While most visitors arrive in Fernie in their own car, recreational vehicle or by motorcycle, there are other options for transportation and getting around town.
However, having a vehicle allows visitors the opportunity to set out on the beautiful Rockies & Ranchlands Circle Route.
Car Travel
There is one road into town and one road out the other side. High in the Elk Valley, Fernie is situated in a narrow transportation corridor linking the Rocky Mountain Trench with the Continental Divide and southern Alberta.
To the east, Highway 3 negotiates the moderate grades of the Crowsnest Pass. Beyond the pass, the route continues to Fort Macleod (159km/99mi) and Lethbridge (208km/129mi), before joining the TransCanada highway at Medicine Hat (375km/233km). Calgary is 327km/203mi via Fort Macleod.
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To the west, Highway 3 follows the Elk River, breaking out of the mountains and continuing to Cranbrook (96km/60mi), Nelson (325km/202mi) and the southern Okanagan Valley, rejoining the Trans-Canada Highway at Hope. Vancouver is a little more than a one-day drive, at 940km/584mi.
Car rentals are available from Rent-a-Wreck on 7th Avenue.
Highway conditions in the mountains can be hazardous at any time of year. Snow tires or chains are required for winter driving.
Air Travel
The Canadian Rockies International Airport is located approximately 15km/9mi north of Cranbrook, off Highway 95A. Destinations in Canada are served by Air Canada and Pacific Coastal Airlines. Delta Airlines, meanwhile, offers seasonal service to Salt Lake City, connecting with all parts of the United States.
With optimal highway conditions, Calgary International Airport is four hours away.
Public Transportation
Greyhound Canada operates two buses per day to destinations east and west.
There is no public transit system in Fernie, but in winter the local cab company, Kootenay Taxi, operates a ski shuttle from various pickup points in town to Fernie Alpine Resort.
In winter, Smoky Mountain Charters and Tours offers an on-demand shuttle service to and from Calgary International Airport.
Free maps of the Fernie area and the Kootenay Rockies region are available at the Fernie Visitor Centre.
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Transportation Service Providers