Route Description: This hike starts by following Grizzly Creek (unofficial name) for about a half-mile to the start of a rough trail which leads steadily up through the forest. The trail ends above tree line after climbing over 1000 feet. An intimidating false summit looms another 1.5 miles ahead along a scenic ridge. Those on a standard tour will stop along the ridge prior to the false summit, while those on an Expert tour can scramble up the false summit and follow a gentle incline for another 2-3 miles to the ridgeline overlooking Jarvis Glacier. Alternately, the false summit can be avoided by crossing Grizzly Creek below it and ascending the more gentle adjacent slope, which leads to the same place. On a clear day this hike features an amazing perspective of McGinnis Peak, Mt. Moffit, and Mt. Hayes grouped closely together, as well as great views of Black Rapids Glacier and even Fort Greely over 20 miles away. Grizzly Creek drops in a series of waterfalls beside the false summit and creates beautifully clear pools worth stopping at for water and lunch. Above the false summit there are many dizzying cliffs to peer over, and if you finish the 4800-foot climb to the end of this route the view of Mt. Silvertip and Jarvis Glacier is incredibly rewarding. Dall sheep are likely to be spotted, along with other wildlife including moose, caribou, marmots, porcupines, golden eagles, and more.
Route Length (Standard): Up to 2.5 miles (one-way), up to 2800 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Route Length (Expert): Up to 4.5 miles (one-way), 3500-4800 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: 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 $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.