Really enjoyed this conversation and feel more prepared for my 4 night trip in July 2024, can't wait to get on the trails and will be ready with my "hey bear" arm waving moves. Thank you!
When I come up this summer I will have my small camper in tow. If I want to drive into the park can I tow it or where would I leave it. I will probably be staying outside of park since I will not be making any reservations, my schedule may shift at last minute. I plan on doing mostly Boondocking.
Thanks for a very informative video! I’m taking the train to Denali in Aug 2023 and so far I have booked the East transit bus because I wanted to be able to do an excursion the same evening and didn’t want to get stuck on the Tundra Bus and miss the excursion. When I was booking my train ride I was told I wouldn’t have time to do both. After reading your recommendation about the tundra bus on your website I’m now second guessing which bus ride I should do. I’ve also seen great reviews of the transit bus on one of my Facebook groups. And I’m also wondering how you get from the hotels to the bus depot if I do the East transit? I see the Tundra picks you up at your hotel. I would appreciate any feedback you have. Thank you !
Lots of questions, Kelly - I love it! Okay, so I always recommend the TWT for first time visitors; once you've done a fully narrated tour, I think it's easier to hop on the Transit Bus for. future visits - but that TWT is really oriented for people who want to see/learn/understand the park fully. Regarding the transit bus, you're right - you have to get to the Wilderness Access Center (NOT the Visitor Center/Train & Bus Depot, but a short walk away) to get the bus. It depends on where you're staying, but *if* they offer a shuttle, most drop off over at the Visitor Center or Bus Depot, not the WAC, so you'll need to keep that in mind for catching a transit bus. (Again, TWT is great because it does to hotel pickups.) In general, I think people rave about the transit bus because they've been to Denali before and it's a nice balance of the experience with cost. But if you're totally new to it, the TWT makes everything easier AND gives you more knowledge so you can visit again in the future and be a pro on the transit bus. I hope that helps!
This all helps so much! Looks like I’ll be switching to the TWT. Thank you for your help! I have a few questions about a free day we have in Anchorage. Would you prefer I ask on your Anchorage video?
Hi Video is so much helpful l watched 2 times. And forwarded to other couple also. We are group of 4 visiting Denali in very early September do we all need pass. That $80 pass is for one Pearson or for couple or more. Me and my wife are also visiting some more national parks afterwards like Death Valley and Zion in late October. So Day 1 we are coming from Fairbanks via train what should we do on that day. We are picking up vehicle we will have that evening Day 2 l have booked transit bus. What can l do after the transit bus tour is over. Day 3 Going to Anchorage via train Please recommend how to utilize our time efficiently. Thanks Kulin
Hi, you'll need one America the Beautiful Pass per family/couple - can't be used for multiple couples/families. For other things to do, I recommend checking out the links in the description of this video as I have lots of links to help you!
Thanks for the great information. We (3 adults) will be visiting in August and have booked the TWT. Normally, I would have booked a tour for sometime around 9-10am, but I was concerned that since we can't book an actual time, we might get assigned a very early slot, so the morning tour did not seem like a good option. As such, we booked the afternoon tour and we'll do a quick hike in the morning. Do you have an opinion regarding morning vs afternoon TWT in general and particularly when it comes to wildlife viewing or is it strictly "hit or miss"? Also, what would you recommend as the best pick up point to get window seating together?
Lots of questions, Peter! 1. Morning is actually better... that's why they offer so many morning tours. It's also what I recommend (though you can't really choose your tour time, so it's a bit hit/miss on whether you're on the first buses of the day). 2. For pick-up point, it depends - you should have told them where you are staying and that's where they pick you up (only certain hotels). In terms of getting seats together, you just need to go to whichever pick-up point you're getting picked up at and line up very early.
@@valerievalise Thanks for the info. The whole system where you can't sign up for a specific time seems totally absurd, particularly with today's technology. That said, my family would not have been happy with a 5 or 6am wake up, so booking the morning TWT wouldn't work. Hopefully, we'll have a great tour in the afternoon. Regarding the pick up, we're not staying a hotel with pick up, so I was trying to determine where the first pick up usually is and go there. Thanks again for all the great videos.
Whats the difference between a shuttle and transit bus? I want to plan ahead since the last half of the park is still closed. I will visit in mid September
Have you checked out the NPS site for Denali buses? www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/bus-tours.htm Or this article I've written about the differences? www.valisemag.com/denali-bus-tours/ I hope those both help!
Thank you very mutch for this informative video! We will be staying at Teklanika with our motorhome, is it possible to bring mountain bikes and pass the landslide with the bikes (carrying it)?
Good question, and unfortunately no - the landslide has completely removed the road, and as it's on the side of a mountain, there is no bypass. You can ride along the park road up to that point though!
@@valerievalise Thanks, we booked the following day. Based on your video we'll take the free transit bus to Savage and do some hiking on 8/30. Also want to see the sled dogs.
Very informative !!! Thank you so much. I have a question, we are visiting Denali at the end of August 2023. My question is , to the point that the buses can travel now, is there any point that one is able to see Mt. Denali on a clear day ?
I'm sorry you didn't have a good time, but I disagree completely. Denali is an incredible park and telling people not to go is disappointing since you're assuming your personal experience is what everyone will have.
I’m sorry. But we lost interest when you stated the obvious (pronouns). Please don’t play those games. We are kind to everybody but pronouns are a distraction and political statement. We turned it off.
If you think it’s political, you’re missing the point. Please keep close-minded opinions like this to yourself and feel free to not use any of my resources to book your trip.
If your need for pertinent information from an amazingly informative video doesn't outweigh your bigotry...you have some bigger issues to tackle than how to get around a National Park. Good grief.
![MUST DO in Denali National Park | Wildlife, Hikes, Park Bus, & History [S1-E15]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ELtxatW3a0s/mqdefault.jpg)
Really enjoyed this conversation and feel more prepared for my 4 night trip in July 2024, can't wait to get on the trails and will be ready with my "hey bear" arm waving moves. Thank you!
I heard that some geography classes in certain other countries teach people that Aconcagua & Denali are on the same continent.
That would be wrong... they are part of the same huge collection of mountain ranges though! It's called the American Cordillera :)
Party !! I miss walking you
When I come up this summer I will have my small camper in tow. If I want to drive into the park can I tow it or where would I leave it. I will probably be staying outside of park since I will not be making any reservations, my schedule may shift at last minute. I plan on doing mostly Boondocking.
Thanks for a very informative video! I’m taking the train to Denali in Aug 2023 and so far I have booked the East transit bus because I wanted to be able to do an excursion the same evening and didn’t want to get stuck on the Tundra Bus and miss the excursion. When I was booking my train ride I was told I wouldn’t have time to do both. After reading your recommendation about the tundra bus on your website I’m now second guessing which bus ride I should do. I’ve also seen great reviews of the transit bus on one of my Facebook groups. And I’m also wondering how you get from the hotels to the bus depot if I do the East transit? I see the Tundra picks you up at your hotel. I would appreciate any feedback you have. Thank you !
Lots of questions, Kelly - I love it!
Okay, so I always recommend the TWT for first time visitors; once you've done a fully narrated tour, I think it's easier to hop on the Transit Bus for. future visits - but that TWT is really oriented for people who want to see/learn/understand the park fully.
Regarding the transit bus, you're right - you have to get to the Wilderness Access Center (NOT the Visitor Center/Train & Bus Depot, but a short walk away) to get the bus. It depends on where you're staying, but *if* they offer a shuttle, most drop off over at the Visitor Center or Bus Depot, not the WAC, so you'll need to keep that in mind for catching a transit bus. (Again, TWT is great because it does to hotel pickups.)
In general, I think people rave about the transit bus because they've been to Denali before and it's a nice balance of the experience with cost. But if you're totally new to it, the TWT makes everything easier AND gives you more knowledge so you can visit again in the future and be a pro on the transit bus.
I hope that helps!
This all helps so much! Looks like I’ll be switching to the TWT. Thank you for your help! I have a few questions about a free day we have in Anchorage. Would you prefer I ask on your Anchorage video?
@@kellysanburg3408 yes please! (Comments help the algorithm 😉)
Hi
Video is so much helpful l watched 2 times. And forwarded to other couple also.
We are group of 4 visiting Denali in very early September do we all need pass. That $80 pass is for one Pearson or for couple or more. Me and my wife are also visiting some more national parks afterwards like Death Valley and Zion in late October.
So Day 1 we are coming from Fairbanks via train what should we do on that day. We are picking up vehicle we will have that evening
Day 2 l have booked transit bus. What can l do after the transit bus tour is over.
Day 3 Going to Anchorage via train
Please recommend how to utilize our time efficiently.
Thanks
Kulin
Hi, you'll need one America the Beautiful Pass per family/couple - can't be used for multiple couples/families. For other things to do, I recommend checking out the links in the description of this video as I have lots of links to help you!
Thanks for the great information. We (3 adults) will be visiting in August and have booked the TWT. Normally, I would have booked a tour for sometime around 9-10am, but I was concerned that since we can't book an actual time, we might get assigned a very early slot, so the morning tour did not seem like a good option. As such, we booked the afternoon tour and we'll do a quick hike in the morning. Do you have an opinion regarding morning vs afternoon TWT in general and particularly when it comes to wildlife viewing or is it strictly "hit or miss"? Also, what would you recommend as the best pick up point to get window seating together?
Lots of questions, Peter!
1. Morning is actually better... that's why they offer so many morning tours. It's also what I recommend (though you can't really choose your tour time, so it's a bit hit/miss on whether you're on the first buses of the day).
2. For pick-up point, it depends - you should have told them where you are staying and that's where they pick you up (only certain hotels). In terms of getting seats together, you just need to go to whichever pick-up point you're getting picked up at and line up very early.
@@valerievalise Thanks for the info. The whole system where you can't sign up for a specific time seems totally absurd, particularly with today's technology. That said, my family would not have been happy with a 5 or 6am wake up, so booking the morning TWT wouldn't work. Hopefully, we'll have a great tour in the afternoon. Regarding the pick up, we're not staying a hotel with pick up, so I was trying to determine where the first pick up usually is and go there. Thanks again for all the great videos.
Whats the difference between a shuttle and transit bus? I want to plan ahead since the last half of the park is still closed. I will visit in mid September
Have you checked out the NPS site for Denali buses? www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/bus-tours.htm Or this article I've written about the differences? www.valisemag.com/denali-bus-tours/ I hope those both help!
Thank you very mutch for this informative video! We will be staying at Teklanika with our motorhome, is it possible to bring mountain bikes and pass the landslide with the bikes (carrying it)?
Good question, and unfortunately no - the landslide has completely removed the road, and as it's on the side of a mountain, there is no bypass. You can ride along the park road up to that point though!
Hello. Do the tour buses add capacity? I’m trying to book 8/30 afternoon for 3 and it’s already full.
Unfortunately not usually at this point. It’s just a matter of the number of buses allowed each day.
@@valerievalise Thanks, we booked the following day. Based on your video we'll take the free transit bus to Savage and do some hiking on 8/30. Also want to see the sled dogs.
Very informative !!! Thank you so much. I have a question, we are visiting Denali at the end of August 2023. My question is , to the point that the buses can travel now, is there any point that one is able to see
Mt. Denali on a clear day ?
Absolutely! Some of the photos on my blog are from the bus tour that only goes 43 miles and we saw Denali several times.
Does bear spray work on moose?
No, it will just make things worse. I recommend doing some research into moose safety so you are better able to respond in an encounter.
We had visit Denali Park July 2023vand it's not the time and worth the money to spend.
I'm sorry you didn't have a good time, but I disagree completely.
Denali is an incredible park and telling people not to go is disappointing since you're assuming your personal experience is what everyone will have.
I’m sorry. But we lost interest when you stated the obvious (pronouns). Please don’t play those games. We are kind to everybody but pronouns are a distraction and political statement. We turned it off.
If you think it’s political, you’re missing the point. Please keep close-minded opinions like this to yourself and feel free to not use any of my resources to book your trip.
If your need for pertinent information from an amazingly informative video doesn't outweigh your bigotry...you have some bigger issues to tackle than how to get around a National Park.
Good grief.