This last summer, my wife and I stayed at Denali Perch Resort and it was great! Its 12 miles south of south of the parks entrance, which is awesome because it it gets you away from the big hotels and the touristy area. They have a fine dining restaurant and a pizza pub on the property, so if you're looking for an excellent steak dinner with a view they have it, or if you're looking for a pub environment with a few beers and shots they have it as well. The cabins themselves sit right by a creek, they are very cozy and have a rustic feel, which is what my wife and I were looking for. So if you're looking for a real Alaskan spot to stay, this is where I would send my family and friends!

The Perch Resort is made up of a number of cabins, some of which feature private bathrooms. The cabins are small, but the one I stayed in (don't remember the number but it had a private bathroom) could have easily accomodated two. The rooms were cosy, comfortable and relatively clean. However, some of the lights did not work (on closer inspection, someone had ripped out the power cord) and the bathroom fittings had not been serviced in a while. Nothing serious, but it's the small things that hold this place back. The resort itself is surrounded by spectacular scenery and the main restaurant has an observation deck, that allows for some fantastic vistas. While the resort is mostly in good shape, certain (publicly accessible) areas are blemished by the presence of discarded stoves, fridges and other bulk garbage. Nothing unsanitary, just an eyesore. Location wise, the resort is just a few miles south of the park entrance, making it a great place to stay for hikers, adventurers and anybody wanting to explore Denali. Bus shuttles service all the main hotels (including the one right next to the Perch Resort), however, I'd still recommend bringing your car as you'll be less dependant on schedules. While not everything at the Perch is perfect, the main restaurant all but makes up for it. They serve fantastic breakfast (mostly free for guests of the Perch) and dinner like you wouldn't believe. Freshly cooked local cuisine with a twist at reasonable prices served by some of the best waiters I've met - what more could you ask for? So if you're in the Denali area and don't expect 5-star lodgings, you won't regret staying at the Perch. It's not living up to its potential (yet), but it's still a good place to stay with a restaurant that will impress you.

I stayed here with my husband and 2 children, ages 6 and 1, in cabin #17 for 3 nights. Overall the atmosphere of the place was fabulously laid back, especially at the pizza pub where my children ran around and were entertained and entertaining to staff and other patrons, most of whom seemed to be local. Pizza was really good. Good value for the location and close amenities without being at the conflux of hotels/motels at Denali's entrance. The loft inside the cabin was great for my older child but my little one liked the very steep ladder a little too much.

My family was lucky enough to win a Denali Road Lottery pass. We decided to stay in a cabin, instead of camping in the park. The Perch Resort was absolutely perfect for us. We reserved cabin #19 and had a great experience. The staff was very friendly and helpful, the food in the both at both restaurants was wonderful. We arrived late in the evening, and were really thankful that the Panorama Pizza pub was open. The pizza was YUMMY! The cabin is not the fanciest we've ever stayed in.. but was well worth the price, especially when a DNR public use cabin is $65 per night. Our cabin was clean, and best of all WARM! We will be back.