Route Description: This hike starts by following a trail adjacent to Bear Creek which leads quickly above tree line. The trail is unmarked and a bit steep in places but relatively easy to follow. For beginners or those seeking an easier hike, the end of this trail is a good stopping point and a nice spot to picnic with beautiful views. However, experienced hikers and fit participants will enjoy climbing another 500-1000 vertical feet onto a broad plateau. Those on a Standard tour can roam and sightsee around the plateau as time permits, while those on a Expert tour can follow the plateau for miles without having to gain much additional elevation. You can view colorful rock formations and interesting cliffs in the neighboring Ruby Creek drainage as you approach a couple cirque glaciers at the head of Bear Creek, and adventurous hikers can cross over to the ridge on the opposite (south) side of Bear Creek and follow it back to the highway for an interesting loop hike. There are abundant Dall sheep in the area, caribou, marmots, and I once encountered three wolves on this route!
Route Length (Standard): up to 2 miles (one-way), 1000-2000 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Route Length (Expert): up to 5-6 miles (one-way), 2000-3000 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)
Each additional person $75 up to 10 max
Expert Tour (8-12 hours)
1 Person $400
2 People $450 ($225pp)
3 People $575 ($192pp)
4 People $675 ($165pp)
5 People $775 ($155pp)
6 People $875 ($146pp)
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.