By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is one of the great heli-skiing lodges in the world, a fly-in log lodge on the shore of Judd Lake in Alaska's Tordrillo Mountains. It was founded by Tommy Moe, the American Olympic downhill gold medallist, and Mike Overcast, a pioneer of Alaskan heli-skiing, and in winter its helicopters open up some of the deepest, steepest and most spectacular terrain anywhere. In summer, the same mountains become a playground for glacier hiking, rafting, fly-fishing and heli-biking.
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is one of the great heli-skiing lodges in the world, a fly-in log lodge on the shore of Judd Lake in Alaska's Tordrillo Mountains. It was founded by Tommy Moe, the American Olympic downhill gold medallist, and Mike Overcast, a pioneer of Alaskan heli-skiing, and in winter its helicopters open up some of the deepest, steepest and most spectacular terrain anywhere. In summer, the same mountains become a playground for glacier hiking, rafting, fly-fishing and heli-biking.
Location: Tordrillo Mountains, Alaska
The Tordrillo Mountains rise west of Anchorage, across Cook Inlet, a wild range of volcanoes, glaciers and huge snowfields with no roads at all. The lodge stands on Judd Lake, beside the Talachulitna River, about a 40-minute floatplane flight from Anchorage, and the flight itself, over braided rivers and endless forest, is one of the great arrivals in mountain travel.
Because it is so remote, everything is included in a package: flights, meals, guides and most activities. The lodge's helicopters are parked a short walk from the door, so on a clear day you can be standing on a summit within minutes of breakfast.
Rooms and chalets at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Accommodation is in the main lodge and a cluster of log chalets around the lake, built from sustainably harvested four-sided logs. A multi-million-dollar renovation redesigned the main lodge and added new chalets, and the Lakeside Retreat, which sleeps eight, has its own lakeside sauna and outdoor copper hot tub, ideal for families or groups who want privacy.
Rooms are warm and comfortable rather than showy, with timber, wool and views across the lake to the mountains. The lodge hosts small groups, and for the ultimate private experience it can be booked exclusively.
Facilities at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Après-ski here means a copper hot tub overlooking the lake, a wood-fired sauna and, for the brave, an ice plunge. A new AlpenSauna was added for 2026, and there is a yoga and fitness studio. Meals are hearty and creative, built around Alaskan seafood and local produce.
In winter, the focus is heli-skiing and snowboarding with expert guides, with cross-country skiing, fat-tyre biking and snowshoeing on down days. In summer, guests can fly to glaciers for hiking, fish for salmon and trout, raft the river, paddle the lake, try heli-biking and climb the lodge's via ferrata, billed as Alaska's first.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is the first run of the day: the helicopter lifts away, the noise fades, and you stand on a knife-edge ridge above thousands of feet of untouched powder, with the Tordrillo volcanoes and the glaciers of the Alaska Range stretching to the horizon. Then you drop in.
In summer, the moment is quieter but just as memorable: landing beside an aqua-blue glacial lake, walking on ancient ice, and flying home to a hot tub on the lake as the evening light lingers for hours.
Why Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is one of the best mountain hotels
Tordrillo earns its place because it combines world-class adventure with the comfort and intimacy of a small lodge. The founders have pioneered more heli-ski terrain in Alaska than almost anyone, and the guiding is exceptional, while the setting, alone on a lake in a roadless range, is unforgettable.
It is an expensive trip, with summer packages from around $9,000 per person for three nights and winter heli-ski weeks considerably more, but everything is included. It pairs perfectly with Ultima Thule Lodge for summer, and skiers often add a few days at Alyeska Resort near Anchorage.
When to go to Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Heli-skiing runs in late winter and spring, typically from around February to April, when the days lengthen and the deep Alaskan snowpack is at its best. The summer season runs from around July to mid-September, with long days, salmon runs, glacier hiking and rafting, and, by late August and September, the chance of northern lights on clear nights. Check exact season dates with the lodge, as they vary year to year.
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Questions, answered
- How do you get to Tordrillo Mountain Lodge?
- The lodge is reached by a floatplane flight of about 40 minutes from Anchorage. There are no roads into the Tordrillo Mountains.
- Who owns Tordrillo Mountain Lodge?
- It was founded by Olympic downhill champion Tommy Moe and Alaskan heli-ski pioneer Mike Overcast.
- When is the heli-skiing season at Tordrillo?
- Heli-skiing usually runs from about February to April. The summer season, for glacier hiking, fishing and rafting, runs from about July to mid-September.
- How much does Tordrillo Mountain Lodge cost?
- Summer packages start at around $9,000 per person for three nights, and winter heli-ski packages are higher. Packages include flights from Anchorage, meals, guides and most activities.
