Welcoming adventurers from Fairbanks, Delta Junction, and beyond

The mountains surrounding Black Rapids, Alaska are full of amazing sights and hidden gems that are mostly unknown to tourists and even local Alaskans. Approximately 2.5 hours southeast of Fairbanks along the Richardson Highway, this quiet area of the Alaska Range features scenery on par with Denali National Park but without all the people. Steep, snow-capped mountains dominate the skyline. Scenic rivers, creeks, and glaciers fill the mountain valleys. A short hike above tree line leads to impressive vistas, while a long hike into the alpine can take you to epic views that few people have ever seen. This area also features abundant wildlife including moose, caribou, Dall sheep, bison, wolves, coyotes, bears, lynx, eagles and more.

I offer private guided hikes in these mountains, with a variety of routes available to suit everyone from the beginner to the hardy adventurer. There are no daily tour schedules here, no out-of-state college kids herding tourists, no tour boats crammed full of people. You won’t find any signs telling you which way to go, and much of the time you won’t see another person during your tour. It's just you and the wilderness at your own pace. This area features the closest glaciers to Fairbanks reachable on a simple day hike, and the next nearest are more than twice as far away! For a nominal fee, I can also double as your personal adventure photographer, and photographers can utilize my photography expertise for no extra expense. See rates and available routes below.

Rates

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.

Standard tours are limited to approximately 6 hours maximum, while Expert tours don’t have any strict time limitations. Clients who want to press farther into the wilderness or spend more time exploring, photographing, or otherwise enjoying their time outdoors should consider the Expert tour option, 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.

Difficulty Ratings are assigned to each route as follows:
Easy: Minimal elevation gain, suitable for people of average fitness and kids about 7 and up
Moderate: Significant elevation gain (1000-2500+ feet) and/or rugged terrain requiring good fitness & agility, suitable for kids about 10 and up
Difficult: High elevation gain (2500-5000 feet) and/or steep & rugged terrain, suitable for tough kids about 12 and up

Please contact me if you have questions about the difficulty of a particular route. Keep in mind that hiking on unimproved trails & off-trail in Alaska is more difficult than hiking on a maintained trail. In rugged terrain our average hiking speed may be 1 mph or less. A 1000-foot elevation gain can be challenging for those who don’t hike or climb much, even for people in decent shape. Also, inclement weather can make hiking more challenging, especially at higher elevations. Many routes don’t feature a specific endpoint, and how far we travel always depends on your preference and stamina. Most of these hiking routes require good fitness and experienced hikers will find plenty of interesting and challenging options. You may change your selected route anytime before your tour starts, and I may suggest exchanging routes based on weather and other factors.