Route Description: This hike doesn’t follow any trail at all, unless you count sheep trails! This entirely off-trail route starts by following scenic Boulder Creek for almost a mile. The creek is fairly wide over this length and easy to navigate, though you might have to hop across the creek or bushwhack along the edge for short distances where the water pinches against the edge of the creek bed. After ascending a small bluff onto a broad mountain slope, the rest of the hike features never-ending wide-open views. There’s no trail leading up the slope, but the brush is limited and easy to avoid as we forge our own path higher. The slope eventually narrows into a steep alpine ridge which climbs relentlessly uphill toward a false summit with an impressive 360° view. Slower groups will usually stop when the ridge turns steep, while very fit groups can reach the false summit. If you enjoy tossing rocks over cliffs to see how far they fall, this is the hike for you. You are likely to spot Dall sheep on this hike, as well as other wildlife including caribou, moose, and more. The snow usually melts off the sun-facing side of the ridge early in May making this one of the easiest places to gain serious elevation early in summer, though snow may linger over sections of the creek until June.
Route Length: up to 2.5 miles (one-way), 1800-3000 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Rates
Standard Tour (4-6 hours)
1 Person $300
2 People $350 ($175pp)
3 People $450 ($150pp)
4 People $525 ($131pp)
5 People $600 ($120pp)
6 People $675 ($112.50pp)
Alaska Resident & Military Discount: Parties with at least one Alaska resident or active duty military personnel receive a 10% discount. Enter code “AK_AND_MILITARY_DISCOUNT” at checkout.
Add $50 per person for professional adventure portraits. (High-resolution digital files delivered via web download after your hike.)
Receive a discount when you also book an Aurora Borealis Photography Tour. (Please inquire.)
Rates above do not include transportation from Fairbanks! Optional transportation is available for an extra fee.
Customers who want to press farther into the wilderness or spend more time exploring, photographing, or otherwise enjoying their time outdoors should consider the Expert Mountain Hike, though Standard tours are designed to offer impressive sights and a fun experience on routes where offered. If you require optional transportation from Fairbanks, please note the tour durations above do not include travel time, and that travel time from Fairbanks is approximately 2.5 hours each way.
All tours are PRIVATE and involve no technical rock or ice climbing. Maximum group size 6; special arrangements must be made for larger groups up to 10. Children are welcome on tours but there is no youth discount; see age recommendations in difficulty ratings below. Full payment is required to reserve a tour. A 5% cancellation fee is charged when reservations are canceled at least 10 days in advance. A 50% cancellation fee is charged when reservations are canceled less than 10 days but at least three days in advance. No refunds are given for cancellations made less than three days in advance. Tours may be canceled due to extreme weather (e.g. thunderstorms), highway closures, etc., in which case your tour will be rescheduled or fully refunded. However, rain, wind, and temperatures near freezing are quite common in the mountains, especially at higher elevations, so customers should dress appropriately and be prepared to face the elements. Note that light rain showers are much more common than heavy downpours. While I can sometimes shift the date of a tour to align with better weather (subject to availability), I cannot guarantee perfect weather on the day of your hike and do not provide refunds if you experience rainy or cloudy weather. If you are afraid of catching a single raindrop or clouds hampering your landscape photo opportunities, please do not bother booking! For complete tour policies and more tour information, see the Black Rapids Tours FAQ.