Mountain Biking:
There are lots of different options for any level of rider,but it’s easy to get in over your head! At Fernie Alpine Resort we want your experience to be fun, exciting, safe, and not scary. The following list is provided to help you progress through different levels of trails that best suit you. Make sure that you warm up and get to know your way around the mountain. Our Green or Blue trails still present lots of challenges and are fun even for the advanced rider.
Keep in mind, there are no EASY trails here.
Our “GREEN” designated trails are the “easiest” we can offer, however they may still be considered “hard” to beginners.
The Elk Chair (open daily) is where you want to be!
Timber Chair (open Sat/Sun) is for EXPERT riders only!!!
Start with these and see how it goes…
Boom trail to Cedar trail. (wide, some pedaling required)
Boom to Honey Bee trail (wide, some pedaling, some road)
Deer Trail (½ road, ½ single track)
Ben’s Big Rig to Eville (or Honey Bee)(must follow a road after Big Rig to find the start of the other two)
If you can handle those trails, try these:
Mr. Berms
Top Gun
Hollow Tree
Ben’s Big Rig to Holo Bike (getting technical with a good sustained steep section on Holo Bike)
Power Carve to Ewok (getting more technical, and Ewok has lots of low ladder bridges!)
If you feel VERY comfortable on these trails, only then should you start to experiment with a Black Diamond trail…
Use the Skills practice area (beside parking lot #1) to test your balance and practice skills!
Race your buddy down the Dual Slalom course!
Remember, only YOU CONTROL YOUR SPEED!
ALWAYS STAY IN CONTROL, pump your brakes, look ahead and take it easy!
Fernie Bike Park. Putting the Mountain into Mountain Biking!
Scenic Chair Lift Rides:
During both Winter and Summer operations the Timber Express Chairlift will take you up the top of the mountain where you will experience spectacular views of the mountain & surrounding Elk Valley. Along with the breathtaking mountain scenery, you’ll see our native trees & alpine wildflowers, and depending on the time of year you may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of our local wildlife.
During your visit to the top of the resort, enjoy a delicious lunch or snack at the Lost Boys Café, or go for a casual hike amongst the wildflowers on one of our alpine hiking trails. Then load the Timber Chairlift for a fun, exciting and spectacular ride back down the mountain to the base area.
Hiking:
Name: Summer Road – Trail # 10
Difficulty: Easy technical trail with strenuous uphill
Lift: Elk Chair
Time: 2- 4 hours
The Summer Road Trail begins at the top of the Elk Chair. Winding through the Lizard Bowl via switchbacks, the ascent is quite easy with no steep ascents – just a constant uphill to the top of the Boomerang Chair and the Bear Chair.
The trail passes through The Fernie Shale in the lower sections. This rock is layered with a red brown colour and does contain some brachiopod and cephalopod fossils. The Lizard Range is what geologists refer to as “overturned” which means that the oldest rock is on the top of the mountain and as you ascend the mountain the rock gets older. The upper layers of rock are all limestone, an indication of an ancient seabed from 300 to 365 million years old. You will notice that the trees become very narrow as you ascend. The forest is now a sub alpine forest with mostly slim looking trees that shed snow easily.
Once you reach the top of the Bear Chair you can choose to return on the trail you came up on, or you can turn left and go south across Lizard Bowl about ½ km to a trail descending between Cruiser and Dancer. This part of the trail is all limestone and contains many fossils of horn corals, tabulate corals and crinoids. This trail joins back to the trail you took on the way up, and your descent to the Elk Chair is visible all the way from where you joined the main Summer Road.
Name: POLAR PEAK – Trail #28
Difficulty: Advanced
Lift: Timber Chair
Time: 3.5 – 7 hours
The Polar Peak Trail follows the Lost Boys Trail out to the Lookout. From here it turns right and follows the Lizards Range crest all the way around to Polar Peak. The trail offers spectacular views for the entire trip. At 2100 metres, Polar Peak provides a 360 degree panorama of the surrounding area. From Polar Peak, return to the saddle between Currie Headwall and Polar Peak and follow the trail back to the Hut at the Top of Whitepass Chair. Return to the Timber Chair to download or take the Timber Trek to the base.
This hike is for the adventurous and experienced hiker. The route has one short section where there is a feeling of exposure. Ropes have been installed for your security. If you are not familiar with the area or are inexperienced ask our Guest Services staff about our guided hikes. This hike takes between 3.5 and 7 hrs depending on weather and rest stops. The trail is about 5 km round trip to Timber Top with a vertical rise of 240 vertical metres. Once on the Ridge it is important to remember the only way down is back the way you came or around to the Currie Saddle. There are no routes down the front. Travel on the Lizard Ridge beyond Polar Peak is for experience hikers with good mountaineering skills.
Name: LOST BOYS TRAILS – Trail #29
Difficulty: Easy
Lift: Timber Chair
Time: 45mins – 1.5 hours
The Lost Boys Lookout and Lost Boys Loop Trails offer an easy walk through the alpine meadows.
The Lost Boys Pass Lookout is an easy 0.75 km walk from the top of the Timber Chair to the west with views out to the Sand Creek drainage and beyond to Lake Koocanusa. With a vertical gain of only 80m this walk is suited for youngsters as well as adults. To walk to the lookout and back takes about 45 minutes. Follow the signs from the top of Timber Chair on the Lost Boys Trail. Do Not follow the game trail downhill into the West side of the mountain or you may learn how Lost Boys got it’s name!
The Lost Boys Loop is a trail that goes out to the Lost Boys Lookout then descends through the alpine to the Mammoth Droppings to an interesting area of giant boulders below the Mammoth Peak. The Loop is 1.7 km with a vertical climb of about 100m. To walk the Loop would take about 1 1/2 hrs. The trail is an easy walk and suitable for children. Follow the Lost Boys Trail check out the Lookout and continue around on the Loop.
Name: White Pass – Trail # 39
Difficulty: Easy
Lift: Timber Chair
Time: 1.5 to 3 Hours
The White Pass Trail follows the Lost Boys Lookout trail to Milky Way where you turn right and go north up the road to the top of Whitepass Chair. From this viewpoint you will be looking directly into Currie Bowl and Polar Peak is immediately in front of you.
At the top if you look up you will see a layer of jet black shale which is one layer of the Exshaw formation. This black layer of rock is from organic carbon and occurred during an extinction period 360 million years ago.
To descend, follow the main road to Heartland where you will turn left or east and follow this road back to the Timber Chair. On the right of this road as you near the Timber Chair are a few rock cuts where you can see fossils of Crinoids and some horn corals. The alpine meadows on the left at the first descent of Heartland contain many alpine wildflowers such as Glacier lilies, Mariposa lilies, Sulphur Buckwheat and many other species.
Name: Sib Ridge Lookout – Trail #42
Difficult: Easy
Lift: Timber Chair
Time: ½ hour – 1 hour
Sib Ridge is a short ½ hour to 1 hour hike which goes straight up left of the Timber Chair. Elevation change on this hike is minimal .The views as you descend Sib Ridge are spectacular as you are looking directly down the Elk Valley. Be ready to turn right on the trail before you hit any steep descents. This right turn goes west across Morning Glory (towards Mammoth Head) and comes out on Falling Star just below a rock cut, which is filled with fossilized crinoid parts and the occasional bivalve. As you come out on Falling Star turn right again and you have a short uphill back to the Timber Chair.
Aerial Park:
Open 7 Days a Week from June 29th.
Make sure you get to Fernie this summer to try out the NEW Aerial Park in the Rockies! With the grand opening last summer, the Aerial Park has added a whole new element of fun to summer at Fernie Alpine Resort! Kids and Adults have a great time in the trees through an exhilarating course 60 feet off the ground in the trees! Try everything from traversing through tree bridges, rope climbing walls and ladders in the trees, to mid-air jumps and high wire acts, topped off with repelling and mini ziplining! Trust us once is just not enough – you’ll want to come back again and again!
| Adult (18+) |
Youth (13-17) |
Child (7-12) |
Senior (65+) |
Family** | |
| Aerial Park (3 Hour Tour) |
$59.95 | $39.95 | $19.95 | $49.95 | $149.95 |
| All prices are subject to change to change and do not include taxes. **Family – 2 adults and up to 3 youth / children (aged 17 & under) |
|||||
The Aerial Park operates daily with tours departing at 10:30am, 11am, 2pm & 2:30pm
Requirements:
- For the Aerial Park – Minimum weight for participants is 70 lbs, and maximum weight is 250 lbs. Minimum height is 4’7″.
- Children 12 & under must be accompanied by an adult in the Aerial Park.
- Participants will be provided with all safety gear, instruction and guided tour.
- Participants will be required to complete a waiver on-site.
- Participants under 16 years of age must have a parent or guardian present to sign their waiver
- Participants should be in good general health and will be required to complete a confidential health information form prior to the start of their tour.
- Pregnant women over 12 weeks will not be permitted on the Aerial Park.
- Participants should wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothing, and must wear footwear with closed toes & heels. Light gloves (eg. bike gloves) are recommended.
Cancellation Policy:
- A full refund will be given for tours if the cancellation is made at least 48 hours in advance. Cancellation within 48 hours will be subject to a charge of 30% of the tour fee.
Weather:
- Our Aerial Park will operate in almost any weather conditions and mountain weather changes quickly, so please dress appropriately! We will not cancel tours due to rain, however we may suspend operations due to high winds, thunder/lightning or other conditions that our staff deem to be a safety concern.
Reservations:
- Reservations are required. Payment is required at the time of booking. Book on-line or by phone: 250-423-4655 or 1-800-258-7669
Fernie Alpine Resort 