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The Crystal Creek Lodge Blog is a place of possibilities, where you can learn deeper insights into how to explore the tens of millions of acres of wild Alaska surrounding us.  Whether you’re after fishing, wildlife, the perspective of history or simply feeling the awe of being in wide-open spaces, it’s all here. Enjoy the journey. 

The Queen in Search of a King

The Queen in Search of a King

Miss Rosanna Trestman of Connecticut returned to Crystal Creek Lodge in search of a King Salmon to exceed her personal record of 42 inches, set in 2014, but, alas, she didn’t beat her record, yet she still caught some nice Kings and Sockeye Salmon.  Here is Rosanna with her best King of the week, held…

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The Beaver Bar

The Queen in Search of a King

The bar at Crystal Creek Lodge has been rechristened as “The Beaver Bar”, a tribute to the hard-working DeHavilland Beaver aircraft that have served us and the north country since 1947.  Have a sneak preview of the modifications at the album on our Facebook page, or, better yet, be our guest and enjoy a cold…

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Earthquakes on the Alaska Peninsula

The Queen in Search of a King

As we are busy preparing the lodge for opening, a series of earthquakes has been shaking the Alaska Peninsula.  We were woke last night to the lodge rolling and shaking to an earthquake of 6.7 magnitude, centered about 100 miles south of the lodge near the Yantarni Salmon Camp.  The Peninsula is essentially a gigantic…

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Aniakchak National Monument in Fall

The Queen in Search of a King

The weather has been spectacular during the final week of our season. Realizing we had a rare opportunity at hand, we invited several guests to visit Aniakchak National Monument to witness the fall colors and light. A truly inspirational day. Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities to…

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Kanatak Trail Hike

The Queen in Search of a King

On September 19 five Crystal Creek Lodge guests took a hike and enjoyed the incredible scenery of the Kanatak Trail in the Becharof National Wildlife Refuge.  The Kanatak Trail rises 1000 ft into a pass within the Alaska Peninsula Mountains to connect the Gulf of Alaska and Bristol Bay.  It has been used for thousands…

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Crystal Creek Lodge Hat Trick!

The Queen in Search of a King

A Crystal Creek Lodge Hat Trick is three fish in the net, and that’s about 20 lbs. of Rainbow Trout in the bag courtesy of (left to right) Dan Michels, Shannon Ward and Cole Marston.  What a magnificent September day! Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities to…

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Yantarni is On Fire!

The Queen in Search of a King

Katie E. of Kalispell, MT is holding one of the many Silver Salmon rushing into the streams at Yantarni this week.  We expect the run to peak in the next 14 days.  This year we have been blessed with spectacular weather and abundant runs of Silver Salmon.  Be sure to visit Yantarni next year in September!…

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Aniakchak National Monument

The Queen in Search of a King

A Crystal Creek Lodge plane first landed at Aniakchak National Monument many years ago. Located 120 miles south of King Salmon on the west side of the Alaska Peninsula, Aniakchak is one of the most remote and infrequently visited National Monuments.  The main feature of the Monument is a 6-mile wide caldera created 3,500 years…

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Heather Has a Ball!

The Queen in Search of a King

Heather Oberholtzer accompanied a party of guests for a tour of the Alaska Peninsula, a tour that included a stop at the walrus cape, a spin around the inside of the Aniakchak National Monument, and a brief stop at a beach on Bristol Bay wherein we found several antique glass fishing floats.  Here are three…

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Which Weighs More, The Boy Or The Fish?

The Queen in Search of a King

It’s a close call and the fish may have it by a fin. Alec J. of California, along with his father, David, scored this beautiful string of Sockeye Salmon recently on a sunny day, fishing together on the Kvichak River. Check out our Fishing page and our Adventure page to learn more about opportunities to…

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