December 12, 2022 Update: Multiple ice caves are scattered around Canwell Glacier. A 1+ mile hike over very rocky, hilly terrain is required to reach the area containing ice caves, so a moderate degree of fitness is required. I expect at least one impressive ice cave to remain generally accessible throughout the summer, but depending on conditions a few more caves may be possible to see on a Standard tour. I recommend an Expert tour if you want to walk on bare ice on the surface of the glacier. If you want to do both, you better be in great hiking shape!
Route Description: In the summer Canwell Glacier is reachable by a rough gravel road that winds through a beautiful canyon full of colorful rock. An ATV trail parallels the glacier for a couple miles after the road ends, doubling as a nice hiking trail with amazing views of the glacier valley. Those looking for an easy hike with beautiful scenery can simply stay on the ATV trail and explore the hillside above the glacier. However, more adventurous hikers can spend all day roaming around the lower glacier looking for interesting features like ice caves, meltwater canyons, glacial lakes, and more, or press farther up the glacier on bare ice as far as the base of Institute Peak. You’ll have to descend the steep, rocky lateral moraine to access the glacier, so if you’re not comfortable with uneven footing and steep slopes but still want to walk on the surface of a glacier, try Gulkana Glacier instead. Crevassed areas and other dangers are easily avoided, and you don’t need crampons, axes, or any other special gear, but I do provide ice cleats if we plan to walk on bare ice. If you hike up the glacier you’ll spot the Lower Canwell Hut and have great views of Institute Peak, which lights up beautifully around sunrise and sunset in the summer. In early summer and possibly September, snow cover may restrict how far you can hike up the glacier. Snow generally melts off the lower glacier moraine by the end of May, but may remain on the upper section of the glacier into mid-June.
Route Length (Standard): up to 2.5 miles (one-way), elevation gain 800 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Route Length (Expert): up to 6 miles (one-way), elevation gain 1500 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
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 $30 per person for professional adventure portraits. (Full-size 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.