Yentna Station Roadhouse is famous for offering a wide variety of Alaskan outdoor winter recreation activities, with many visitors snow machining (that's snowmobiling for those from out of state) to the Lodge from Anchorage via trails from Big Lake, Pt. MacKenzie, and Willow. These trails are part of the world renowned Iditarod Sled Dog Race and lead from the Lodge all the way to Nome, Alaska, on the Bering Sea, a distance of approximately 1049 miles.
For the slightly less adventurous, we keep an airstrip maintained for ski planes. Hop a bush plane or snowmobile out to snow machine, mush, skijor, cross-country ski, ice fish, hunt, or to just kick back and enjoy the serenity of the pristine Alaskan winter wilderness. You can also watch various snow machine, dogsled, and human powered races from the comforts of the Lodge.
Winter Recreation
We prepared to meet a wide range of winter recreational needs. An airplane runway is maintained on the river throughout the winter, and both private and military pilots have been known to drop in for a famous Yentna half-pound burger.
The Lodge is open from 8am-10pm for regular business, and is open 24-hours for emergencies.
- Ride your snowmachine (aka snowmobile) or fly out for a day trip.
- Grab lunch and fuel at the lodge.
- Dry your gloves by the fire.
- Spend a weekend at the lodge, and take your snowmachine out to play in the varied and accessible terrain nearby.
- Bring (or ride) your fat bike or cross country skis and explore the trails up and down the river.
- Spend a day or weekend just taking it easy.
- Watch and cheer for a dogsled, ski/bike, or snowmachine race.
- Make the lodge your basecamp for a hunt, or just wildlife watching.
- Bring your Boy or Girl Scout troop out for an adventure.
- Watch the Northern Lights.
- We can arrange guided sled dog tours and air transportation upon advance request.
Only a couple hours by snowmachine, or 15-30 minutes by bushplane, stands between you and an idyllic rural Alaskan winter. Fuel, food, rooms, and bed & breakfast are available.
Check out our rates and contact us with any questions about trail and weather conditions, or to make a reservation.
Iditarod Checkpoint & Other Races
We are the first off-road checkpoint for the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, the "mushing" dogsled race from Anchorage to Nome. With relatively easy access to the road system, the lodge is the ideal place for mushing race spectators. We recommend reservations for overnight Iditarod race spectators due to high demand.
Additionally, we are a checkpoint for many other race events: the Jr. Iditarod Sled Dog Race, K-200 Sled Dog Race, K-300 Sled Dog Race, Goose Bay 120 Sled Dog Race, Don Bower Memorial 300 Sled Dog Race; for the Iditasport and Alaska Ultra Sport (human powered-bicycle, cross-country / nordic ski, snowshoe, running races); and an emergency checkpoint for the Gold Rush Classic (Iron Dog) Snow Machine Race, round-trip to Nome.
