Stampede Trail
The Stampede Trail's tragic claim to fame is that it's the location of the bus where Christopher McCandless died in 1992.
Plan Around Stampede Trail
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Stampede Trail Details
The Stampede Trail's tragic claim to fame is that it's the location of the bus where Christopher McCandless died in 1992 -- the story documented in the book and movie, Into the Wild. The bus (formerly #192 in the Fairbanks City Transit System) is still there, about 20 miles along from the beginning of the road near Healy, Alaska. Before you reach the bus you'll have to cross the Teklanika River -- the barrier that ultimately preventing a sick and starving McCandless from reaching help. Located north of the park entrance, the Stampede Trail can be accessed via the George Parks Highway/Highway 3 at mile 251.1 (about two miles north of Healy). For the first few miles, the trail is more of a road and is paved, but this former mining road turns decidedly primitive after that --muddy and deeply rutted from ATVs, among other things. Nonetheless, it is a popular route into the Alaskan backcountry, for "pilgrims" to the bus, and for accessing the far northern portions of Denali National Park and Preserve. Trail users include hikers, hunters, snowmobilers, and those with four-wheel-drive vehicles capable of fording rivers -- a challenge that should not be undertaken lightly.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
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Estimated time
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Nearby Parks Around Stampede Trail
Compare nearby parks around Stampede Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Stampede Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Stampede Trail while the map context is still fresh.
12.1 mi away
Teklanika River
The Teklanika River is more widely known as the Tek River.
13.7 mi away
Toklat River Contact Station
The Toklat River Contact Station boasts views of the famously braided river and Divide Mountain.
13.7 mi away
Toklat River Contact Station
The Toklat River Contact Station boasts views of the famously braided river and Divide Mountain.
14.4 mi away
Sanctuary River
The Sanctuary River is one of the main waterways in Denali.
14.4 mi away
Teklanika River Campground
Teklanika is the vehicle-accessible campground most distant from the park visitor center.
