An Italian man suffering from frostbite and four other tourists have been rescued in the Alaskan wilderness after visiting an abandoned bus that has become a lure for adventurers since it was featured in the Into The Wild book and movie.

Key points: The hiker's injuries are not considered life-threatening

The rescue was the latest episode involving the bus, first made famous by Jon Krakauer's book published in 1996 and then by Sean Penn's 2007 film

Over the years, some hikers have been rescued and others have died while trying to retrace the protagonist's last steps

Alaska State Troopers said the five Italians were rescued from a camp they set up after visiting the dilapidated bus on the Stampede Trail near the interior town of Healy, approximately 400 kilometres north of Anchorage.

The hikers were found approximately 21 kilometres from the trailhead, trooper spokesman Tim DeSpain said.

He said one of the hikers had frostbite to his feet and was transported to Fairbanks for treatment.

His injuries are not considered life-threatening.

Rescuers were alerted after the hikers set off a satellite-based emergency beacon. Rescuers reached the site by snowmobile, Mr DeSpain said.

The rescue was the latest episode involving the bus, first made famous by Jon Krakauer's book, published in 1996, and then by Sean Penn's 2007 film of the same name.

Both fuelled the fascination with the true story of Christopher McCandless, who died of starvation in the bus, which is about 16 kilometres north of the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve.

Over the years, some hikers have been rescued and others have died while trying to retrace McCandless' last steps.

The film came out in 2007. ( Supplied: IMDb )

In July, a newlywed woman from Belarus died after she was swept away by the Teklanika River while trying to reach the bus with her husband.

In 2013, three German hikers trying to reach the bus were rescued after the river became impassable because of high, fast-moving water.

Families of some of those who have died are now behind a proposal before Denali Borough for a feasibility study for the construction of a footbridge over the Teklanika.

But borough Mayor Clay Walker said there were several concerns about that idea, including that a footbridge might give people a false sense of security.

It could lead to more people trying to reach the bus, and that could lead to more rescues, Mr Walker said.

There are more hazards in the unforgiving wilderness surrounding the bus, as the recent rescue illustrates.

"A footbridge wouldn't have changed the need for a rescue," Mr Walker said.

Mr Walker said it would be better to remove the bus to stop people trying to reach it.

AP