I read Frommers Alaska 2006 about Tundra Wilderness Tours (page 351) that go to Toklat (approx 58 miles round trip) taking 6-8 hours. They stated: ';Programmed commentary provides background on what you are seeing. Food in provided, but you can%26#39;t get off of the bus along the way (that%26#39;s the fatal flaw, in my opinion.)';
The same tour outlined in the AAA Western Canada %26amp; Alaska Tourbook states: ';Buses travel to Tolket River, making frequent stops en route for photography.';
A third source, an Internet Site on the Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour, wrote that you get off of the bus, but cannot switch buses.
My question is: Can anyone tell me which source is right? I do not want to ride 6-8 hours on a bus, never have the chance to get out for photographs or rest-room calls and pay $115.00 per ticket!
Tundra Wilderness Tours Denali National Park
Linda,
You will make stops every 1 to 1.5 hours for toilet stops, where you get out. Otherwise the bus stops on the highway to photograph animals from the bus itself. The one time I took this tour the ';lunch'; was about as flavorful as the cardboard box it came in.
I recommend saving some money and booking the standard shuttle bus, and take your own lunch. This way YOU chose how far you go in, and when and if you get out to hike, photograph or picnic. The shuttle drivers are most often quite good and informative. Hope you get a talkative and informative one, and they are at least as knowledgeable as the expensive tour drivers.
So I think the three commentaries you quote were all accurate, but limited. I hope this post ties it all together.
Certainly, ask additional questions !
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Tundra Wilderness Tours Denali National Park
Thank you for your input. I certainly appreciate the time you took to email me a reply.
I think, after reading your message, that the Shuttle Service just might be the thing. What I didn%26#39;t mention was that we are a party of four (one who is my 87 year old father.) He is quite spry, but still, my greatest fear is that we get off of the Shuttle for photographs (restrooms breaks) and then when the next bus comes along 30 minutes later....we cannot find a seat!
Would you recommend getting off and on the Shuttle on the way down to Fish Camp Turnaround or wait and start getting off and on during the Shuttles return to the main entrance?
Also, I figure you have been there....what is the furtherest point you would go? Stoney HIll Overlook or Fish Creek Turnaround at Mile 66 where the old Eielson Visitor Center use to be. They say (when the clouds are not on McKinley) that it is a fine vantage point. But, they say the Stoney Hill Overlook at Mile 62 offers just as nice a view.
Again, I appreciate your help!
Linda,
We too used Frommers books for our two Alaska tours to denali. As for shuttles, I would also recommend them.
Keep two things straight. The shuttles will stop about every 1.5 hrs for rest/potty stops for 15-20 minutes. You will have time to take photos and stretch. You then get back on the bus usually in your same seat and continue with the trip. You won%26#39;t have to worry about your seat. If you decide to get off the bus and walk or hike for a while, you tell your bus driver you are getting off so he can keep an accurate count of how many he should have left. That is when space available on the next shuttle bus comes into play. at less busy days, it isn%26#39;t big deal, but could be in middle of busiest season.
I would recomm going to at least Fish creek or Eielson if open yet, at mile 66. Or at least Toklat river, mile 53. Most of you photo stops for wildlife will be along the road when someone spots animals. On these stops, noone is allowed off the bus, but shoot thru windows. We have seen grizzlies up close to bus on each of our three trips into park. Have great trip.
We just went in August and bathroom stops were all 10 minutes, except Toklat River stop where we were scheduled 30 minutes because there was a Visitor Center set up in a tent (selling souvenir books and other items). Instead of wasting 30 minutes there on the way into the park and on the way out we switched buses on that stop. There was one leaving 2 minutes after ours arrived. You can also switch between Wonder Lake and Fish Creek buses there. If you see that Mt. McKinley is totally covered up in clouds then there is no point for you to go to Wonder Lake and you should go to Fish Creek instead. Wonder Lake bus does not stop at Fish Creek unless you ask the driver to stop (which you can do almost anywhere along the road anyway). We switched between 4 buses that day and did not have any problem finding space for 2 people. Actually, the last 2 buses were almost empty. All shuttle buses are required to have 4 empty seat when they start in the morning, so they can pick up people along the way.
Thank you one and all for taking the time to explain the ';Shuttle System.'; My fears are totally abated and I am going for the shuttle service vs the Tundra Wilderness Wildlife Tour. My main concern, of course, was bathroom calls and photo ops....how it has been described, there should be no problem with either. I have great confidence that I can pull this off quite nicely now that I have a clear idea of how I am going, to what point in the park, and where the facilities are available. I was so fearful of getting in there with my Dad and everything going wrong. When someone is 87 years old, they don%26#39;t have much time to try it again to get it right. Wish me luck that the mountain breaks through the clouds if only for the five minutes it takes to snap Dad standing in front of it! I just love this Trip Advisor option....and the people who are so willing to take the time and share!
When will you be here?? Not that you can predict weather . . . I just hope it%26#39;s perfect for you and that you will really get to enjoy Denali! :)
Also, I hope you know that you can see the mountain (when the weather cooperates) on your drive up from Anchorage, before you reach Denali National Park. There are at least 2 nice overview points.
';The Wish Trip'; will be in mid-July. Many sites from other tourists say that it rains-rains-rains between May and September. Since we will be starting in Anchorage, swinging down to Seward for a Glacier Tour by boat, then head to Healy...staying at the Denali Lakeview Inn which has been so wonderfully helpful. (Reading Trip Advisor comments-I chose lodging that was less congested, had a wonderful view, and not as pricey as the Lodges at the entrance of the Park.) They suggested a ground floor room (on the corner) that has a large deck overlooking Lake Ottis. It even has its own picnic table. Also, they graciously offered to provide Dad with fishing gear for free! Our original plan was to go onto Fairbanks and stay in the Aurora Forget-Me-Not B%26amp;B who (because of my Dad%26#39;s age) gave him a free nights stay as a birthday gift! Unfortunately, though, the plans have changed and we are going to stay another day in Denali and then head south to Talkeetna for two days. As (Travel 10000) has so kindly advised, I now have notes on the map to watch for the View-Points of McKinley along the George Glenn highway. Surely one day out of five the weather HAS to cooperate! PS- I mentioned some of the places we are staying because I wanted everyone to know how nice, so far, the establishments have been to ensure this ';Wish Trip'; of my Dad%26#39;s to be one he will never forget! When we get back...I plan on writing a novel!
Hello again! Usually July is pretty nice . . . last year was a rainy summer, but generally it%26#39;s fairly dry from May to mid-July, and August is usually the rainest.
Just wanted to clear up a few things, so that people following your thread aren%26#39;t confused. It%26#39;s the George Parks Hwy that goes from the Wasilla area to Fairbanks . . . the Glenn hwy begins in Anchorage and goes to Glennallen. As well, you%26#39;ll be near Otto lake . . . it does have a lovely view there and you%26#39;ll probably get to see/hear loons, etc.
This trip sounds wonderful - I so enjoy hearing about trips like these. Makes me appreciate where I live even more. Best of luck! :)
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