Route Description: This entirely off-trail route starts by following scenic Boulder Creek for almost a mile, then quickly reaches wide-open views after ascending a small bluff onto a broad mountain slope. The slope narrows into an alpine ridge which climbs relentlessly uphill toward a false summit at 5800 feet elevation with an impressive 360° view. The ridge then descends about 300 feet and resumes climbing to the summit of Boulder Peak at 7050 feet elevation. Boulder Peak features an impressive vista of Mt. Silvertip towering over Jarvis Glacier thousands of feet below, and most of the route features great views of Mt. Shand, McGinnis Peak and Mt. Moffit. While the ridge is steep over most of its length, it is easily manageable with few obstacles. If conditions are right, you can follow Boulder Creek all the way down, passing by an impressive waterfall and beneath staggering cliffs. You are likely to spot Dall sheep on this hike, as well as other wildlife including caribou, moose, and more. Slower groups on a Standard tour will usually stop when the ridge turns steep, while fit groups can make the false summit. Conditions on the upper portion of this route (above the false summit) can be variable in May and September.
Route Length (Standard): up to 2.5 miles (one-way), 1800-3000 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Route Length (Expert): Up to 5 miles (one-way), 5000 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.