Fernie, British Columbia

Visit Fernie and it might change your life for the better, for a day or forever. Nestled in the mountains with trees from old growth cedar to larches, the largest concentration of big game in North America and outdoor recreation opportunities that just don't quit. One of the most spectacular photographic locations around.

This region is well known on an international scale as excellent wildlife habitat. You can see deer, moose, elk, bears, goats, Rocky Mountain sheep, cougars coyotes and smaller animals such as porcupines and beavers. Loons, grebes, wood ducks, golden and bald eagles, rosy finches and calliope hummingbirds are just a few of the birds found in the valley.

The local mountain bikers are busy each summer expanding trails and building new ones. We do have a map available of the more established trails but for the extreme and the new you have to talk to one of those muddy, big calved fellows at Cappuccino Corner. We have few established trails for hiking, most are routes and some are just rumours of routes. However, the local guide book "Rumours, Routes and Rapids" will provide you with an overview and directions to the trail heads which will hopefully soon have signs.

If the water is more to your taste . . . flyfishing, kayaking, canoeing and river rafting are available on the Elk River. We have three golf courses (nine holes in both Elkford and Sparwood and eighteen holes in Fernie) in the valley. Outfitters in the area offer trail rides, river rafting and guided hiking and biking trips.

Snowmobiling is becoming more and more popular in the valley and each community has route maps and the locals can tell you the most popular areas. Cross-country ski trails are developing and expanding each year. The Lizard Range offers Cat-skiing at Island Lake and downhill at Fernie Snow Valley, which are the best anywhere with enough powder to take your breath away!

 

 

 

Let's see now . . . we have a population of about 5000 (most are friendly but there are a few old grouches). Our population consists of the locals (those born here or have been here so long no one remembers if they were born here or not), the old timers (those who have been here up to 50 or 60 years but they weren't born here so they aren't locals), newcomers (those who have been here 30 years or less and you still can't quite put all your trust in those newcomers that they are going to stick around). Then the rest of the population is made up of sometimers. These consist of weekenders (mostly Calgarians, also referred to as flatlanders, who have a condo here and come on the weekends), seasonal regulars (usually those here just to ski such as the Califernians and Aussies).

One lesson people who live here temporarily or permanently have learned is that all work and no play is just downright impossible. Some locals promote the 22 cm rule - more than 22 cm of fresh snow . . close shop and go skiing. So if you happen to arrive on an afternoon in the winter and no one is around; don't panic, aliens haven't scooped us all up, we're just up on the hill making a few runs.

 

Visit Fernie and it might change your life for the better, for a day or forever. Nestled in the mountains with trees from old growth cedar to larches, the largest concentration of big game in North America and outdoor recreation opportunities that just don't quit. One of the most spectacular photographic locations around.

 

 

This region is well known on an international scale as excellent wildlife habitat. You can see deer, moose, elk, bears, goats, Rocky Mountain sheep, cougars coyotes and smaller animals such as porcupines and beavers. Loons, grebes, wood ducks, golden and bald eagles, rosy finches and calliope hummingbirds are just a few of the birds found in the valley.

The local mountain bikers are busy each summer expanding trails and building new ones. We do have a map available of the more established trails but for the extreme and the new you have to talk to one of those muddy, big calved fellows at Cappuccino Corner. We have few established trails for hiking, most are routes and some are just rumours of routes. However, the local guide book "Rumours, Routes and Rapids" will provide you with an overview and directions to the trail heads which will hopefully soon have signs.

 

 

If the water is more to your taste . . . flyfishing, kayaking, canoeing and river rafting are available on the Elk River. We have three golf courses (nine holes in both Elkford and Sparwood and eighteen holes in Fernie) in the valley. Outfitters in the area offer trail rides, river rafting and guided hiking and biking trips.

Snowmobiling is becoming more and more popular in the valley and each community has route maps and the locals can tell you the most popular areas. Cross-country ski trails are developing and expanding each year. The Lizard Range offers Cat-skiing at Island Lake and downhill at Fernie Snow Valley, which are the best anywhere with enough powder to take your breath away!

 

TICKS! BEARS! UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER!
Oh come on now, it's not so bad. Read on.

Remember to leave only footprints and take nothing with you but photos and memories. Although this area is not in a park with regulations, it is our home and the surrounding mountains are our playground. Wildflowers are precious and are best left behind to grow and spread their beauty throughout the valley.

We have typical mountain weather that can change without much warning: make sure you can protect yourself from the sun, wind, rain, and cold. A common saying in the area is 'If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes, it'll change".

 

 

We probably have fewer insects than many other regions of the province because of the higher elevation. Ticks, however, can be a problem in spring and early summer where herds of large animals live, hence most of the Elk Valley.

Extreme Caution:The most fearful of animals likely to be encountered, especially in wilderness areas, are bears. The Elk Valley is home to a large population of both grizzly and black bears. Hardly a day goes by when we're out hiking that we don't see one type of bear or the other. All trips require bear awareness! Wearing bear bells are O.K.; however ranchers, farmers and outfitters put bells on a lot of their animals such as horses and cows. Making human noises are the best - talking, singing etc. Bear spray may or may not be effective; it depends on a lot of variables such as distance, wind direction etc. Whistles sound like pikas and bears like to eat pikas!

 

 

They pretty much roll up the sidewalks around here after dark. Fernie has a rather quiet lifestyle so if you're looking for night clubs we don't have any. Other than a few bars and one movie theater we don't have a night life to speak of. The bars have entertainment, are friendly and might even provide you with a bowl of chili for next to nothing. These are the gathering places for those not wanting to go to bed before 10:00 p.m.

On the other hand the payoff for this lack of night life is that you can see the stars at night, it's peaceful, you don't have to worry about walking the street alone, and to hear a siren of any kind, day or night, is a rarity. The only thing you really have to watch out for is getting run over by a coal train.

 

 

 

(map pending)

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Last updated: September 29, 2004