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| Home > Alaska > Stampede Trail |
Stampede Trail
Thursday, January 4, 2024
| Other Names | The Magic Bus Trail, 142 Bus, Fairbanks Bus, Into the Wild, Stampede Road, Teklanika River, Savage River, Eight Mile Lake |
| Last Known Status | Open |
Originally an old mining road built in the 1930's, this rugged trail begins outside Healy, Alaska and heads west. The trail at one time eventually connected to Bus 142, the infamous shelter that was used by ill-fated hiker Christopher McCandless portrayed in the Jon Krakauer book and the 2007 film "Into The Wild" directed by Sean Penn.
The bus was removed in June 2020 due to public safety issues which ranged from harsh weather conditions and crossing the Teklanika River, which is fast moving with deep and very cold water. This river is extremely dangerous and drownings have occurred when riders and machines being swept away by the deceptively powerful current.
It is advised that you do not attempt to cross the river, especially during the summer months as glacier melt and rainy weather increase the river current and depth significantly.
Although crossing is sometimes feasible when the water is lowest (late winter / early spring), there is no specific time frame when crossing is advised.
Due to the bus being removed, another alternative is to check out the movie prop bus that was featured in the film and while downing a cold one at the nearby 49th State Brewery.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | No | |
| Dates Open | Year-Round | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | Unknown | |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | ||
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | No Restriction | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 Four Wheelers | Permitted | |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | |
 4x4 & Jeeps (registered) | Permitted | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Permitted | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
 Camping | No Restriction | (camp anywhere) |
 Campfires | ||
| Night Riding | Unknown | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | vehicles must stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | State Forest |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Very Good |
| Recommended Stay | 1-2 Days |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Healy, AK | ||
| From: Anchorage, AK
1) Take SR-1 East about 35 miles 2) Turn left (north) onto SR-3, continue about 64 miles 3) Turn left (west) onto Stampede Road, continue about 4 miles 4) Park at any of the side pullouts. Note: Stampede Road is paved for the first 4 miles, and is reachable by most vehicles to mile 5, after that high clearance 4WD is required. |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Denali National Park And Preserve P.O. Box 9 Denali Park, AK 99755-0009 (907) 683-9532 (907) 683-2294 denali_info@nps.gov www.nps.gov |
| Contact Info | Denali ATV Adventures P.O. Box 593 Healy, AK 99743 (907) 683-4288 info@denaliatv.com www.denaliatv.com |
| Contact Info | Denali Jeep Backcountry Safari (907) 683-4404 info@bestofalaskatravel.com www.alaskatravel.com |
Stampede Trail Photo
The Magic Bus was removed in June 2020.
Stampede Trail Photo
Teklanika River
ADD PHOTOS
TERRAIN
| Miles Of Trail | 25 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 1700 to 2100 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Little | |
| Hard Pack |  Some | |
| Sand |  None | |
| Mud | Some | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | Little | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills |  Few | |
| Small Jumps | None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms | None | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | None | |
| Hazards | Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice |  Mostly | |
 Amateur | Some | |
 Expert | Little |
GPS POINTS
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
 Water | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
 RV Hookup | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
 RV Disposal | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
| Campground | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
 Conv Store | 1-5 Miles (SE) | McKinley RV Park and Campground (907) 683-2379 |
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS