Denali Park Tips
 

Dear my friends from Fodors.

I´m going to reserve bus ticket to Denali and i would like to know the best point, Eielson or Wonder Lake. From Wonder Lake bus stop can i walk to lake? it´s a easy hike?

Now i´m looking for hostel or B&B near park, just to sleep one night, some tips?

many tnks,
Juliano.

<i>I´m going to reserve bus ticket to Denali and i would like to know the best point, Eielson or Wonder Lake.</i>

Eielson round-trip is about 8 hours, Wonder Lake is about 25 miles further and the round-trip is 12 hours. Both trips are fine, but 12 hours is a long time on the bus. For a once-in-a-lifetime trip probably Wonder Lake would be better.

<i>From Wonder Lake bus stop can i walk to lake? it´s a easy hike?</i>

Yes, an easy hike to the lake from where the bus stops. Biggest problem is all the mosquitos unless you are going late August or early Sept. Wonder Lake is one of the buggiest places I've ever been to in mid-summer.

The bus stops at the south end of the lake but actually the best views of the lake, with Mt. McKinley in the background, are at the north end, at least on the clear days when the big mountain is visible. Near the Ranger Station (Ansel Adams point) is good, also the outlet futher down the road to Kantishna. I'll see if I can find some photos to post so you can see what I mean.

Nice.. at 25 august it´s the day that i´m going to visit Denali.

i really wanna buy wonder lake bus to 07:15 a.m , just figuring out other tips.

tnkss..
Juliano.

August 25 is a great time to be at Denali, the tundra will be changing colors and look great. And no mosquitoes at Wonder Lake, yeah!

Here are some images I found from around Wonder Lake. If you just take the bus and then get right back on it half hour later when it leaves you'll be limited to the first two places near the campground.

Keep in mind that about 2/3's of the time Mt. McKinley isn't visible due to clouds, but when it is it's an awe-inspiring mountain.

There's usually a very late "camper bus" that leaves Wonder Lake late in the day to pick up back country campers and others with heavy gear (the back of the bus has no seats to campers can set their gear bags there). If you're the enterprising type you can take the early bus to WL, then wander around for several hours and then catch the late camper bus back, which would give you time to walk to these other places for more interesting views. Just make sure you've checked the bus schedule and know that this bus connection is possible. And this makes for a very long day since the bus doesn't get back until very late at night.

Here are some photos ... we used to stay at a lodge not far from here and every afternoon that it was clear we'd be hanging around the north end of the lake, often with moose or caribou, a couple times with bears.

http://www.pbase.com/cwphoto/image/26150714 (pretty much the view from near where the Wonder Lake bus stops, near the campground at the south-east corner of the lake)

http://www.pbase.com/cwphoto/image/93223831 (almost the same spot, with a longer lens)

http://www.pbase.com/image/122285385 (view from the north end of Wonder Lake at the inlet/outlet; this is on the road to Kantishna)

http://www.mangelsen.com/store/Colle...e___2861?Args= (more interesting photo from almost the same place)

http://www.mangelsen.com/store/Colle...n___1200?Args= (this is looking a bit east of Mt. McKinley to get the loon in the photo but same basic spot on the north side of WL)

http://mangelsenstock.photoshelter.c...000ERlDUcSugss (from the west side of the lake ... you can hike all the way around it if you have time but there are a lot of bears)

http://shop.anseladams.com/Mt_McKinl..._p/1501029.htm (view from hill informally known as 'Ansel Adams point' across from Wonder Lake Ranger station, on the north-east side of the lake)

Many tnks for your help.

I wanna stay in Denali the time that i can :-) if is necessary i will take the last bus.

So, would the better idea be to get the bus around 7 a.m and go directly to Wonder Lake? From there is easy to hike around the entire day or i can get other bus to came back and drop of in others bus stop?

tnks Bill_H,
Juliano

<i>So, would the better idea be to get the bus around 7 a.m and go directly to Wonder Lake?</i>

Yes, that's what I'd do if you want to stay out there all day.

<i>From there is easy to hike around the entire day or i can get other bus to came back and drop of in others bus stop? </i>

There are only a couple of buses to Wonder Lake because it's so far and takes so long, maybe two 'shuttle' buses and one late 'camper' bus. So you can take the first 'shuttle' bus in and then catch either the 2nd shuttle bus (if they have room) or the late camper bus back. You would need to check the bus schedule to make sure what is running that day.

Keep in mind there is no food for sale inside the park so you would have to take food for several meals. You can get water at a couple of places but not food.

Also if it's overcast or raining you won't get the great views of Mt. McKinley.

The hike around Wonder Lake will take several hours and on the west side it's pretty wild (the roads are on the north and east sides, the campground at the south side) so you need to know what to do if you kick up a grizzly bear. There is also a trail near the campground, I think it's McKinley Bar Trail or something like that, that sort of follows the river.

I think there's better hiking in open tundra between Highway Pass and Eielson (Eielson is the 8 hour bus trip, about 25 miles east of Wonder Lake) so if you mostly want to hike then that's a better area and since more open there's less chance of surprising a bear up close (you'll likely see bears further away here). If you do this (Eielson) then there are a lot more buses to catch later in the day.

Hmmm.. ;-)

So, for me that just hikes easy places, i think that the better idea is to get Eielson bus. it´s correct?

i really dont know the things that i can and will do inside Denali, in Brazil parks we get a trail with a guide and walk around 8 - 12 km a day, passing trougt waterfalls, rivers and lakes. :-)

i really wanna visit Denali and try walk to some peaks or mountains to get a good place to relax and take a good pic.

i just reserve my accommodation in Denali Hostel, the day before denali visit.

well, tnks a lot.
Juliano.

<i>So, for me that just hikes easy places, i think that the better idea is to get Eielson bus. it´s correct?</i>

If you want to hike then it's easier east of Eielson, I think. Here's a photo taken from Stony Hill Overlook ... http://www.pbase.com/image/139100382 ... the gravel road in the upper-right corner goes to Eielson, which is about 5 miles from here.

What I'd suggest is taking the early bus to Eielson, then catching the bus back to this area and get off to hike. You can hike to the left in this photo and there are a couple of beautiful valleys you can go into, or you can hike to the right and it's fairly steep going up pretty quick. Left is where most people go.

When you've had enough hike back to the road and flag down a bus, they come about every 30 minutes or so most of the day.

<i>i really dont know the things that i can and will do inside Denali</i>

There are very few designated trails, mostly you hike over tundra like in the photo or in river valleys, which is usually harder due to brush and water. There are some ranger-led hikes but I don't think that many.

Here's the official Park Service site for planning day hikes: http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/dayhiking.htm

<i>i really wanna visit Denali and try walk to some peaks or mountains to get a good place to relax and take a good pic.</i>

If the weather is good you'll be in the right place at the right time. Good luck.