Transit/Shuttle Bus in Denali

[meliss35]

My husband and I will be in Denali National Park for 2 full days. I am trying to decide which Transit bus to take in the park. If we take the Wonder Lake Transit Bus will we have time to do any hikes? Is it worth the 11 hour roundtrip to Wonder Lake?  If we do the Wonder Lake Shuttle, do we pretty much stay on the bus for the whole 11 hours ?  We were thinking of  booking Wonder Lake for one day and the next to Eielson and then do some hikes? What do most people do? What is the earliest time we can book this transit busses? 

[Crazy planning mom]

Visit this link for further information.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g143022-i1271-k13431179-Denali_NP_update_for_2021_season-Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html

 

Edited November 24, 2020 by Crazy planning mom

[wolfie11]

Book the shuttle to Wonder Lake.  If the weather is lousy or you're too tired ask the dispatcher at Eielson to book you on a shuttle back from there.  You've lost a few dollars in the difference between the two fares, but no big deal.  

[Cruiser933]

Are you looking at 2021? The reservations are open and the shuttle bus will not go past Eielson in 2021.

[pizzalady1]

1 hour ago, Cruiser933 said:

Are you looking at 2021? The reservations are open and the shuttle bus will not go past Eielson in 2021.

Why???? 

I just answered my own question. Covid of course.

Edited December 7, 2020 by pizzalady1

[strickerj]

5 hours ago, pizzalady1 said:

Why???? 

I just answered my own question. Covid of course.

There's a thread on TripAdvisor about it - apparently Eielson Visitor Center will be undergoing renovations and will be closed:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g143022-i1271-k13431179-Denali_NP_update_for_2021_season-Denali_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html#108440065

[Cruiser933]

It looks like the Eielson renovations are not happening in 2021

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by Cruiser933
Clarification

[strickerj]

10 hours ago, Cruiser933 said:

It looks like the Eielson renovations are not happening in 2021

 

Oh I see, sorry it looks like I missed a couple pages in that thread... I got the impression Eielson Visitor Center and past it was due to close for the renovations, but if not, then would Wonder Lake also be accessible? Or was that due to COVID? It seems with the vaccines coming it would be too early to announce COVID cancellations for next summer.

 

EDIT: I see the schedule for next year shows only the camper buses going to Wonder Lake. 😞

Edited December 8, 2020 by strickerj

[wolfie11]

Info on 2021 Denali bus tours

https://www.reservedenali.com/alerts/covid-19-guest-updates/