Reviews

More than 20 years ago, with my 18- and 13-year-old sons, I experienced the most amazing trip ever to Alaska with Crystal Creek Lodge. Because of that awesome experience, when the thought of returning to Alaska came up, Crystal Creek Lodge jumped to the front of my memory. I visited the lodge again with my wife and oldest son just last week. It was impossible to imagine a better run lodge than the one I experienced all that time ago; but Crystal Creek has managed to up their game to even higher standards. The lodge runs like a well-oiled machine with guest comfort and contentment the dominant priority. My son and I spent our days fishing, we caught king salmon, rainbow trout and Dolly Varden. Each of the guides were very capable and, more importantly from my point of view, were very attentive and helpful. I’m a bit of an older guy and I was never in a river without a guide right there by me—many times I held on to the guides for balance. I was touched by the way they cared for me (and other guests) in a thoughtful way that allowed me to maintain my dignity. We would end our days with a soak in the hot tub, then some cocktails and amazing hors d'oeuvres before a world class dinner. Even more importantly, my wife, who does not like fishing, also had a great time at Crystal Creek Lodge. She visited Brooks Falls where she saw brown bears; visited Agate Beach, where she found beautiful agates; explored an extinct volcano; and took some amazing sight-seeing flights in a Beaver. She also enjoyed the awesome cuisine. She loved her experience and feels the same way as I do about the guides; they were very attentive and helpful. The staff all seem very happy, which to me is a sign of excellent management. They all seemed to love being there, making it a very pleasant visit for all the guests. If you want to spend some quality time in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska, either for fishing and/or sight-seeing, in my opinion there is no better place than Crystal Creek Lodge.

Great trip. My 4th time at Crystal Creek. It is by far the best fishing experience in Alaska. The service, the guides, the accommodations, and the staff in general are absolutely five star.

Excellent lodge and staff. Fishing guides were excellent.

Dan and his staff do an excellent job of making the experience for the guest the very best. This was my second time at CCL and they exceeded expectations again. CCL has to be the best outfitter in Alaska.

Amazing fishing at Crystal Creek Lodge – Our group of two couples were visiting CCL for the third time and absolutely loved it. The trip was September 8-15, 2024 and we are looking forward to the next time we get to visit. CCL is FIRST CLASS all the way – starting with the guides meeting us at the airport and driving us the short 10 minutes to the lodge. The fishing was amazing on the Naknak, American, Kvichak and the Kulik rivers. We were fishing for rainbows and were not disappointed – lots of fish and lots of BIG fish with all 4 of us catching 30”+ rainbows. The guides are incredible in that other lodges could be in the general area catching a few, while we are posing for pictures with our monster catches – the CCL guides are the best. The food is incredible – custom order breakfasts, on river lunches with soup and sandwich every day and for dinner we were truly spoiled from Alaska King Crab to Tenderloin to Duck….my mouth just waters remembering it all. The lodge accommodations are fantastic and love the Beaver bar for great after fishing and after dinner hang out time. Our hosts Dan, Lynnette, Heather, Alex and the entire CCL team just make you feel like family from the minute you arrive till the time you head back home. 5+ stars for sure!

The most magical fly fishing experience I've had! We caught huge fish, saw dozens of grizzly bears (very safe), ate amazing food, enjoyed lots of wonderful libations, and had great company - both the other guests and the lodge staff were amazing. Crystal Creek Lodge is both luxurious, cozy and rustic all at the same time, just how you would want it and they fly you out every day to some of the most beautiful and remote locations I've ever experienced. Also, the guides were all tremendous, they knew when to step in for teaching moments and when to let us figure it out ourselves and they were all incredibly nice and fun!

This was our second trip to Crystal Creek with our adult children and it was every bit as exceptional as our last. Heather, Alex, Dan, Chef Brian, all the guides and lodge staff could not make the stay any better, from incredible adventures involving huge fish, bears, flights and hikes over the Alaska wilderness, to fun evenings discussing the day's adventures, to delicious meals...it's all a top notch experience. We all can't wait to get back!

Truly the best trip imaginable!! This was my family's second time to Crystal Creek, and both trips were exceptional. The best fishing (we all caught huge fish and learned a lot), so many bears, amazing food, stunning surroundings, and we're obsessed with all the guides. We had SO MUCH fun. Some in our group had never fished before and loved it just as much. Can't wait to come back!!

Staff/Guides and everyone there were amazing. They make sure you have an epic day every day.

It's rare when a repeat vacation lives up to your memories. Crystal Creek delivers and inspires dreams of a return trip. I finally netted my mythical 30" rainbow. Thank you Ryan! The food and conversations were excellent. Thanks again for such a terrific and memorable experience.

My week at Crystal Creek Lodge was the best week of my life, hands down. I had never been fly fishing before, and despite this, the incredibly professional guides really helped me develop my technique significantly and catch a lot of fish over the course of the week. Special shoutout to Schuyler for being so patient with me as I tried to catch one really big trout nestled in a river bank; I was eventually successful, thanks to his help! The accommodations were clean and very comfortable, and the food was absolutely out-of-this-world delicious (my favorite was probably the pork shoulder). Also can't complain about not one, but two delicious desserts with each dinner! Rachel is also a fantastic bartender. The planes are kept in immaculate condition, and the pilots are very skilled + safe. When it was too foggy to take out the planes until later in the day one morning, the "backup plan" of boating out onto the Naknek to fish there was still some of the most fun I've ever had! Thank you CCL for the trip of a lifetime. I hope to be back!

We spent four days at the lodge and I can summerize our experience in one word..”Exceptional”. The fishing, the food, the staff and accomodations are over the top…exceptional. We will be back

We were there for 5 days of wonderful fishing. From the moment we were picked up at the airport the staff and owners made us feel like family. All of the guides were helpful, patient, kind, and a lot of fun. Our dinners every night were like eating at a 5 star restaurant. We hated to leave because we felt as if we were leaving family. We would not consider recommending any where else for this fabulous trip.

My husband and I visited CCL for the second time this August, particularly for the Silver Salmon season. We had such a pleasant time, equally as nice as the first visit in 2022. Two days of Silver Salmon fishing and three days fishing for Rainbows and Dolly Vardens. The owners and crew at CCL are beyond hospitable, they look after your needs with such care. The pilots are very experienced as well as the guides. The rooms are clean and comfortable and the chefs make such wonderful meals. I am a beginner fly fisherman, but I caught so many huge fish! So exciting to have a big one on the line! The scenery is like no where else in the world. You have to see it to believe it. I highly recommend a trip to Crystal Creek Lodge. You will love it!

The Lodge and Staff were amazing. The overall experience exceeded all my expectation. The fishing experience was exceptional each day and provided a welcoming challenge.

Having recently spent a week at Crystal Creek Lodge during Miner Family Wine week I can not begin to express the absolute five star experience my wife and I enjoyed. We've lived in Alaska since 1989, with eight of those years in Dillingham, the original location for CCL. The present location, with the stunning log lodge and cabins provides one with the opportunity to escape the rigors of the rat race of daily life. I've flown on countless De Haviland beavers in my 35 years as an Alaska and the four at CCL, three on floats and one on tundra tires all looked like they were just built. The Ovis equipment provided was top of the line and in perfect working condition. But the true testament to perfection is the fact that the guides at CCL turned my wife from a total novice who didn't know a single thing about fly fishing into fish catching machine. On our last day afield she caught and released between 50-60 Rainbow Trout and Dolly Varden. All this plus limiting on Silver Salmon that was expertly filleted, frozen and vacuum packed for the trip home to our freezer. Dan, Lynette, Heather, and Alex run an incredible operation you should not hesitate put on your bucket list.

The lodge, the staff, and the guides are all outstanding. Although I had tried fly fishing in the past I was never successful. Within two days I was catching beautiful fish and having the time of my life! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

This lodge, these people, are as good as it gets in all dimensions.

My first time at the new lodge location. Great location, layout, equipment, service, food and (most importantly) guide and lodge staff.

My dad and I had the pleasure of spending the week at Crystal Creek Lodge, and it’s been difficult to come back down to reality. Neither of us is much of an angler (even though we try), and at a typical fishing lodge, it’s intimidating to show up with hardly any experience. From the minute we arrived, we realized that wouldn’t be the case at all. Everyone welcomed us and made us feel at home, even on the first day when we had to get re-acquainted with how a fly rod works. (We still came back home with 80 pounds of salmon, if that helps give an idea of how fabulous the fishing is.) Many of the other guests were much more skilled than we were, and the guides easily adapted to anglers of all levels. Crystal Creek is truly for anyone who loves the outdoors. When we weren’t fishing or rafting down the most beautiful rivers and creeks, we visited Katmai National Park to watch the bears, ate some of the best food we’ve had in a long time, and got to know the world-class team of wonderful people that makes Crystal Creek so special. Not one detail is overlooked (fitness center, hot tub, MASSAGES), and the entire experience is nothing short of spectacular. We’ll be using this trip as the pinnacle of all trips from here on out, which is bittersweet because nothing else will compare. We cannot recommend Crystal Creek highly enough—thank you to the whole team for giving us the trip of a lifetime!

We have been fortunate to go to the Crystal Creek Lodge several times. The first time was wonderful and, if possible, each subsequent visit has been even better. Within twenty minutes of arriving, everyone at the lodge knows your name, and I do mean everyone; the guides, the house staff, the chef, the pilots, everyone. The lodge itself is stunning and furnished like a museum of Alaska Natural History. The food would make a gourmet restaurant proud, and the rooms are large, comfortable, and welcoming. Crystal Creek is an Orvis-endorsed lodge. The equipment, from the Orvis waders, rods, and reels to the jet boats and planes is top-of-the line and maintained in excellent condition. The fishing is superb, with opportunities to catch sockeye, silver, and king salmon, dolly varden, arctic char, grayling,and rainbows. Crystal Creek is known throughout Alaska as a terrific place to work. It attracts top guides and staff who are outstanding at their jobs and quickly become your friends. Dan, Lynette, Alex and Heather have been running this operation for a long time and it functions like a fine watch. Alaska offers fishing experiences beyond anything you can experience in the lower 48. Crystal Creek is the best of the best.

My brother and I took our Dad to Crystal Creek Lodge for a family vacation. We were referred by a friend who spoke so highly of the staff, accommodations, and culture. We went in with high expectations yet were overwhelmed with the exceptional service, overall experience and amazing humans who truly go above and beyond and truly enjoy doing it. The scenery and fishing are beyond description. What started as a once in a lifetime experience will likely be a yearly event. So many great memories and friends. If you're looking for that fishing vacation with relaxation and great people, Crystal Creek Lodge is the place to go, it will not disappoint.

Each year, the Crystal Creek team manage to surpass my expectations, making each stay more memorable than the last. The stunning Alaskan landscape, combined with their exceptional service and genuine care for your guests, creates an unparalleled experience. Whether it's the thrill of the fishing adventures or the cozy, inviting lodge, every aspect of Crystal Creek Lodge is meticulously designed to offer the best of both excitement and relaxation. Crystal Creek Lodge is a haven where nature and comfort harmoniously blend. The staff's passion for what they do shines through in every interaction, making each guest feel like part of the family. Looking forward to our next adventure together!

Year after year, the Crystal Creek Lodge team manages to surpass my expectations, making each stay more memorable than the last. The stunning Alaskan landscape, combined with their exceptional service and genuine care for your guests, creates an unparalleled experience. Whether it's the thrill of the fishing adventures or the cozy, inviting lodge, every aspect of Crystal Creek Lodge is meticulously designed to offer the best of both excitement and relaxation. For anyone considering a visit, Crystal Creek Lodge is a haven where nature and comfort harmoniously blend. The staff's passion for what they do shines through in every interaction, making each guest feel like part of the family. Looking forward to our next adventure together!