McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café & Bakery

Magic bus
Exploring Denali!
Painting project
Dance party

Privately owned boutique Alaskan lodge with scratch café, & bakery on beautiful Carlo Creek in Denali National Park

McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café, & Bakery is a boutique Alaskan lodge privately owned and operated in Denali National Park. Catering to Alaskans, independent visitors and small groups. Our full service cafe takes pride in serving only scratch made food with a smile and a million dollar view.

Located 13 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park in the desirable Carlo Creek neighborhood, with unlimited trails outside your back door. We boast an ideal location, away from the busy park entrance, yet allowing easy access to the park and all its activities. We are also a stones throw of the popular Panorama Pizza Pub, a popular hang out.

About McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café & Bakery

WHO WE ARE

Creekside is owned and operated by two best friends, Holly and Tracey. In 1997, they purchased the historical property with the absolute BEST location in Carlo Creek with dreams to create a place that they would love to go.  Twenty-six years later they still love what they do, where they do it and the people they do it with. 

WORK HARD - PLAY HARD - HAVE FUN!

Mission: Cultivating relationships and facilitating opportunities to explore Denali National Park with inspired hospitality and intentional service.
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We work to attract the best people by: paying top wages; providing the best housing; encouraging a safe and fun home base in a family atmosphere to explore Denali for the summer.  We know a happy crew makes happy guests, which makes happy owners! Our goal is to provide the best experience possible, so our crew does the recruiting for us. We have one of the highest return rates of any seasonal business!

Our expectations are simple: Everybody works. We look for professionals that are passionate about work and play and have a POSITIVE attitude and productive work ethic. A sense of place grows from the purposeful work of maintaining and growing this establishment and cultivating lifelong friendships. Our steadfast commitment to providing an outstanding experience for our guests and our crew in an amazing setting is beyond compare. Come work in a place surrounded by astonishing beauty and fantastic people all while learning new things and maybe something new about yourself!

Our people are our most valued partners!

The Employee Experience

We strive to be the most desirable place to work in Denali!

Our Team Mission to cultivate a culture that is fun, and engaging, where everyone contributes, where you are recognized for your effort and hard work, and where you can be yourself while living and exploring one of the most beautiful places on earth.

We offer the best housing and meal program in Denali.  Our housing is clean and comfortable.  All rooms are two-room suites that share a bathroom.  Each room has two beds, a vanity, and a mini fridge.  We provide a shift meal, made to order, to cater to each person's dietary preference. We have two communal kitchens as well that allows you the ability to cook your own meals. Basic kitchen items such as dishes, pots & pans, and seasonings are all provided.

Adventures abound! It's a quick four-minute walk to work and when you are off you can walk out your back door (literally), follow the creek, and adventure as far as you desire.

Knowing our people is our most valued partnership.  We care about our co-workers and cherish the long-lasting friendships that come from our shared experiences as we all spend the summer together in breathtaking Denali. 

Our team members are our greatest asset. We pay top wages; have a generous incentive program; hire and retain incredible people; have beautiful accommodations and the finest food; provide amazing hospitality and service in a spectacular atmosphere. You can't fake it....we really are pumped to be here, living the dream....doing what we love, and it shows.

Ideal Candidate

Looking for people that love life, are passionate about what they do and where they do it. 

You need to have a solid work history, be able to finish what you start, be hardworking, have a positive attitude, and be enthusiastic about hospitality. We are looking for people who want to share their epic Alaskan adventure with like-minded folks while building life-long friendships and creating the best experience possible for yourself and our guests. 

Room and Board

We have the best Room & Board program in Denali, by far. 

All Rooms: Our rooms are clean and comfortable. They are set up as two-room suites (every two rooms share a bathroom, toilet/shower). Each room has two beds, a sink area, and a small fridge.

Board/Meal Program:  We offer a generous shift meal on all days you work.  We provide made to order meals, so you can order food that meets your tastes and dietary concerns.   

Two common rooms: Each with kitchen facilities stocked with dishes, pots/pans and basic spices. We also have a few lounge areas: one with couches and TV's/Movies, and a couple communal areas outside, one with a firepit along the creek! We also have coin-op laundry (detergent provided).

We provide: Linens/towels, WI-FI, laundry detergent & toilet paper.  

Please note: You are responsible for your own food. There is a grocery store in Healy, AK (Three Bears) and group shopping trips are coordinated. We offer a 20% discount in the café when you are not working (during non-peak hours).

Employee Perks

We offer FREE room/board (upon contract completion) for all un-tipped positions: kitchen, housekeeping and front desk 

Tours/excursions are free or at a reduced cost, gratuities are still required.

The most beautiful walk to work...you can see the cafe from the employee housing :)

The best thing about working at Creekside is the ability to make a top wage while living, working and playing in one of the most amazing places on earth, DENALI, all the while making lifelong friendships! We have a VERY high percentage of return employees every year, which speaks for itself.

Getting Here and Getting Around

You are responsible for your own transportation and cost. Denali is four hours north of Anchorage and two hours south of Fairbanks. If you are arriving in your own vehicle we are located at Mile 224 on the George Parks Hwy, just look for the Creekside sign! If you are considering the drive we highly recommend it. Having a vehicle is a luxury in Denali and is great for adventuring in your off time!

If you do not have your own transportation, there are two options to get to us from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Both offer discounts for employees traveling to Denali. When booking your ticket be sure to let them know you are an employee as both companies offer discounts.

Alaska Yukon Trails Shuttle: This shuttle provides several pick-up options from Fairbanks in the morning.

Park Connection: This shuttle picks up at the Dena'ina Civic Center in downtown Anchorage and then heads north to Denali in the morning and the afternoon.

Connect with others on the Facebook Group – Creekside Staff while you make your plans. Many staff members travel on the same days. You may meet some fellow Creeksiders on your way to us!

We recommend flying into Anchorage, and then taking a shuttle to Denali the next morning. Take advantage of staying overnight in Anchorage to get food/supplies. Getting to the grocery store in Denali is not always easy and you will want to have a few meals for when you first arrive before the first grocery trip.

For Fun

Rafting, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Nightlife, Campfires, Camping, Kayaking, anything outdoors!

How to Apply

Questions? Call 907-683-2277 or email info@mckinleycabins.com and we'll be happy to help figure out the best way for you to get to us!


Please apply online via the link below. 

Click here to find out more about Creekside!

We look forward to hearing from you! 


Contact McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café & Bakery