Steven Miley Photography

Canwell Glacier requires a much longer approach and better fitness to reach compared to Castner Glacier. A steady one-way 3+ mile snowshoe trek brings you to the wide glacier terminus, where you’ll find a series of spectacular ice caves and interesting ice formations as you continue onward, far more than you could ever explore in one day. About half of all groups on the standard tour are content to stop at the first or second ice cave, usually because at least one person in the group becomes too tired to go any farther in a reasonable amount of time, but fit groups who can maintain a faster pace may see up to three or four different ice caves, all of them unique. Canwell Glacier sees very little traffic, even on sunny weekends in the spring when you might find a train of people heading to Castner. In fact, most of the time I see zero other people while leading tours to Canwell, and when I do bump into others I tend to know about half of them. In particular, tourists do not visit this glacier unguided, and they wouldn’t know where to find the ice caves even if they tried, so if you are looking for a non-touristy hike, then Canwell Glacier is perfect. I often spot moose along the route and frequently find wolf, fox, lynx and wolverine tracks in the snow, though spotting these smaller animals takes luck. On a clear day, you’ll have a great view of Institute Peak towering over the glacier, and you might spy the sheer south face of 12,660-foot Mt. Shand peeking through a gap in the mountains to the north. You can also purchase optional adventure portraits with your tour.

People who don’t hike or regularly walk/run longer distances will find the route very challenging, and even those in great shape will receive a good workout if significant trail breaking through deep snow is required. Occasionally, my snowshoe trail may become packed well enough that snowshoes are not required, especially in March and early April, but participants should expect to wear snowshoes on part or all of the hike. It helps to have a strong person in your group to help pack the trail for those following behind. Snowshoes are provided so you don’t need to bring your own! Many participants have “hit the wall” on the return hike, meaning their legs were so fatigued they could barely walk more than a few minutes at a time in between rest, but this is fine as long as it happens on the return hike and not the forward hike. We always have headlamps in case we need to return in the dark, especially in December and January when daylight hours are limited. A few participants have not been able to maintain a reasonable pace early in the hike, and in those cases we stopped early and visited Castner Glacier, instead. However, please don’t rely on Castner as a safety net! All participants in your group should be capable of completing the hike. For reference, a 1.25 mph average hiking pace (including rest) is quite reasonable, but under 1 mph is not. If you are mostly sedentary, especially if you are also overweight, you will probably not be able to complete this hike. The standard tour usually takes 4-6 hours depending on weather, snow/trail conditions, and group fitness, with most groups taking 5-6 hours.

This tour also offers an Expert option lasting 8-10 hours whenever daylight permits. (Sorry, there is not enough daylight to offer the Expert option from November 16 through January 14.) Under the Expert option, you can spend all day roaming the lower glacier moraine looking for cool ice features or even find an ice cave no one has ever seen before. Those who select the Expert option are usually hardcore hikers who want to see as much as possible or serious photographers who intend to spend a lot of time photographing with professional equipment, or occasionally hikers who just want to ensure they have enough time to hike slow and steady to the glacier so they can enjoy their hike without hurrying. Optional transportation is generally not available for the Expert option due to the extremely long work day required and conflicts that result with the rest of my tour schedule, though customers may still inquire if they need transportation. I strongly encourage all customers booking the Expert option to stay in Delta Junction or at the Lodge at Black Rapids before their hike so they can start on time and fully enjoy their day. (Both are great places to see the aurora, as well.)

Reaching Canwell Glacier is possible throughout all of winter, but late January through early April is the best time in terms of snow conditions and daylight hours. On a sunny day in March, Canwell Glacier is close to paradise. Under the right conditions, you might experience walking on a mile-long plain of ice in front of the glacier created by groundwater repeatedly overflowing and freezing, or you might find yourself navigating pristine “snow dunes” when fresh snow buries the treeless, hilly glacier. Conditions in October and November can be unpredictable and potentially difficult since navigating through some amount of brushy terrain or jumping across a shallow unfrozen stream may be required, and you better get an early start by mid-April to avoid slushy snow in the late afternoon. Hikes must start around 10am from mid-November to mid-January due to limited daylight, but the start time can shift an hour later to 11am starting in late January.

Rates

Alaska Resident & Military Discount: Parties with at least one Alaska resident or active duty U.S. Armed Forces 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 $100 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 of Canwell Glacier are limited to approximately 6 hours maximum, while Expert tours are limited to approximately 10 hours. 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, though customers will receive credit for a future tour. Tours may be canceled due to extreme cold (below about -15 °F), in which case your tour will be rescheduled or fully refunded. However, 0° F is near average during the coldest months (December & January) and it’s actually a comfortable temperature to recreate in once your blood gets flowing, so clients should prepare to face cold temperatures and dress appropriately. For complete tour policies and more tour information, see the Black Rapids Tours FAQ.

Difficulty Ratings are assigned to each route as follows:
Easy: Low mileage & elevation gain, easy snow travel, suitable for people of average fitness and kids about 7 and up
Moderate: Rugged terrain, higher mileage, and/or breaking trail required, suitable for people of good fitness and kids about 10 and up
Difficult: Very high mileage, rugged terrain, and/or significant trail breaking required, suitable for tough kids about 12 and up

Please contact me if you have questions about the difficulty of a particular route. Keep in mind that snowshoeing requires more energy than walking, and breaking trail through deep snow can be very strenuous. Using alpine touring skis to travel in the backcountry is generally easiest, but I do not provide ski rentals. (Beaver Sports in Fairbanks rents them.) Snow conditions can greatly affect the difficulty of a particular route, and cold weather may make any trip challenging. You may change your selected route anytime before your tour starts, and I may suggest exchanging routes based on weather, snow conditions and other factors as your tour date approaches.