Canwell Peak

Type: Backcountry or Sidecountry

The Red Rock Canyon Road is not always plowed in the winter. If it is, they usually only go to the entrance of the canyon.

This is the prominent north face that is visible from the big pullout about a mile north of the Red Rock Canyon Road. A true gem in the Alaska Range because the approach takes much less effort than the climb. This face is also holds powder late in the season and has around a variety of ski lines that range from moderate to extreme.

Park at the entrance to the canyon on the Red Rock Canyon Road. Head due south for a quarter mile in a valley bottom on a 4-wheeler trail toward a gut that is visible from the parking lot. Skin or boot up the steep, slightly brushy gut. Depending on the snow and avalanche conditions, it may be better to drop down the small hill and follow the valley bottom to the bottom of your line. Otherwise, embrace the right leg burn on a massive traverse across the face to the base of your line. The face is a lot bigger than it looks from the bottom. Remember there is about 2,000 ft. of vert from the top of the gut to the summit.

There are some smaller, more mellow lines on the east side of the face. It is possible to ski directly off the peak, but there are some cleaner lines just down from the summit that are much higher quality.

If the gut is in poor condition, head further out the Red Rock Canyon Road and follow the valley in from the northeast, crossing the small lake marked on the topo map. This might be a more mellow and direct approach for riding the lines on the east side of the face.