Avens Alaska

We went to Avens Alaska in late May 2026, right as summer was starting, with my wife and a dear friend. Our hosts made us feel welcome the whole time. The lodge is run by a lovely family, and the staff are attentive and engaging, with a wealth of knowledge about rural Alaska and the hikes, trails, and history of Wrangell-St. Elias. The food is superb, and the accommodations are warm and well appointed. Getting there takes real commitment. It’s so isolated that the word almost undersells it, but the rewards are rich for anyone with the curiosity and passion to make the trip. In this beautiful part of Wrangell-St. Elias, you won’t find a better place to stay.

Getting to Avens Alaska takes you well off the beaten path, but it was absolutely worth the drive. We stayed in late May 2026 and found the family-run lodge and cabins cozy and beautifully kept. With great hikes nearby and the park around us, it was an ideal base for discovering Alaska, especially Wrangell St Elias National Park. A lovely escape from it all.

Dinner was a proper three-course meal, made with fresh ingredients sourced locally, and the food was excellent. Michael and his family are top-notch hosts. Avens Alaska lets you experience truly wild Alaska while still feeling comfortable and safe. I only wish I could give it more stars.

The cabin was clean and warm, but the home-cooked food from the family who owns and runs the place was the real highlight. They live on the property year-round, and the dessert was especially good. We stayed a few nights during a family road trip in August 2024, and I still rave about it to anyone who’ll listen. Avens Alaska is a hidden gem down the less-traveled road into Wrangell-St Elias. The park around it is stunning and uncrowded, and going off the beaten path to stay here is well worth it.