Hike the Stampede Trail to the Magic Bus

* Updated June 18, 2020: Due to safety concerns, the bus has been removed from this location.

The trail to the Magic Bus is roughly 18.6 miles long and starts at the point where you no longer can drive, which is typically Eightmile Lake. Offroad vehicles can drive the entire way provided they can cross the Teklanika River. The trail is mostly flat but extremely wet and muddy. In many cases you will find yourself walking through creeks and quagmire. The uphills are short but the tundra terrain provides enough complications of its own.

There are 2 river crossings. These are the most dangerous parts of the trail and should be carefully considered before advancing. The rivers can fluctuate greatly and if the water is too high the trail will be too dangerous to continue. The Teklanika River is the most dangerous, the current is very swift, and the river wide. This will make or break the adventure as it is a required ford. Proceed with extreme caution. 

The trail is an old road the entire way which makes it pretty easy to follow. There are several times where it intersects other ATV trails but the Stampede Trail is the largest and best maintained. It is extremely helpful to have a GPS. The only place I had trouble finding the trail was after crossing the Teklanika River. I followed an ATV path about 1/4 of a mile further upstream where the water was a little flatter. The trail is pretty straight forward after that. The bus is located in plain sight and can not be missed from the trail.

The Alaska environment changes drastically. Mosquitoes can be extremely bad in the Summer, in the Fall it is extremely icy and cold, and in the Spring the ice break up makes the trail too dangerous. Different skills are required during every season. The most important thing is that you know before you go. The bus is loved by many, so please take the necessary precautions to help preserve it.

There is a possibility that the bus could be full. It only sleeps a few people but there are plenty of places outside to camp.

* This adventures requires expert backcountry knowledge and experience. Do not attempt without the proper preparation, planning, and skill.