Route Description: Rainbow Ridge is arguably the most striking feature along on the Richardson Highway. The highest point along the ridge, Rainbow Mountain, looms 4000 precipitous feet above the Richardson Highway and requires some tricky scrambling to reach the very top. Canwell Peak is a prominent subpeak on the north end of Rainbow Ridge and looks just as daunting from some angles, but it offers a lower-angle approach along a ridge on the backside and the elevation gain isn’t quite as high. While Canwell Peak can be climbed in under 6 hours with the same effort required of some Standard Mountain Hike routes, reaching the starting location requires winding slowly along a rough gravel road through a majestic canyon that adds considerable time to the tour and a high possibility of a flat tire, so this hike is only bookable under the Expert Mountain Hike option. You will have to cross a couple minor streams, so bringing a pair of water crossing shoes is a good idea for this hike. There are many opportunities for scenic detours on this route and ridiculous views from the summit ridge. If you don’t spot Dall sheep while hiking Canwell Peak, you’ll at least see their tracks.
Route Length: 2.5 miles, 2500 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Rates
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. 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.