Outdoor Activities

Fernie is an outdoor playground, offering a never-ending menu of year-round adventure.

Fishing

The Elk River and its more than 30 tributaries are home to cutthroat trout, whitefish and some of the largest bull trout found anywhere making Fernie an angler's paradise. The Elk is accessible along most of its length within the City from Fernie's community walking trail. The City provides a boat launch at Dog Wood Park located at 200 4A Avenue.

Golf

Try a round of golf at Fernie Golf & Country Club, the Elk Valley's most scenic location. Opened in 1918 and regarded as a player's dream, this course has something for every player.

Club facts: Par 70 and 6,556 yards long; cart rentals available at the club house. There is a full Pro-Shop and complete food and beverage service available in two venues: the casual Player's Lounge and the terrace overlooking the course. On-course refreshments are available from on-course service carts.

Hiking 

The best way to get around Fernie is on the City's multiuse trails. The Parks, Facilites and Recreation takes pride in our community and trail system, enhancing Fernie residents' quality of life through first-rate leisure and recreational opportunities. Along with our partners, we strive to ensure the community parks and trails are accessible and enjoyable for residents of all ages.

Kayaking

Fernie is home to a large and active paddling community. As the snow melts each year the elk and bull rivers provide great paddling from early spring to late fall. Whitewater runs range from class II to VI.

Whitewater Rafting

A number of whitewater rafting companies are available to provide whatever river experience you are looking for. Experience whitewater or a gentle cruise along some of the most spectacular terrain of the Canadian Rockies. Three types of trips are available: thrilling whitewater river rafting; inflatable kayaking; and scenic river floating. Experience Fernie from May until September on the unbeatable whitewaters of the Elk River.

Canoeing

Most of the use on the Elk River is by rafts or drift boats oared by anglers keying in to the river's native bull trout and cutthroats. From the cottonwood-lined shores up to spectacular peaks, the Elk is an eyeful. The river below Morrissey, British Columbia, offers generally good floating, with some slack water to reach the alternative take-out at the bridge near the dam at Elko, British Columbia. This trip features the most scenic portion of the 119-mile river, with stunning views of Mount Hosmer and other peaks. It flows through Fernie, where paddlers can easily eddy out for a break on the banks of the Elk. The river is especially scenic in late September and early October, when cottonwoods and aspens turn brilliant yellow.

Mountain Biking

Mountain biking, a major draw to summer-time Fernie, caters to everyone from newcomers experiencing their first-time high to hard-core muddy madmen engaged in extreme adrenaline-pumped competition. Fernie offers hundreds of miles of varied riding terrain, from the pastoral beauty of the valley's farms and ranches to the old townsite on the Coal Creek Heritage Trail, to lift-accessed exploration of Fernie Alpine Resort's extensive trail system, meaning the town is a mecca in the mountain biking world. The celebrated TransRockies Challenge also passes through town.

If you are interested in joining the club or would like some more information on some of the rides, visit the Fernie Mountain Bike Club website or send an email to directors@bikefernie.ca

Skiing & Snowboarding


Legendary Fernie is known as one of the world's premier ski destinations. With annual recorded snow fall of over 10 metres, whether it's alpine or backcountry, Fernie is the place to be.

Snowmobiling

From anywhere in the Elk Valley, it's easy to see that the terrain in this part of the Kootenay Rockies is extreme. The mountains are rugged and steep, some with phenomenally high, sheer rock faces. Fernie's snowmobiling is extreme too - with the exception of a few family-friendly areas in the valley.

The community welcomes out-of-town sledders, and local riders are often willing to show visitors around. The Fernie Snowmobile Association maintains cabins at Ram Creek and Minnesota Flats. The organization also publishes a trail map - available from hotels, gas stations, snowmobile dealers, and from the Visitor Centre located off the highway, just north of town.

Rentals for independent touring are also available in Fernie. Contact Fernie Tourism for more information.

Contact Information
Fernie Snowmobile Association
P.O. Box 293
Fernie, BC 
V0B 1M0
Website: www.ferniesnowmobile.com

Snowshoeing & XC-Skiing

The City of Fernie provides groomed winter trails on the Community Trail [PDF - 763 KB]. The Fernie Golf and Country Club, Island Lake Lodge, and Fernie Alpine Resort also have designated areas for both skiing and snowshoeing.

For more information on winter trails check out Fernie Nordic Society.