Tour Bus or Shuttle in Denali

[bl413]

We are trying to decide which one -- I've read many posts.

It appears the tour stops at Wonder Lake too--but I can't confirm it.

Does anybody know?

[wolfie11]

The Kantishna tour stops in Wonder Lake. It is the longest tour and there is only one per day, so it sells out quickly. The TWT goes to an overlook a couple of miles before you get to Eielson Visitor Center.

 

You can book shuttle buses to Kantishna, Wonder Lake, Eielson, or other stops before that for about 1/3 of the cost of the tours.

 

The main difference is that the tours are narrated by a driver/guide and the shuttles are not (although most drivers do give narration) and you get a really pathetic lunch on the tour. The main disadvantage of the shuttles is that you have to catch them at the transportation center inside the park and 1+ miles from most of the hotels in Glitter Gulch. If you don't have a car, it can be difficult to make early or late shuttles as the lodge buses that take you to the transporation center don't run then.

[Chenega]

I'd say for most people staying at the hotels at the park entrance, the tours are probably more convenient since they pick up up right at the hotels. They also tend to be more crowded and don't go as far as the shuttle buses unless you book the Kantishna tour. They cover the same road and use the same drivers since both are operated by the park concessionaire.