Reviews

TBH, I had never fished more than 2 days on a trip and had no idea what I was getting into - my husband tricked me into 6 days of fishing on a row, but it was amazing. CCL has it all going on - the best guides, chefs, hosts, pilots, equipment, etc. We arrived at the end of King season and caught our limits in 3 days. The weather was unpredictable, but they have enough versatility to pivot and make sure everyday is amazing and everyone has the experience they want. We were a family of 4 with 16/18 year olds, and their guides handled all our “personalities” and skill levels perfectly. We weee so sad to leave. 10/10

My son and I had the most incredible trip to Crystal Creek Lodge. The staff made us feel incredibly welcome the moment we arrived (and thanks to Heather for our pre-arrival phone calls) , the accommodations were spotless and beautiful, the setting is spectacular and of course, the fishing with the knowledgeable guides was fantastic.

If you’re looking for the perfect fishing getaway, look no further than Crystal Creek Fishing Camp. The combination of excellent fishing, expert guides like Matt, Jake, Koehl, and Bryanan, amazing service, and the overall beauty of the camp made this trip truly extraordinary. Whether you’re an experienced angler or just getting started, this place has everything you could ask for — and more. I’m already planning my next trip back. Highly recommended!

Awesome, place, food, people and fishing!

5 stars just doesn’t seem ample, it should be 11! If you enjoy exquisite fine dinning (chef Brian 💥👏🏽),a vast array of accoutrements, stunning scenery, an entire staff that that pays attention to every single detail, breathtaking float plane rides with Alaska’s best pilots oh then there’s the fishing that is second to none, this may be the place for you!

It’s hard to express in words the level of service that comes from these fine humans. From landing to departure, everything was meticulously executed to a level fitting of the word “perfection”. My suggestion to anyone reading, researching, mulling things over, and trying to massage their experience into something epic - do what I did. Let the professionals do what they do. You’ve found them. Take the trip.

The entire staff is super friendly and knowledgable. The setting is incredible and the facility is amazing! All equipment provided was as good as new!

The setting and staff are truly top-notch. The guides/staff make it incredibly easy to feel both comfortable and confident throughout the week. Everything is run so smoothly and efficiently — it’s clear they’ve perfected the experience. Love going back!

Our week at Crystal Creek Lodge with our friends and family was nothing short of amazing! This was my fourth visit, but it was my husband‘s eighth. Every year seems to get better! The lodge is incredibly cozy and beautiful, the setting is breathtaking, and the staff is simply the best. They almost seem like family at this point! Taking a Beaver float plane every morning to a different river was so much fun…catching tons of dollies, a few rainbows, and some grayling. The Orvis rods/reels, boots, and fishing waiters were all in perfect condition. The guides are always top notch - super friendly, always ready to help, and so knowledgeable. And the food - 10/10, thanks to Brian and Joe!! Brian, you are a mad genius in the kitchen! Loved hanging out in the Beaver bar exchanging stories after a day on the river is always a blast (Lindsay, Rachel, Jonesy, and Allison serving up the best cocktails). Dan and Lynette, Alex and Heather - you are all wonderful and run the most impressive lodge in Alaska! Already looking forward to next year!

CC is a great lodge! I have stayed at many 5 * hotels in my life and CC’s attention to detail surpassed them all. The proprietors, Heather and Lynette, were extremely accommodating. I not a “rough kind of guy” so I was suprised how luxurious it was, and how friendly the staff was. The guides were not only knowledgeable but also patient. The food was excellent. I highly recommend CC if ur idea of roughing it in Alaska is staying at Best Western like mine. Move over Ritz and Four Seasons. LOL

My family's visit to Crystal Creek Lodge was simply magnificent! Alex and Heather created a retreat where you feel like you are at home in Alaska's most serene setting with warm, friendly, superb service. We flew out on sea planes each morning to fish their secret hot spots for salmon, char, rainbows and varden. The pilots provided an unforgettable experience before we even started fishing! We had all levels of fishing experience and the guides perfectly accommodated everyone. They were a lot of fun to spend the day with and very productive fishing! And to wrap up the day, we had an outstanding dinner provided by a great chef. I couldn't ask for anything more for a 60th birthday bucket list fishing expedition. Thank you CCL!

I had an amazing time at Crystal Creek Lodge. All of the staff were incredible and very helpful. I came in with no fly fishing experience and the guides were extremely patient and helpful in teaching and guiding to help catch a ton of fish. Accommodations were great as well.

The Crystal Creek Lodge (CCL) was an unbelievable and unforgettable experience. As a beginner fisherman, I did not know what to expect from a fishing trip to Alaska; CCL exceeded all expectations. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by a personable and welcoming staff. Each day, we traveled by sea plane to various destinations. Each flight was smooth and relaxing as it was clear the pilots were experienced and well trained. After arriving to each location, we fished alongside fun, experienced, and knowledgeable fishing guides that not only ensured the best fishing experience but became our friends. After each day trip, we returned to the lodge and were greeted again by the staff that prepared appetizers, coffee, and other food / beverages. At night, the CCL chef prepared a multi-course dinner, using local ingredients, each of which were absolutely delicious. Overall, we could not have had a better experience and I cannot wait to return one day.

The Crystal Creek Lodge (CCL) is in a class by itself. The adventures you experience are incredible, whether your fishing for King or Sockeye Salmon on the Naknek River in front of the lodge or flying to various locations to fish for Rainbow, Dolly Varden or Grayling Trout in remote rivers and creeks the fishing is over the top fun. However the best part of the trip was how well you are treated by the staff at CCL, from the delicious meals, the happy hours after the days adventure or the professionalism of the fishing guides this place know how to provide superior service.

We stayed here with our extended family to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It was absolutely perfect! The staff was incredible and felt like family. We were all at different levels for fishing and each guide provided exactly what we needed. The food was incredible, the pilots made us feel safe, and the staff answered any and all questions we had. I couldn’t recommend Crystal Creek enough!! It is fabulous!

Eighth consecutive year spending a week at Crystal Creek Lodge, where Heather, Alex, Dan, Lynette and the entire staff once again exceeded all expectations. They leave no rock unturned in terms of providing what always feels like a once in a lifetime epic Alaska adventure. While very much appreciating the lodges luxurious.accommodations, gourmet meals, high quality aircraft, boats and fishing gear, i’d suggest it’s the staff that puts Crystal Creek over the top. Not only do they take care of all guests needs, they genuinely prove to care about all guests well-being, generating a family atmosphere. I hope to return in 2026.

It just doesn't get any better than this. The overall experience is beyond comparison and worth every penny.

I had some unforgettable moments here at CCL with great fishing, breathtaking sightseeing, and amazing staffs. It was my first time at CCL and my husband has been there quite a few times, so when we got there he said to me that "this place is special, it is my second home!". I didn't get it. We went fishing, I have no experience at all but the guides were so patient to me, helped me caught the biggest fish ever and make me feel like im a pro fisherman at the end of the day. Everyday the staffs will make sure that you are fed ( 3 meals a day with delicious food that nowhere else have, and snacks, and drinks...i didn't get the chance to feel hungry there), you get to go do all the fun things ( fishing, sightseeing, little hiking). Here at CCL the staffs will pay attention to every little details just to make sure that you are satisfied with your stay. They work as a family, and make me feel as a family. They truly make me feel like CCL is my second home.

I can't even begin to describe the week we had at Crystal Creek Lodge-absolutely first class from start to finish. The fantastic food, great company, and non-stop 5-star fishing! The staff make you feel at home and really make the trip! Thank you for such a wonderful time!

If you like a nice lodge, wonderful staff, great food, variety of fishing experiences, and relative ease of getting there, this is your place. I'm blessed to have had the chance to be there twice, and highly recommend Crystal Creek Lodge. Pick your week, and the staff will help you get to the best possible spots, doing world class fishing or sight seeing, and do it either directly from their dock, or flying on one of their four Beaver float/bush planes (three float, one bush). In four days we caught Kings, Sockeye, Dolly Varden, Rainbows, and a few other random species. We saw bears, eagles, moose, and other wildlife. Alex, Heather and their staff make the stay very special.

I have had the great fortune of being part of a company sponsored excursion to Crystal Creek Lodge a few times. As an inexperienced fisherman I was worried I would be a nuisance and bring down the trip for others. It was never that, as the staff worked with me to improve my fishing skills as well as met me where I was at each year as I developed. I have now found a love for the sport and that would have never happened without the team at CCL!

After completing another incredible adventure with the team (that has become family) at Crystal Creek Lodge, I find myself searching for the right words to explain how special this place is. Normally, I would rave about the fishing, flights, and guides first (I'll get to that), but this year I wanted to highlight Crystal Creek’s secret weapon: their service and chef teams. Coming from the restaurant industry, I'm wondering when Michelin is going to make their way to King Salmon to experience Chef Brian's culinary artistry... and bring a couple of stars with them. With every breakfast, shore lunch, and dinner come new surprises, but what takes it all to another level is the Crystal Creek staff that treat you like you’re in a five-star restaurant but make you feel like you're at home. OK, now on to the fishing. There is no higher standard in the fishing industry than the one Crystal Creek holds their guides, planes, boats, and gear to. Orvis should be proud to be associated with this lodge and team. For those who have not been here, pull the trigger. The prospect of having 4 Beavers flown by great pilots firing up each morning to take you to the best fishing AK has to offer, and the guides to make that experience special, is worth every dime. I could go on but would simply say this Lodge is second to none and has kept us coming back for nearly 15 years. To lodge owners Alex and Heather Oberholtzer, you're doing an amazing job, keep it up!!

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.