Route Description: Devils Thumb can be seen from the Richardson Highway sticking out from the ridge above Trims Creek like—well, a sore thumb. It’s a great subject for photographs and the views of Trims Glacier & Item Peak are also impressive. Hiking to Devils Thumb involves significant bushwhacking and a long slog up a broad slope, but the torturous climb is quickly forgotten once you crest the ridge and see the entirety of the giant rock gendarme looming ahead. (The rock is rotten and not suitable for climbing.) Continuing past the thumb along the ridge is possible for a good distance but it eventually becomes too rugged to continue. You can retrace your route back to the highway or descend to Castner Glacier from Devils Thumb and hike along the glacier moraine back to the road for an interesting loop hike. Lingering snow may make this hike impractical in May. This route is only offered under the Expert tour option and hikers should expect to suffer while navigating dense brush on the lower areas of the route.
Route Length (Expert Only): 2 miles (one-way), 2500 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Rates
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.