Alaska is served by many major airlines. You will have no problem getting to Alaska via a commercial airline flight from any part of the world directly into Anchorage International Airport.

Mulchatna Lodge is located off the road system, accessible only by airplane. The fishing lodge is about a 90 minute flight from Anchorage.

You will be flying on Lake Clark Air out of Merrill field, which is located about 10 miles northeast of the International airport.

If you wish to fly to the lodge in your own aircraft, we can accommodate float equipped aircraft on 2.5 miles long Fishtrap Lake. Prior arrangements should be made with the lodge.

Here are some travel notes for your flight to the Lodge.

The flight from Anchorage to Port Alsworth will be on a small single, or twin engine wheeled aircraft, with a capacity of 4 to 10 passengers.

This flight takes approximately 1 hour. Every passenger will have a window seat.

This is an extraordinary flight, taking you to the seldom traveled, roadless wilderness region of Southwest Alaska.

The pilot will be highly skilled and qualified, flying a well maintained aircraft operated by Lake Clark Air. The Alsworth family operates Lake Clark Air and have been servicing this region for three generations. We use them for all our freight and passenger transportation because of their attention to safety and high level of service. We also consider them friends.

Some things to look for while on your flight: ( you may want to print this to bring along )

Shortly after take-off you will be crossing Knik Arm and flying over Cook Inlet. The large island on the left side is called Fire Island.

Off to the right, depending on the tide level, you may see mud flats that stretch for several miles. Then comes the Susitna river. Just past the river look for Mount Susitna referred to as the "Sleeping Lady".

If you have good visibility, you will be able to see Denali or Mount McKinley off to the North (right side). This is the highest point of land in North America. It will be the largest snow covered mountain, it towers over everything else and is quite a landmark.

Below, you may see some small wooden shacks built on the mudflats. These are used for duck hunting. This region is the Susitna Flats Game Refuge. Many spruce trees in this area have been killed by bark beetles and are being harvested. Look for moose and grizzlies around the small ponds and open marsh areas. Moose feed in the shallow ponds so if you see one with muddy water, chances are there is a moose close by. You may also spot eagles and large white waterfowl called Tundra swans.

On the left side of the plane in the Inlet, you will see some large floating oil platforms that are searching for oil on the sea floor. This area experiences very extreme tidal fluctuations ranging up to 40 feet, so there are strong currents and the seawater appears murky from the suspended silt.

Off to the right, the next river will be the Beluga river, which flows into the Inlet from Beluga lake. Occasionally Beluga whales are seen in this area. Look for them in the area where the river meets the ocean. They travel near the surface and their white bodies contrast with the silt gray water.

About 20 minutes into the flight, you will begin crossing over land, gaining elevation. Ahead of you lies the Alaska Range. At this point, you will be over the Redoubt Bay State Critical Habitat Area.

Within minutes, things may turn from green to white. You will be entering into Lake Clark Pass. Here you will see the terrain turn rugged, with mountains and glaciers closing in and making a narrow channel into which you will be flying through. Watch closely for bears, they can be spotted in the open areas as well as on the snowpacks. Dall sheep can sometimes be seen on the high rocky outcrops.

Below, you will notice the river is flowing towards your direction of travel. Once you reach peak elevation there will be Summit lake, from this point the water flows the opposite direction. Look for cascading waterfalls all along this stretch as well as hanging glaciers. Redoubt Volcano is located directly to the South.

Upon exiting the Pass, you will soon begin to see Lake Clark. This is one of the state's largest lakes at 50 miles in length, it has a maximum depth of 900 feet. About halfway down the lake on the left side, you will see the small community of Port Alsworth. Here is where you will land on a small gravel strip and be transferred to the floatplane for the final leg to the Lodge. Port Alsworth is a small landlocked community of roughly 100 people and has the headquarters for Lake Clark National Park. You may see some service vehicles that were barged in as you cannot drive in.

Once you and your gear are stowed onboard the floatplane, the flight to the lodge takes about 25 minutes. Along the way, you may spot moose, brown and black bear, swans and eagles. Depending on the time of year and their migration, it may be possible to see caribou as well.

When you make the approach to our lake, look in the shallow water on the east end, here is where you may see spawning salmon. There is also a small spit of land that has the nests of swans and loons. There is an eagle nest in the treetops off to the right side of the plane on approach.

Sit back and relax. Enjoy your trip, keep you eyes open you never know what you'll see!