Denali National Park Shuttle Bus - Logistics

[bluetiger9192]

How early do I need to get to WAC for a 7:30am shuttle in early June? Someone on another thread suggested 45 minutes prior. Do people line up in an orderly fashion that much in advance to get onto the buses?

 

Also, we plan on riding the bus non-stop to Eielsen and then on the way back, get off and on along the park road to do some hiking. Will we have trouble getting seats back onto the bus (there are 4 of us)?

 

The shuttle bus schedule online shows the last bus leaving from WAC to Eielsen is at 2pm. What does that mean in terms of how late we can "stay out" (also taking into account capacity constraints as I would assume lots of hikers are planning on taking the last bus back to WAC)?

[adkkev]

You should be able to board any green shuttle bus that's heading back to the WAC ... look at the schedule to see when the last bus heads out from Wonder Lake or Eielson and try to plan accordingly.

 

Remember to have a good map when you go hiking ... and that there are no marked trails (past Savage River).

 

And it may look like it'll be easy walking/hiking but it's not. The ground can be very spongy, full of holes and cracks that can easily twist an ankle, and those berry bushes can really tear at your legs (don't wear shorts unless you're a masochist).

 

Last September it took us 5 hours to hike the 5 miles from the Savage River checkpoint through & above the canyon to the Savage River Patrol Cabin ... and that's with the first mile on an established trail, and the second mile on a fairly clear herd path. After that it was pure bushwacking. And river walking. (and we had to cross the river twice ... cold and fast but we made it safely)

[Glaciers]

?

 

Also, we plan on riding the bus non-stop to Eielsen and then on the way back, get off and on along the park road to do some hiking. Will we have trouble getting seats back onto the bus (there are 4 of us)?

 

Last June we hopped off the shuttle bus at the east fork of the Toklat River to hike around the area. On the way back the first two shuttle buses were full and we were able to jump on the third. There were two of us. It was early afternoon and the shuttles were going by every 20-30 minutes. You may want to consider splitting up if necessary. They do make note of everyone who gets off and on the shuttles along the way.

[frugaltravel]

They do not leave anyone in the park overnight against their will. The 2pm Eielson shuttle takes 8 hours so gets back about 10pm. The last camper bus gets back about 11pm and is usually the "sweeper" but that picks up any stragglers.