Denali Mountain Morning Hostel & Lodge

You will definitely need to pre-arrange to get one of the free shuttles provided by Denali Mountain Morning Hostel and Lodge, as it a hike from the train station/main bus terminal (thirteen miles south of the Denali Park entrance). The taxi comes from a neighbouring town. The shuttles depart twice daily at 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and it is annoying if you miss the first one and have to wait four hours for the next one. The shuttles also depart from the hostel to Denali Park at 6:45 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. which allows you to meet all your departing buses and trains.

The hostel is run by the friendly and environmentally conscious owners, Becky and Ben.They provide you with a lot of solid and helpful information on what is going on in Denali including to prebook your ranger-led Denali Park Tour (more important if you are traveling with a group and a lot cheaper and just as informative as the tour companies). They also offer information on renting bikes, helicopter sightseeing, dog mushing, horseback riding, and kayaking.

The hostel is in a picturesque setting along a river and very inviting. There is also a great social atmosphere, especially if you are staying in the Mainhouse, where all the other solo travellers are based. The Mainhouse is very nice with lots of wood panelling. There are also cabins for couples and families, as well as some tent sites, though some of the cabins aren't as nice as the Mainhouse. The food at the restuarants across the road is also decently priced and very tasty.

Facilties available include luggage storage, internet access, lounge, outside patio, heated shower rooms, and a small amount of groceries. There is no laundry. There is also a kitchen and dining area, which is kept pretty clean. You can also help yourself to free tea and socially-conscious coffee (you can donate some money to keep this going) and the first one up is usually the one that turns the urn on.

While there isn't an en-suite, there are several toilets never too far away. The heated showers are also a huge bonus, especially when it gets to the colder weather. The hostel has a homey feeling and there is a good effort to keep it clean. The only things lacking are lockers and laundry. Also, if you are in an outside cabin you do have a small trek to the bathroom facilities (there are some old outhouses, but you can utilise the more modern flushing style at the Mainhouse). Overall, if you came to Alaska to spend time in a rustic setting and don't mind basic amentities then this is the place for you.

-- Exclusive Hostelz.com Review