfortable and pleasantly surprised with first-class service throughout your stay. All activities and excursions are fully guided with a highly trained and knowledgeable Alaskan bush guide to provide you with top notch service, a memorable trip, and added safety during your wilderness expedition.
Lodge activities to enjoy during your stay may include:
- Watersports like ; Canoe, Kayak, Paddle Board, Motor Boat, tubing, swimming and water skiing
- Shooting activities like: .22 target shooting at pop-up silhouettes and an antique shooting gallery, clay pigeon shot gun shoot,
long range 100yd and 300yd target and gong shooting, as well as archery for all skill levels
- Yard games such as: axe-throw, volleyball, 3-hole putting green, driving range with floating golf balls and a floating hole-in-
one, horseshoes, bocce ball, can jam, corn hole and more
- Historical museum tour featuring Alaskan culture and museum grade artifacts from around the world
- Nature Hike with a carved log bench purposefully placed for a private viewing area of the West end of Puntilla Lake
- Floating Sauna for relaxing in the evening
- The Bridge at Squaw Creek to watch the salmon spawn, check for Grizzly tracks, and fish for Arctic Char.
- Two campfire pits for roasting marshmallows and re-telling of the days adventures
- Local micro brewery beer on-tap from Matanuska Brewery located in one of the social gathering areas were appetizers are
typically served
- Many other well placed sitting areas for taking in the majestic scenery views. Peaceful places to end your evening with a glass
of wine or start your morning with a hot cup of coffee
Lodge activities to enjoy during your stay may include:
- Watersports like ; Canoe, Kayak, Paddle Board, Motor Boat, tubing, swimming and water skiing
- Shooting activities like: .22 target shooting at pop-up silhouettes and an antique shooting gallery, clay pigeon shot gun shoot,
long range 100yd and 300yd target and gong shooting, as well as archery for all skill levels
- Yard games such as: axe-throw, volleyball, 3-hole putting green, driving range with floating golf balls and a floating hole-in-
one, horseshoes, bocce ball, can jam, corn hole and more
- Historical museum tour featuring Alaskan culture and museum grade artifacts from around the world
- Nature Hike with a carved log bench purposefully placed for a private viewing area of the West end of Puntilla Lake
- Floating Sauna for relaxing in the evening
- The Bridge at Squaw Creek to watch the salmon spawn, check for Grizzly tracks, and fish for Arctic Char.
- Two campfire pits for roasting marshmallows and re-telling of the days adventures
- Local micro brewery beer on-tap from Matanuska Brewery located in one of the social gathering areas were appetizers are
typically served
- Many other well placed sitting areas for taking in the majestic scenery views. Peaceful places to end your evening with a glass
of wine or start your morning with a hot cup of coffee
Below is a sample itinerary, order of events and activities may change due to weather and guest interests.
|
DAY 1 – Your one hour scenic flight tour into the Alaska Mountain Range usually departs Anchorage around 10am. Upon landing you will be greeted by your friendly Alaskan bush guides and enjoy some refreshments and a light snack while they do a brief orientation and safety speech.
Next you will get a personal tour of the property and meet your already saddled horse. We'll adjust your stirrups and ride out on one of our trails. Either a ride to see the historic log cabin and cache remains from the original trapper who settled in the area in the early 1900's, or a ride through the 50 acre wildfire burn of 2019, along the Happy River ridge and by the fox den to see if the pups are out playing. Late afternoon you may head over to tour our on-site historical museum tour. Buckey's log home is filled with museum-quality artifacts and relics from around the world with an emphasis on antique firearms and Alaskan culture. |
|
|
DAY 2 – Begin the day with lodge activities. Then you may join your guide on a hike up 'Monument Hill'. You will begin by boating across Puntilla Lake where you will find the trail head at which point you will hike from horse trail to caribou trail and make your way up the roughly 1000' hill to the monument pile where you will add a rock to keep the monument growing. The top of 'Monument Hill' provides one of the best views to capture the Alaska Mountain Range, Ptarmigan Valley, Puntilla Lake, Rainy Pass Lodge and the Hanging Glacier all in one epic shot. Those who have enjoyed enough hiking for one day may return to the lodge and those who want more may extend their hike up the mountain to 'Upper Monument'. |
|
DAY 3 - Saddle up and ride out towards 'Look Out' Hill. Once you are at the top of the 600' hill you will enjoy a well prepared picnic lunch while you take in the amazing vista of 'Ptarmigan valley' and maybe even enjoy some wildlife viewing. After lunch you will ride down the back side of 'Look Out' Hill and cross Indian Creek then ride along the Iditarod Trail for some very scenic photography next to the Iditarod Trail log tri-pod markers in the middle of Ptarmigan Valley. Then after lunch take off on a helicopter ride for some amazing wildlife viewing and land on one of Alaska’s 10,000 glaciers! You will never get this close on a cruise ship!
DAY 4 – Hop in for a helicopter ride to Rainy Pass Lake cabin, the highest spot on the famous Iditarod Trail. Grill out and stay overnight in an even more remote wilderness log cabin. In the morning, fish for Arctic Char and hike along the historic Iditarod Trail where you can see the Rainy Pass sign at the height of the land. A favorite photography location of many amateur and professional photographers. |
|
|
DAY 5 – Helicopter excursions and flight seeing tours to our camps at Moose Creek and Jimmy Lake. Touch down to enjoy some light hikes and finish the day fishing for Grayling and Arctic Char. -OR- A helicopter excursion to Upper Indian Creek or Marsh Strip for a hike into sheep country to photograph ewes and lambs. Then back to the Lodge for a relaxing evening. DAY 6 – Your scenic private charter flight back to civilization will typically depart around 11am, but you may not want to leave this remote wilderness paradise. |
Each morning awake to our freshly brewed custom labeled Rainy Pass Coffee and enjoy a full breakfast prepared by our chef.
For lunch you may enjoy an in-lodge exquisite specialty sandwich or a packed picnic lunch for out-lodge day activities.
In the late afternoon each day you may enjoy some tasty appetizers and try our specialty drink of the day (alcohol and non-alcohol versions available)
Each evening you will enjoy an exquisite dinner from our chef, complimented with wine if you would like and finished off with a specialty desert from our bakery chef.
Complete each evening however you would prefer; maybe a peaceful canoe ride around the lake, roasting marshmallows by our evening campfire, or sipping wine and listening to the loons call.
For lunch you may enjoy an in-lodge exquisite specialty sandwich or a packed picnic lunch for out-lodge day activities.
In the late afternoon each day you may enjoy some tasty appetizers and try our specialty drink of the day (alcohol and non-alcohol versions available)
Each evening you will enjoy an exquisite dinner from our chef, complimented with wine if you would like and finished off with a specialty desert from our bakery chef.
Complete each evening however you would prefer; maybe a peaceful canoe ride around the lake, roasting marshmallows by our evening campfire, or sipping wine and listening to the loons call.
|
Start planning your trip!
Current Weeks we are booking for: 2023: July 24th - July 29th 2024: July 15th - 20th 2024: July 22nd - 27th Contact us for availability |
Truly the trip of a lifetime! 2023 Rate - $9,800 per person 2024 rate - $10,500 per person -includes charter flights to/from lodge as well as helicopter time! |
Not included in your trip: Hotel stay in Anchorage, personal liquor, fishing license, and gratuity. We will be happy to help you with any of those arrangements to make your trip more of an all-inclusive, hassle free experience.
Check out some of the activities you can experience!
HELICOPTER rides let you explore the Alaska Range in style. Experience mountain lake fishing, wildlife viewing and see some of Alaska’s 10,000 glaciers up close and personal.
|
HORSEBACK trips allow you to experience the Alaskan wilderness the old fashioned way. Our guides are ready to lead you on a variety of horseback adventures. Check out scenic views from 'Look Out' hill, ride along the historic Iditarod Trail, or head to one of our out camps for an overnight wilderness adventure. All offer amazing photography and wildlife viewing opportunities.
|
WILDLIFE viewing can include Grizzly Bear, Moose, Caribou, Dall Sheep, Black Bear, Wolf, Wolverine, Lynx, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles and more. The Alaska Range is home to them all and our guests have spotted many animals right from the deck of the main lodge.
|
FISHING from these mountain lakes and streams is very peaceful and productive. Dolly Varden Trout and Grayling are plentiful, fun to catch and great to eat.
|
|
SHOOTING sport options include shotgun clay pigeon shooting and a variety of target practice with pistols, rifles, or bow & arrow. You can even try your hand at an old-fashioned axe throw. Learn safe firearm practices and experience activities that are a way of life for many Alaskans.
. |
CAMPFIRE time in the evening is a great way to re-live stories and highlight the day’s events. Roast marshmallows, make s’mores and sing some of your favorite campfire songs.
|
YARD GAMES are plentiful and full of excitement. 12:00 AM Volleyball is a lodge favorite in the land of the midnight sun. Also available: utting green, driving range with floating golf balls and hole-in-one, horseshoes, bocce ball, can jam, corn hole and more.
|
GOLD PANNING is the boom that brought many to Alaska and there's still gold in them there hills & creeks! Try your luck while experienceing part of Alaska's rich history.
|
CUISINE fit for a king. Our professional chefs take the greatest care in preparing you fresh meals and appetizers with a mix of local ingredients. Our bakery chef will be sure to amaze you with her sweet deserts and baked goods. Each day you will be surprised with a new drink of the day at appetizer hour. Needless to say, you will not leave hungry.
|
BUCKEY'S MUSEUM Local Sourdough Buckey Winkley, Registered Guide #34 brings you into his log cabin home for an amazing tour of true museum quality Artifacts. You will see antiques you did not even know existed and learn about the history behind them. Buckey is a walking encyclopedia and a relic himself.
|
CHARTER FLIGHTS - Are included in this package. We'll make all the arrangements and send you an itinerary.
We fly with safe, reputable pilots who are familiar with our lodge.
We fly with safe, reputable pilots who are familiar with our lodge.
For more customized trips check out our SPECIAL EVENTS page or CONTACT US for more information.