This was our third visit to Caribou Lodge and each time it just gets better! This time we took my son and his fiancé with us. Our visit was once again fantastic. The proprietors, Pam and Mike Nichols, are great hosts with Pam being the chef and cooking fantastic meals and Mike being the guide and story teller. It is a fantastic place just chill out and enjoy the tundra and beauty of Alaska, especially seeing the sun rise over Mt. Denali. Our 4 day visit was fantastic and the weather was, for the most part, beautiful with the Fall colors in full display. My son and his fiancé went on an over night trek with Mike while my wife and I stayed back and did some day trekking by ourselves. The hospitality was overwhelmingly great. It is just a great place to stay and visit and feel at home.

Our first time to Alaska and we're most fortunate to have a tour operator that highly recommended Caribou Lodge.
So there we were,two Dutchies from far and away ,but we felt home right from the moment we met our two great hosts Mike and Pam.
It's hard to even describe the experience you find in Caribou Lodge;it must be this great mixture of true hospitality ,the wonderful surroundings,(wildlife abound and around,)great food ,the luxury of being disconnected from the rest of the world and meeting other people..
But the special treat are those breakfasts ,lunches and dinners where Mike and Pam bring you back to what really matters.Good fun ,great stories about Ed the mountain man,(no worries you probably are not going to meet him,)are mixed with some lessons in life.Live simply and don't mix needs and desires.
It is now more than 4 weeks and it's still coming back to us.
When we returmed to Talkeetna (great flight with a floatplane),we knew it .Caribou Lodge was the highlight of our holiday.And back home here in the Netherlands ,we think we understand it ,Caribou Lodge is no need but you desire to go back,once you've been there!
And before I forget great sleddogs,great pictures ,in our staircase,proof of evidence of a great 2.5 days in Talkeetna,thank you Mike and Pam

My family went here this summer and had an amazing time. You get to experience solitude and isolation in nature something hard to find in todays world. The lodge was my favorite spot I have ever visited. Be sure to go on a hike with Mike as you head off without a trail into the Alaskan wilderness. It is truly an amazing experience. We saw abundant wildlife (although no caribou) and great views of Mount McKinley. Also, the food was amazing! I was shocked as all the food has to be flown in and Pam does it all in the kitchen of their house. Not only is the food great but there is plenty of it, keeping you well fed for your long hikes. I agree with the one other post it is not for everyone, but if you want solitude, a chance to experience pristine Alaskan wilderness, and a unique perspective on life the lodge is the place for you.

This was our second trip to Mike and Pam's Caribou Lodge--we initially went 3 years ago when our kids were ten. We have absolutely loved both of our trips. It's hard to put into words exactly why--there's just something that deeply nourishes our souls in this place with these people. It's a beautiful setting--the hiking, the scenery, the wildlife, the views of Denali, etc. But even more than that, it's the warmth and care of Mike and Pam, their commitment to the land, to sharing their world and values with others, and their good-humored, gentle way with one another and with their guests that makes our time at Caribou Lodge so renewing, so rewarding.

Our stay this time included 3 other couples/families--all of whom became fast friends despite being from different countries, different backgrounds and different regions of the US. Around the dinner table, one of the guests suggested we share our "top ten" list about the Lodge. One of the children said "Caribou Lodge is the best place to spend your time between past and future." That is so true. A place to be in the now. To delight in a game of horseshoes or badminton. To unabashedly reach for another one of Pam's homemade rolls. To trudge through the bush to pick blueberries. To giggle at Mike's stories.

It may not be for everyone--animal sightings are not guaranteed, the outhouses smell like outhouses, and there isn't a TV or way to recharge the Gameboy. But for our family, Caribou Lodge is paradise--
and we can't wait to go back.