CANADIAN SKI & SNOWBOARD VACATION EXPERTS

FERNIE ALPINE RESORT, BRITISH COLUMBIA

COVID-19 POLICY

Fernie. The kind of town that will crawl into your heart and nestle there for all time with big mountain views from a cowboy style historic Main Street, servicing an even bigger ski resort ten minutes down the road.

Five mountain bowls, 2500 acres (1012 ha) of skiable terrain, first tracks, big lines, stunning views, fun locals and access to cat skiing and more. That’s Fernie.

 

Fernie Resort SKi Packages – Our Favourites

We have ski packages to suit families, couples or solo skiers. Check out all our Fernie Ski Packages.


Searching Availability…


All Fernie Deals

 

Beyond Fernie – Explore Other Resorts

Looking to book your dream Canadian ski vacation? We can organise it.


ABOUT FERNIE

ABOUT FERNIE

THE SNOW

The snow falls at Fernie by the bucket load with up to 36 feet (11 m) a season. Skiers and snowboarders can access 142 named runs, 5 alpine bowls across 2500 acres (1012 ha) with over 3281 feet (1000 m) of vertical.   Fernie Alpine Resort boasts by far the deepest snowpack of any ski area in the Rockies, with an average nine  metres of annual snowfall. From where we sit, we’ve monitored Fernie snow reports over the years with the intense envy that only numbers like “-10C” and “30 cms of fresh” can induce.

Fernie Alpine Resort WEBCAM

Fernie webcam
Visit Fernie Alpine Resort for live webcam update.

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.

THE VILLAGE & TOWN

Fernie base village. Photo credit: Destination BC/Dave Heath

Expect an intimate on mountain experience for those staying at the resort village base with a handful of restaurants and bars including an ice bar at Lizard Creek Lodge.  The Mountain Pantry has basic groceries and offers both a grocery and liquor delivery service. The Sports Alpine boutique has all your gear needs should you find yourself without gloves or buff.

 

Downtown Fernie is where all the action happens. Plucked straight out of a movie set the historic town boasts spirit distilleries, breweries, live music, artisan coffee and chocolate, adventure stores, galleries, yoga and a lush day spa in the town’s historic 1908 school house.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.  

WHERE TO STAY

Skiers at Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort. Photo credit: Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe

Skiers and boarders can stay slope side in ski-in, ski-out condos or down town five minutes down the road in the heart of Fernie skipping distance to Main Street’s dining scene.

 

From five star condominiums and lodges to town house chalets, hotels, motels and inns, Fernie has it all both on and off the mountain. Lizard Creek Lodge is one of preferred on-snow accommodation recommendation offering both hotel style and self-contained lodging. We also work closely with The Fernie Lodging Company and other property managers to access slopeside chalets, townhomes and condos.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie travel lodging needs.

TOP 5 REASONS TO VISIT FERNIE

#1. Five bowls of massive terrain for skiers and boarders – Cedar, Lizard, Currie, Timber and Siberia, and big snowfall to fill them.  Average snowfall 36 feet (11m).

 

#2. A gentrified historic mining town – wander the quirky Main Street with big mountain views.

 

#3. The legend of the Griz who lives high up in the mountain and shoots his musket into the clouds causing it to snow – just ask a local.

 

#4. Easy to access – just a three hour drive from Calgary International Airport.

 

#5.  Kid friendly even though it’s steep, and tree skiing for the kids off the Deer Chairlift. At Fernie there is an easy groomed blue run, Falling Star, which runs all the way from the top of the White Pass Chair down to the bottom of the hill.

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.

RESORT FACTS

Fernie Alpine Resort ski trail
Fernie Alpine Resort. Photo credit: Destination BC/Dave Heath

MOUNTAIN STATISTICS 

Up to 37 feet (11 metres) of snow falls in Fernie each year. That is enough snow to cover a three-storey building with five enormous bowls; countless glades & chutes and a variety of terrain appeals to all levels. Fernie is as steep or as gentle as you want it to be.

DESIGNATED TRAILS:

#Trails Beginner Intermediate Advanced
142 named runs plus 5 alpine bowls and tree skiing 30% 40% 30%

ANNUAL SNOWFALL:

Fernie Alpine Resort 36 ft 11 m
Average Winter Temp: 23F / -5C
Length of Season: Early December to mid-April

TERRAIN:

Skiable Acres: 2,500+ acres 1012 + ha

VERTICAL DROP:

Vertical Drop: 3,550 ft 1,082 m
Longest Run: 5 km 3 miles – Falling Star
Summit Elevation 7,000 ft 2,134 m
Base Elevation: 3,450 ft 1,052 m

NUMBER OF LIFTS & UPHILL CAPACITY:

Number of Lifts: 10
Uphill Capacity: 14,916 skiers per hour
Types of Lifts: 13 in total – 2 high speed quad chairlifts, 2 quad chairlifts, 3 triple chairlifts, 3 surface lifts (1 t-bar, 1 tow, 1 conveyor)

NORDIC SKIING

Social distancing is super easy when you are nordic skiing, and luckily Fernie has the Elk Valley Nordic Centre, located half way between the resort and downtown.  Offering 5.5 miles (9km) of groomed trails, designed for skate and classic skiing. Trailhead facilities include a welcome warming hut, maps and there are local ambassadors most weekends on hand to help out with directions, and all things nordic.  Trails are for intermediates and above, with some short steep sections and rolling downhills. Pick up your rentals at the resort, and organise lessons from Snow School. Definitely worth a try.

 

NIGHT SKIING

Enjoy night skiing on the Mighty Moose Chairlift usually every Saturday night, as well as during the Christmas Holiday period. Lifts run 4pm – 9pm.  No charge for those that already have a valid day ticket or season pass. The Mighty Moose is a surface Poma (tow) lift in the beginner terrain area by the village base.

 

SEASON DATES & OPENING HOURS 

Fernie Alpine Resort is usually open from mid November to mid April each year.

 

WINTER HOURS OF OPERATION 

9.00 am – 3.30 pm Note: These times are provided by the ski resort and can vary based on external conditions, day of the week, school, and public holidays.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.

GETTING THERE

Fernie is a 2.5 hour drive from Calgary Airport. Get a rental car or take the Fernie daily shuttle service.

 

It is also a 1.5 hour drive from Cranbrook Airport, a regional BC airport or 2 hour drive from Kalispell in Montana USA.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.  

TRAIL MAP

Fernie Alpine Resort trail map

THINGS TO DO AT FERNIE

THINGS TO DO AT FERNIE

TERRAIN PARK

Riding at Fernie

If you are looking for the super pipes, advanced rails, jumps and features, Fernie’s terrain park by comparison to other Canadian ski resorts is not one to write home about, but that said, it’s a great place for beginners to get their legs, and build confidence.  Fans of Fernie will say the excellent open bowl freeriding on crowd free slopes is ideal for natural freestyle riding.

For questions on getting a Fernie early bird season pass, contact us today.

SNOW SCHOOL

Skiers at Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie alpine resort. Photo credit: Destination BC/Reuben Krabbe

Fernie has some of the best ski and snowboard instructors in Canada and is also home base for a number of improvement camps.

 

There’s the usual private and group lessons for kids, teens and adults plus First Tracks which is a must at least once during your visit when you get to ski the groomers with an instructor before the lifts open.

 

Ski touring, also known as Alpine Touring. This is the place. as they say, to get skin in the game. The early riser who skins up, gets the best run to ski down. Learn how with Fernie’s Winter Sports School. Rely on a ski touring expert from the resort to lead skiers up a designated run (with equipment that allows you to glide uphill) and get your backcountry basics with their team of professionals – all part of our Backcountry Basics clinic. Really keen? Take a 2 day Backcountry Basics course, a 2 day Steep and Deep all mountain course, or join a full or multi week Non Stop ski and snowboard improvement tour (the heli camp includes a day at Fernie cat skiing and a day heli skiing).

 

Travelling as a family? The snow school has a unique family improvement program so you can learn together.

 

COVID-19 Policy: The resorts’ products, programs and prices may change or vary for the upcoming 2020/21 season as they continue to act in accordance with the instructions of the BC Ministry of Health and other Government officials.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie Snow School enquiries..

RENTALS

Let’s face it, you want your ski vacation to be as seamless and stress-free as possible. Renting your equipment is a smart move. Bring your boots, if you must, but leave the rest at home.

 

Whatever your vacation scenario, nothing can beat Fernie’s convenient next to the slope stores; complimented by the latest technology in their range of High-Performance and Mid-Performance skis and snowboards. You’ll be the envy of everyone in the lift line! Snowshoes, cross-country skis, telemark skis, and winter fat bikes for are also available to rent.

RETAIL THERAPY

Fernie branded merchandise
Giv’er Fernie.

Have a wander through Fernie town and discover Give’r Shirt Works for cool Fernie branded gear, The Guide’s Hut for outerwear and Freyja Kootenay for fashion. Cheese lovers head straight to Le Grand Fromage, check out Interior Envy for Canadian homewares and Fernie Arts Co-Op for local artists and Beanpod for chocolate.

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.

THINGS TO DO

Fat biking at Fernie
Fat biking at Fernie. Photo credit: Destination BC/Dave Heath

Book in for a day’s cat skiing with Fernie Wilderness Adventures or multi day stay at Island Lake Lodge cat skiing.

 

Try show shoeing, cross country skiing or snow mobile adventures. Go ice skating or curling or cheer on at a local hockey match. Check out how they make chocolate at Beanpod, explore the town history at the Fernie Museum or take a magical sleigh ride to dinner.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.

APRÈS SKI

Fernie distillers For a small town, Fernie packs a big flavour punch. Head straight to Nevados on day one, you’ll love it so much you’ll book again. This South American inspired cuisine den offers the best Peruvian and Mexian food outside of, well, Peru and Mexico. Add tequila cocktails and you have a winner.

 

Yamagoya Sushi is also a locals favourite so book ahead, especially for the tatami rooms. The Brickhouse has live music, The Smokehouse offers smoked meats and The Northern offers pub grub.

 

Fernie Distillers is a great way to après with local gins, vodka and liqueurs that pack a punch and the Fernie Brewing Company does the same with flights of beer.

 

On mountain head to Lizard Creek Lodge Ice Bar or Legends.

 

Contact us for all your Fernie travel needs.

Fernie Alpine Resort, ©Mitch WintonFernie Alpine Resort, ©Mitch Winton

Why Fernie?

It’s an iconic Rocky Mountain ski town that’s big on hospitality and even bigger on mountain adventure.

@skiholsandtours