×
×
SNOW CONDITIONS »
cm
cm
OVERNIGHT
48 HOURS
cm
cm
24 HOURS
7 DAY
WEATHER »
UPPER MOUNTAIN
° C
° C
HIGH
LOW
LOWER MOUNTAIN
° C
° C
HIGH
LOW
RUNS »
     
/
81
GROOMED
     
/
145
OPEN
LIFT STATUS »
/
10
OPEN
ELK QUAD CHAIR:
TIMBER EXPRESS:
BUY LIFT TICKETS
WEATHER FORECAST »
FRI
HIGH 18 °C
LOW 9 °C
SAT
HIGH 18 °C
LOW 13 °C
SUN
HIGH 14 °C
LOW 8 °C

×
MOUNTAIN CAMS »
GRIZ CAM
CEDAR BOWL
LIZARD BOWL
WHITE PASS
CHAIR
BEARS DEN
LIZARD RUN
×
CM
in the last 24 hours
×
Notification Alert
1 (800) 258-7669
  
  
BLOG | JOBS | HOURS | CONTACT US
SAFETY & RISK AWARENESS
WEB CAMS
LIZARD RUN
 
 

Fernie Alpine Resort

  • PLAN & PURCHASE
    • Close
    • GETTING HERE
      By Road
      By Air
      Tour Operators
      Transportation
      International Travelers
      Hours of Operation
      PURCHASE
      Day Tickets
      Summer Season Passes
      Summer Adventure School
      Bike Rentals
      Mountain Biking Lessons
      Sightseeing
      Guided Hiking Tours
      Kids Summer Activities
      LODGING
      All Lodging
      Hot Deals & Packages
      Package Booking Code
      Resort Map
      Last Minute Deals Signup
      GROUPS
      Weddings
      Large Groups
      Corporate
      School
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close
  • DISCOVER
    • Close
    • DISCOVER FERNIE
      Real Estate
      Resort Maps
      History & Griz Legend
      THE VILLAGE
      Restaurants
      Shopping / Base Area Services
      BIKE PARK
      Explore the Bike Park
      Bike Trails
      Lessons & Camps
      Rentals
      HIKING/SIGHTSEEING
      Hiking Trails & Map
      Trail Report
      Sightseeing
      Guided & Specialty Hikes
      KIDS
      Kids Summer Activities
      Interpretive Centre
      Forest Playground
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close
  • THE MOUNTAIN
    • Close
    • GETTING HERE
      By Road
      By Air
      Tour Operators
      Transportation
      International Travelers
      Hours of Operation
      PURCHASE
      Day Tickets
      Summer Season Passes
      Summer Adventure School
      Bike Rentals
      Mountain Biking Lessons
      Sightseeing
      Guided Hiking Tours
      Kids Summer Activities
      LODGING
      All Lodging
      Hot Deals & Packages
      Package Booking Code
      Resort Map
      Last Minute Deals Signup
      GROUPS
      Weddings
      Large Groups
      Corporate
      School
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close
  • EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
    • Close
    • EVENTS
      All Events
      Family Activities
      Food
      Competitions & Races
      Event Results
      MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES
      Mountain Biking
      Guided Hiking Tours
      Sightseeing
      Kids Summer Activities
      Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre
      Forest Playground
      OTHER ACTIVITIES
      Rafting
      Fly Fishing
      Golfing / Tennis
      Special Activity Packages
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close

Fernie’s Top Hikes and Best High-Altitude Picnic Spots

Fernie’s Top Hikes and Best High-Altitude Picnic Spots

by Lisa Kadane / Wednesday, 12 July 2017 / Published in Blog, Fernie, Summer

Ask any Fernie resident why they chose to settle down in the mountain town and they’ll tell you they stayed for the summer. It’s a cliché, but it’s true—the season of long, sunny days is when everyone heads outside to mountain bike, fly fish, canoe or lace up the boots for a hike.

The backcountry in this corner of B.C. is gorgeous, with wildflower meadows, ancient cedar forests and imposing limestone peaks. Here are the best trails—and epic picnic spots—for getting your Rocky Mountain high in Fernie.

 

 

Polar Peak Loop

Lift-assisted hiking at Fernie Alpine Resort is a great ROI—you gain altitude without breaking a sweat, and get to spend more time savouring the views. This five-kilometre round-trip trail is arguably one of the best—and most challenging—hikes in the region once the snow melts from the Lizard Range crest. Ride up Timber Chair and then walk up the access road toward Polar Peak. At the saddle, turn left and begin the trail, a thrilling ridge traverse where intrepid hikers navigate sections of rocky outcrops using a cable. The 360-degree views from this hair-raising hike are spectacular—to the west, the shimmering expanse of Lake Koocanusa; to the east, downtown Fernie and the Flathead Mountains. If you’re brave, peek over the cliff walls to see where all that snow gets blasted during winter avalanche control.

 

Lost Boys Loop

Berry picking, boulder scrambling, and great views of Fernie far below—this hike has it all. As a bonus, the Lost Boys Loop is perfect for families, and we’ve hiked it with our kids a number of times. From the top of Timber Chair, the 1.7-kilometre trail descends through dense forest to the Mammoth Droppings, a cluster of limestone boulders that have toppled down from Mammoth Peak, part of the Lizard Range. From there, the path climbs 100 metres to the Lost Boys Lookout for views of alpine meadows and the Elk River down in the valley. Don’t forget to look for ripe huckleberries, and fossils embedded in slabs of limestone, along the way.

The Lost Boys Observation Deck

 

Heiko’s Trail

This momentous day hike, also called the Mountain Lakes Trail, tackles 20 kilometres and crosses three mountain passes in the remote backcountry between the trailhead off the Hartley Creek Road and its terminus at Island Lake Lodge. The trek is a stunner because of its diversity—in a nine-hour day we ascended through a rainforest, watched a waterfall explode out of a hole in the side of a cliff, explored a cave and gained a total of 1,200 metres elevation. I’m not gonna lie—the final five clicks down to Island Lake Lodge felt like a slog. But I will say this: beer on a sunny patio never tasted so good!

 

Old Growth Trail

Ancient cedar trees, giant moss-covered logs, and a wide trail that gently ascends to Island Lake are the top draws on the kid-friendly Old Growth Trail. Look for the trailhead at the 4-kilometre mark on the road that cuts through Mt. Fernie Provincial Park on its way up to Island Lake Lodge. The hike is well maintained and well marked and — important to note for children — easy! It gains just 250 metres over four kilometres. After, reward the little troopers with a canoe ride on Island Lake (rent one for an hour from the lodge), or an ice-cold lemonade on the lodge’s patio.

 

Best Picnic Spot

If you like lunch al fresco with alpine views, score a table on the patio at Lost Boys Café, at the top of Timber Chair at Fernie Alpine Resort. This sunny spots juts out over Timber Bowl and offers a panorama of area peaks including the Three Sisters, Mt. Fernie, Ghostrider and the Flathead Range of the Canadian Rockies across the valley. Those who prefer a little physical exertion before refueling can hike up to the top of Polar Peak for a bench break (no tables up there) with a bird’s-eye view into Fernie’s “back of beyond.”

Lunch at Lost Boys Cafe at the Top of the Timber Chairlift

 

Tagged under: Blog, Family, Fernie, Fun Stuff, Kids, Summer, Tips, Vacation

About Lisa Kadane

Lisa is a Calgary, Canada-based writer with broad interests. She used to travel and ski a lot with her husband, and write about their adventures, but then they had kids. My work has appeared in daily newspapers across Canada, such as the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star, as well as magazines, including Today’s Parent, Walmart Live Better, WestJet Magazine and Best Health. www.drink-play-love.com

Other related posts

Fernie Timber Landing – Redefining Après-Ski
Tiny Turns, Big Confidence: A Parent’s Guide to the Griz Kids Centre
Fernie Alpine Resort Celebrates Community with Ski Day Food Bank Fundraiser 

Vacations

PARTNERS
SIGNUP FOR THE LATEST NEWS & RESORT SPECIALS
From Fernie Alpine Resort
SIGN UP

 

CONTACT US
Reservations: 1 (800) 258 7669
[email protected]

5339 Ski Hill Road
Fernie, BC V0B 1M6
Canada
ABOUT RCR

About RCR
Media Inquiries
Job Postings
Donations
Partners
INFORMATION

Contact Us
Help Center
Experience Survey
Hours
Winter Member Benefits
Utility Services
Community Services Assessment (Rent Charge)
Summit Fund
HOW TO ORDER

Online Store
By Phone
Installment Plan
LEGAL

Terms & Conditions
Waivers & Release Agreements
RCR is inclusive. Harassment and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.
ABOUT FERNIE REAL ESTATE SAFETY PRESS RELEASES JOBS CONTACT US
TOP