Walk-ons may wait as long as two days for an opening in the summer months. Young people ages 13 through 16 get on for half price. Children 12 and under ride free. Passengers may debark at various stopping points and board other buses if space is available. Visitors also can sign up for interpretive programs conducted on 33 additional buses.
Lunch is included in the wildlife tour.
Natural history buffs get snacks and a beverage. By most accounts, this system is as unwieldy as it sounds, but on a good day with the mountain in view and wildlife wandering nonchalantly near the road, most people forget about the discomforts. And, of course, park ecology benefits. Five private resorts in the park provide buses and vans, which have access to the road as well. Hikers will find few maintained trails, and most of those are short loops close to the park lodge.