Route Description: If you want to experience the maximum feeling of tranquility and solitude an Alaskan winter can provide, consider going for a snowshoe or ski (or a hike in early winter) along one of many scenic mountain creeks. There’s nothing like catching a creek just as it starts freezing over or breaking trail through unblemished snow. A short trek can take you to scenic cliffs, frozen waterfalls, mountain vistas and more, and you likely won’t encounter another person all day. Bear Creek, One Mile Creek, Boulder Creek, Michael Creek, Whistler Creek, Lower Miller Creek…these all have something interesting to see and collectively they provide options ranging from easy to difficult, and all of them are magnets for wildlife including moose, lynx, foxes, wolves, wolverines, ptarmigan, and more. (Wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed, but you will see plenty of signs of wildlife during the hike.) Availability & difficulty of all routes is subject to water flow & snow conditions.
Route Length (Standard Only): 2-4 miles round-trip, 200 to 700+ feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate
Rates
Standard Tour (4-6 hours)
1 Person $350
2 People $375 ($187.50pp)
3 People $500 ($165pp)
4 People $600 ($150pp)
5 People $700 ($140pp)
6 People $800 ($133.33pp)
Each additional person $100 up to 10 max
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.
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.