EXPLORE: Fly out for your next Alaska adventure

Fly-out lodges are a great way to explore often-overlooked nooks of the Mat-Su Valley with style and panache.

The remote expanses of the Mat-Su Borough have some of the top fly-out lodges in Alaska. A quick, and relatively inexpensive, flight from a local air taxi service can take you away from the hustle and bustle of town, and land you right into some of the most pristine fishing you’ll ever encounter.

Whether it is on the Yentna River for king salmon, the Talachulitna River for fall rainbows or an off-the-beaten-path spot in the Talkeetna Mountains, there is a backcountry lodge that caters to your preferences. A complete list of remote lodges can be found at alaskavisit.com.

Many of the Mat-Su remote lodges are accessibly by floatplane, a few by wheeled plane, and many by riverboat. Getting there can be half the adventure, as many operators cater to fishing clients as well.

At Caribou Lodge in the Talkeetna Mountains, Mike Nickols enjoys the solitude of running the lodge and the expected — for some — sights of wildlife such a remote setting affords.

“We had a good size bear right in the yard while guests were here, they were like, ‘Is this normal?’” Nickols posted on the lodge’s Facebook page. “Well, yeah, sometimes.”

Just because you don’t have a Fred Meyer down the road doesn’t mean you will necessarily have to “rough it” at a backcountry lodge, however. Many lodge owners go to great lengths to provide a luxurious atmosphere to clients and guests.

At Winterlake Lodge, for example, you’ll be treated to some of the most amazing menus you can imagine. Owner Kristin Dixon is an accomplished chef who recently appeared in Paula Deen’s magazine while Deen visited Alaska.

Riversong Lodge is another example of how a remote lodge can be the perfect getaway. Just a half-hour away from Willow by floatplane, it is miles away from ordinary.

A weekend spent at Riversong can help you get away from the stress of the “real world” and possibly fill your freezer for the winter with some amazing salmon fillets, thanks to the bountiful fishing.

Backcountry lodges are also excellent choices for corporate retreats.

“Remote lodges provide an excellent resource for retreats, planning sessions and team-building exercises for companies,” said Bonnie Quill, Mat-Su CVB executive director.

It doesn’t take thousands of miles and thousands of dollars to escape to a picturesque, stress-free setting. Consider visiting some of the out-of-the-way remote lodges in the Mat-Su Valley.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su CVB.