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Driving south down the Richardson Highway from Delta, you come to an area of Alaska so beautiful that it can hardly be believed. The mountains stand in perfect formation and the rush of the rapids adds an exciting white noise to the view. The Lodge at Black Rapids is an absolutely gorgeous place to visit. In the distance, a herd of buffalo, or American bison (Bison bison), roam quietly on the plains. You will love this escape from it all in rural Alaska.
The Lodge at Black Rapids is an all season Alaskan lodge that everyone will enjoy. South of Delta Junction at 227 Mile on the Richardson Highway, this spot is opposite the Alaska Range, the Black Rapids Glacier and the Black Rapids.
The lodge is strategically placed on a hillside for a perfect view of the beautiful rapids and the mountains behind. The ten bedrooms, the lounging area, and the dining room all have large picture windows for the incredible vista.
Guests have easy access to hiking trails, river walks, and the famous Black Rapids Glacier. There is a big, beautiful deck for sipping something hot and watching the bison graze in the distance.
Bison roam the flat lands near the lodge feeding on grasses and sedges. They prefer the area in the summer months and migrate toward Delta in the winter.
In 1928, 23 plains bison were moved to Alaska from the National Bison Range in Montana. The herd has grown to about 300 animals. Hunting is allowed by permitted hunters to keep the herd numbers stable.
Wood bison were the last species to naturally inhabit Alaska and they became extinct in the last few hundred years. Before that, there had been bison in the area since they migrated from Asia over the Bering Land Bridge.
The pristine mountains of the Alaska Range sit right across from the lodge. The Black Rapids Glacier is tucked in to the range. Small bush plane tours of the mountains and glacier are available on clear days.
The lodge is also a winter destination when the aurora borealis are in full view. In the winter, guests can enjoy skiing and snowshoeing in the mountains.
