Route Description: Rainbow Ridge is arguably the most striking feature along on the Richardson Highway. Rising 4000 precipitous feet above the road, the whole thing is basically one giant, colorful scree slope with a serrated top daring anyone to try and climb it. While it may look hopeless to the beginner, there are a few lower angle slopes that permit reaching a point along the ridge. Climbing Canwell Peak on the north end of Rainbow Ridge is only moderately difficult, but it’s approached from the backside which isn’t quite as daunting. The rest of Rainbow Ridge is steeper and more difficult. Assaulting Rainbow Mountain (the highest point along Rainbow Ridge) requires a long, solidly steep climb that gets steeper near the top and requires a bit of tricky scrambling to make the summit, though the views are still great if you stop a little short. Hiking to the prominent notch in the ridge between the summit of Rainbow Mountain and Canwell Peak is also very steep but manageable, and once you make it to the notch it’s not that difficult to hike up the south slope where you gain a nice view looking up the ridge toward Rainbow Mountain. You can also make a steep hike to a summit around 6000 feet elevation adjacent to Rainbow Ridge’s south end, and if the horizon is clear you can see the Wrangell Mountains in the distance. If you don’t spot Dall sheep while hiking Rainbow Ridge, you’ll at least see their tracks. Standard tours are offered for shorter elevation gain hikes including Canwell Peak and those who want to explore the open tundra areas around Rainbow Basin where the terrain is not as challenging.
Route Length (Canwell Peak, Standard or Expert): 2.5 miles, 2500 feet elevation gain
Description: Moderate
Route Length (rest of Rainbow Ridge, Standard or Expert): 1-3 miles (one-way), 2500-4000 feet elevation gain depending where you aim
Description: Difficult to Very 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.