A Wonderful Day in Denali National Park
This is my long anticipated day of bus trip deep into Denali National Park. During summer time visitors can travel the park road only by Park’s public transportation system. No private vehicles are allowed in the Park and backpackers must obtain a backcountry permit to enter.
I felt fortunate to be able to get a bus ticket yesterday for this trip. Normally, visitors need to make reservation much earlier in advance in Park’s peak time like this. I signed up with a bus tour of 8 hours and some 170 miles roundtrip to Wonder Lake starting from the visitor center located at the entrance of the Park. Along the way, mountain scenery was breathtaking as I had been told. This was the first time since I left home a few weeks ago that I could enjoy the mountain and animal viewings all day long without concerning driving safety. How wonderful!!
This was not a hop-on-and-off bus tour; the bus only stopped at a few places for us to get out briefly. However, we were told by the bus driver, we could leave the tour at some designated stops then boarded later bus to continue the trip if there were seats available. We arrived at Eielson Visitor Center in the afternoon, looking down from the observing deck, hiking trails down below were so inviting and the view of Mt. McKinley was magnificent. I asked to leave the tour so I can explore the area more. I found this place was more than a tourist stop to me; I did not want to just take a few pictures and left. I wanted to “mingle” with the nature. I spent next few hours hiking the trails in the open field near Eielson Center and had good viewing of Mt McKinley while traversing the paths. I enjoyed it thoroughly!!
By the time I took later shuttle bus back to Park’s Visitor Center and returned to Riley Creek Campground it was almost 10 o’clock at night.
This is my long anticipated day of bus trip deep into Denali National Park. During summer time visitors can travel the park road only by Park’s public transportation system. No private vehicles are allowed in the Park and backpackers must obtain a backcountry permit to enter.
I felt fortunate to be able to get a bus ticket yesterday for this trip. Normally, visitors need to make reservation much earlier in advance in Park’s peak time like this. I signed up with a bus tour of 8 hours and some 170 miles roundtrip to Wonder Lake starting from the visitor center located at the entrance of the Park. Along the way, mountain scenery was breathtaking as I had been told. This was the first time since I left home a few weeks ago that I could enjoy the mountain and animal viewings all day long without concerning driving safety. How wonderful!!
This was not a hop-on-and-off bus tour; the bus only stopped at a few places for us to get out briefly. However, we were told by the bus driver, we could leave the tour at some designated stops then boarded later bus to continue the trip if there were seats available. We arrived at Eielson Visitor Center in the afternoon, looking down from the observing deck, hiking trails down below were so inviting and the view of Mt. McKinley was magnificent. I asked to leave the tour so I can explore the area more. I found this place was more than a tourist stop to me; I did not want to just take a few pictures and left. I wanted to “mingle” with the nature. I spent next few hours hiking the trails in the open field near Eielson Center and had good viewing of Mt McKinley while traversing the paths. I enjoyed it thoroughly!!
By the time I took later shuttle bus back to Park’s Visitor Center and returned to Riley Creek Campground it was almost 10 o’clock at night.
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