Things To Do
Outdoor adventure enthusiasts flock to Fernie for myriad winter activities like skiing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and cat-skiing.
Come summer, the mountains attract hikers, mountain bikers and river rafters. Culinary and literature festivals draw the cultural crowds, and history buffs follow the self-guided walking tour of Fernie.
Land Activities
Mountain biking and hiking the Elk Valley are both great ways to take in some of that fresh mountain air.
Closer to home, exploring Fernie's history starts with a visit to the Fernie Museum at 502 - 3rd Avenue. Purchase a copy of the self-directed Walking Tour, and take a stroll around town to learn more about Fernie's extensive inventory of heritage buildings. Take in a concert or art exhibit at the Arts Station on 1st Avenue.
Learn about the art of brewing with a tour of the Fernie Brewing Company. Tours are offered every Friday at 3pm at their premises on Manitou Road (north of town, parallel to the highway).
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Water Activities
Try dry fly fishing, preferably with one of the local fishing guides that knows every inch of the Elk River. Or get completely soaked on a professionally guided river rafting trip on the Elk or Bull rivers.
Cruise the giant waterslide, and enjoy a swim and a hot tub with a view at the Fernie Aquatic Centre.
Summer Activities
Spend an afternoon tubing or kayaking down the Elk River, but stay out of the rapids unless you're an expert. A more relaxing option is to hit the beach at nearby Lake Koocanusa (approximately 30 minutes south of Fernie).
Winter Activities
Head to Fernie Alpine Resort for amazing powder skiing or snowboarding, or experience the thrill of first tracks with one of Fernie's three cat-skiing operators.
Go cross-country skiing and admire the scenery at one of three separate locations. Or explore the backcountry on a snowmobile, either with or without a guide. Dog lovers can mush with huskies on an authentic sled with Fernie Dog Sledding.
Festivals
Tune up the mountain bike for the TransRockies Race or the Full Throttle Mountain Bike Festival. Both events take place in August at Fernie Alpine Resort. In September, bring an appetite for A Taste of Fernie, an arts and culinary festival. For two weeks in July, the Fernie Writers Conference is never at a loss for words. Celebrate the joys of winter at Griz Days, a four-day festival in early April.
Driving Routes
Explore Fernie's winter sports – skiing, snowboarding, cat skiing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling – and summer sports – flyfishing, hiking, river rafting, and mountain biking – along the Rockies & Ranchlands Circle Route. Learn more about driving routes through Fernie here: Driving Routes.
For more information on things to do in and around Fernie, contact the Visitor Centre.
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