11 Best Hotels in The Bush, Alaska

At the nexus of multiple lakes, rivers, and streams, this lodge makes a good base from which to fish—for rainbow or lake trout, arctic grayling, and, of course, salmon—and to visit the bear-viewing areas and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Its 16 detached, modern cabins accommodate four people and have heat, electricity, and private bathrooms. The cabins surround the main lodge, which has a spectacular view of aquamarine Naknek Lake and a circular stone fireplace. The dining room serves three meals a day to nonguests as well as guests, who can prepay for meals when setting up lodging or packaged trips.

This remote, waterfront lodge in Wood-Tikchik State Park caters to anyone seeking great fishing accompanied by comfortable housing and delicious gourmet-style meals. All-inclusive packages start at $12,000 and include guided fishing trips to some of the best fishing spots in the world. The lodge is owned by Bud Hodson, a guide in the region for decades, who also rents kayaks and rafts, and provides an air-taxi service into the park's more remote and remarkable places. Vacation packages are also available for families.

Bird and wildlife watchers can get a singular experience at St. George's only hotel, a small, rustic building with a dark-wood interior and a mix of modern and vintage furniture. The government built the place in 1930 to house visiting officials and transient workers, and it's now a National Historic Landmark. It can accommodate up to 18 guests in 10 sparsely furnished rooms with shared bathrooms. There is also a communal kitchen and living space. Guests should bring food to cook in the communal kitchen because there are no restaurants on the island and only one small store with limited hours. The hotel is run by the St. George Tanaq Corporation.

This longtime B&B offers rooms with shared kitchens, a tasty continental breakfast, and an owner who can tell you just about anything you need to know about Kotzebue. Comfortable and affordable, Bibber's appeals to business travelers, those fishing and hunting in the area, and visitors exploring the sound before heading to other parts of the Arctic.

This inn has a turn-of-the-century vibe with mining memorabilia and historical photos that pay homage to the city's mining past. The suites all have private baths and fridges; some have common areas shared with other rooms, and some have private kitchenettes. You can walk the bike path from Dredge to Nome, and the inn also offers vehicle rentals to guests.

Golden Sands offers simple lodging at several locations in Nome and the chance to visit its equestrian center to join a trail ride or just hang out near the horses. Private and shared-bath options are available. Most units include breakfast, and the hosts are helpful and gracious.

This intimate in-park lodge centers on fish, wildlife, and the lake system of the western Katmai. Guests travel by boat to numerous rivers and streams riven with trout, char, pike, and salmon. Flights take guests to Brooks River to see bears at Brooks Falls. Grosvenor Lodge can accommodate six people in three heated cabins with electricity; a shared bathhouse is nearby. The main lodge has a kitchen, lounging area, and bar, as well as an excellent view of Grosvenor Lake. Multinight packages include airfare from Anchorage, meals, lodging, boat services, and guides.

This rustic but modern log-cabin lodge on Kukak Bay straddles the rugged outer coast of Katmai National Park, along the shores of the Alaska Peninsula. This coastal area is part of the Kodiak Island Borough and the Gulf of Alaska. Built on land owned by the Russian Orthodox Church, the lodge is one of few places to stay on this coast except for camping. Mountains, coastal flats, and the waters of Shelikof Strait surround the lodge, where guests stay in private bedrooms with baths. Meals are served in the dining room or on decks if the weather is good. Activities include bear viewing, birding, photography tours, and fishing for halibut and salmon. There's a three-night-minimum stay, and rates include a round-trip flight from Kodiak, meals, lodging, and guide services.

Along the Kulik River between Nonvianuk and Kulik lakes, this remote wilderness lodge sits in the northwest quadrant of the national park, near the boundary of the preserve. Guests reach the lodge by floatplane as a part of three- and four-day (or more) packages that include meals, boat, and guide service on the Kulik River, flights to Brooks Lodge for bear viewing, tours of the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, and other excursions. The lodge accommodates up to 28 people, and is popular with anglers as a base for fly-out fishing at hot spots in surrounding Katmai lakes and streams. Guests stay in cabins with electricity and private baths. In the evening, everyone gathers in the spruce lodge, which has a large stone fireplace, dining area, and bar.

This B&B filled with ivory carvings and scrimshaw by local artists makes everyone feel welcome. The place offers a variety of room set-ups, along with kitchen areas and a full breakfast that comes with the room. Latitude also does birding tours.

This hotel near the end of the road at Deadhorse primarily serves workers employed in the Prudhoe Bay oil fields, but tourists are also welcome. The rooms are dormitory-style, and not all of them have their own bathroom. The hotel includes a cafeteria-style dining hall with specific hours for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Food and drinks can be purchased from vending machines around the clock. The hotel is within walking distance to Deadhorse Airport.