Denali Grizzly Bear Resort

CoachSingleton

Grizzly Bear Resort (2 Stars, 3 Stars if You Have a Car) This might be one of the few non-five-star reviews I’ve written, but had I known a few things beforehand, I might have chosen a different location. TL;DR: If you’re driving, this place works well; if you’re arriving by train, you might want to consider a different hotel. The internet is unreliable, but if you don't need it, you'll be fine. Don’t expect any room cleaning service—not even basic tasks like trash removal, fresh towels, or bed-making during your entire stay. If you're here for just a day or two, that’s manageable, but be aware they have communication issues, particularly regarding transportation. The trouble started the moment I booked, which should have been a red flag. I used Expedia, and everything seemed straightforward; the reviews were decent, and the price was better than most. They were upfront about dining options not being on-site but mentioned food trucks and a restaurant across the street. However, the day I booked, they called to inform me they didn’t accept American Express, which is tied to my Expedia account. After some back-and-forth, they initially said my Visa and Mastercard didn’t work. I had to insist the issue was on their end before they finally got the payment to go through on my Mastercard. I also inquired about transportation from the train station to the resort, and they assured me they had a shuttle. When we arrived at Denali Depot, we were told it would take over 30 minutes for our luggage to arrive. I called the resort to find out where to meet the shuttle driver and informed them of the delay. They then told me we weren’t on the list but would notify the driver and give him our phone number. When we made it to the van area, our driver was nowhere to be found. I called the resort again, and they said they’d try to reach him. After waiting another 30 minutes, I called once more and asked for a callback when they contacted him—no callback ever came. When we checked in, we were charged $70 for a round-trip, 15-minute shuttle ride, even though other hotels offered this service for free. At check-in, they informed us about the lack of housekeeping services during our stay. The room itself was basic—no desk, refrigerator, or closet—but the beds were comfortable, and the view was stunning. We even got to see the Northern Lights from our balcony on the second night. The overall layout is pleasant, like cabins in the woods, but the uphill trek became tiresome. The internet service was poor and expensive. I needed to be online for work meetings and emails, which cost $35 for 48 hours, still only had two bars and frequently dropped. I couldn’t manage any Teams meetings. However, the hotel across the highway (accessible via a safe walkway under the bridge) had excellent free internet, even for non-residents. The breakfast food truck we tried twice charged $15 each for a Costco-style, microwaved egg, cheese, and sausage croissant, a Sunny D, and a yogurt. While pricey, it was slightly cheaper than the typical $20. The breakfast buffet across the highway was good but cost $24 per person before the tip. We had dinner across the street—the ribeye steak was excellent, as was the cheeseburger. If you stay here, don’t miss their dinner On our departure day, the transportation issues continued. We needed to be at the train station by 11:30 am, and I confirmed with the resort multiple times that the shuttle would pick us up at 11:00 am. When the time came and went, I called at 11:05, 11:15, and finally insisted I wouldn’t hang up until they directly contacted the driver. They eventually assured me the manager had spoken with him. The driver arrived with a van full of luggage and people, but we managed to squeeze in after some rearranging. The driver apologized, and despite the hiccup, we made it to the train with our luggage intact. The young man driving did his best, but better communication—perhaps radios—would greatly improve the experience.

Elena Suleimani

I live in Alaska, and this is my favorite place to stay in the Denali Park. It is only 7 minutes from the entrance to the Park, with a gorgeous location on the Nenana River. The resort is wonderful. I stayed one time in a hotel with a river view room, another time in a cabin, and most recently we came in an RV. Every stay was amazing and memorable. The view of the Nenana River is fantastic, and the sound is so pleasant and calming. The staff is helpful and attentive. This place is as close as it gets to a real Alaska wilderness experience without living in a tent. I will stay again there, for sure.

Time_to_Review

Rustic Charm with Some Drawbacks If you're looking for a no-frills, rustic experience, this resort certainly delivers on that front. The setting is charmingly basic, perfect for those who appreciate a more rugged, back-to-nature vibe. However, be prepared for a few quirks. For example, there’s a noticeable smell from the sewage system, likely due to the use of warm water for flushing, which I assume is to prevent the pipes from freezing in colder weather. One significant downside is the lack of internet access. There’s essentially no connection, and even if you manage to find a signal, it’s incredibly spotty. On the bright side, this forced us to disconnect and truly appreciate the peaceful surroundings. We ended up spending a lot of time at the resort across the street, which provides free transportation to the park. Unfortunately, we couldn’t always coordinate our schedules with theirs and had to rely on Grizzly's shuttle service, which was pricier than we expected. While I understand that transportation options are limited in the area, $65 for a 3-5 mile trip to the national park feels excessive. I know it's the "common" fee around here but tourism gouging is silly when your competitors next door are offering a free schedule and you aren't letting guests know this. Overall, while the resort has its charm, there are some issues that travelers should be aware of before booking. They are cheaper and more amenities elsewhere but if you are looking for that rustic, cabin feel you'll do just fine.

Kaleb Boyer

I would agree with other recent reviews. The rooms were missing many amenities that other low cost places provide. Google lists the place as 3 star hotel but most 2 star hotels are better. Was not as nice as the photos online. Many rooms are not over looking the river but looking at the roof of another building. Had to walk a long distance just to get ice because the closest machine was broken or out. Have to walk to the managers building just to report any issues, no way to call. Rooms were HOT all the time, even with cooler weather.

Atkinson Jim

It is abundantly clear that this place does NOT care about the guest experience. Oddly missing typical hotel amenities that even the least expensive hotels have these days (no in-room phone, no fridge, no microwave, no AC or ceiling fans, no free wifi). Keep in mind that they DO NOT have housekeeping services during your stay and if you need anything you must walk or drive to a separate office building to request anything. The TV service was very limited and worked about 50% of the time. I don’t know how this dump is still in business but their online photos make it look much nicer than it actually is. Just remember there are virtually NO amenities so I would choose absolutely anywhere else.