What type of holiday are you looking for? Are you traveling with family or friends? When would you like to visit? Let us make some recommendations!
Outdoor experiences of a fun, friendly and wild nature!
Discover the natural beauty, serenity, and stories of the southern Canadian Rockies. Join local naturalists on a guided experience to explore a unique and diverse ecosystem. Our guides possess vast local knowledge and experience guiding all ages and ability levels bringing you the opportunity to watch, listen and learn about the special flora, fauna, landscape and heritage of the area. Join us for bird watching, wildflower wonders, guided hiking, wildlife viewing, or a winter snowshoe safari.
Wild Nature Tours is a non-profit venture, all proceeds will support local conservation projects.
Fernie Wildlife & Birding Brochure/Map - PDF
Fernie Hiking & Biking Trail Map - PDF
Choose from the list of tours below or contact the office for custom tours.
To book, use the contact info on this page.
Discover the unique history of Fernie on a relaxing snowshoe through a beautiful forest with gorgeous views. Soft, quiet steps float through powder as you unravel the secrets and stories of wildlife in the snow at the Fernie Alpine Resort. 2-hour heritage tour includes an interpretive guided tour, snowshoes and poles, hot drinks and home-baked snacks.
Availability: Available for booking anytime with a minimum of 1-day notice
Difficulty: Easy. Suitable for most ages and abilities
Price: $50pp / Child $30 / Family Rate $130, includes 2 adults and all immediate children aged 17 and under
Min. # of guests: 2
Meeting location: Departs from Fernie Alpine Resort Guest Services.
Enjoy a gentle snowshoe hike through the Mt Fernie Provincial Park. Learn about forest ecology and human uses of plants from a knowledgeable guide in a mature Interior Cedar Hemlock forest. 3-hour winter ecology tour includes an interpretive guided tour, snowshoes and poles, hot drinks, home-baked snacks & park permit fees.
Availability: Available for booking anytime with a minimum of 1-day notice
Difficulty: Easy. Suitable for most ages and abilities
Price: $70pp / Child $40 / Family Rate $180, includes 2 adults and all immediate children aged 17 and under
Min. # of guests: 2
Meeting location: Park entrance kiosk.
Spend a day snowshoeing in the spectacular Cedar Valley Old Growth Reserve at Island Lake Lodge discovering why grizzly bears choose this spot to slumber.
Includes: Snowcat ride to Island Lake Lodge, gourmet lunch indoors at the Lodge, 4-hour guided interpretive tour, snowshoes, hot drinks, and homemade snacks.
Availability: Available weekly, dates vary depending on Island Lake Catskiing Schedule - please call for details. Tour typically departs at 9am.
Difficulty: Easy. Suitable for most ages and abilities
Price: From $140pp
Min. # of guests: 4
Meeting location: Island Lake Lodge parking lot, end of Mt Fernie Provincial Park Rd. Transportation can be arranged if necessary.
SPECIALITY WORKSHOPS:
Sunday, January 12: Winter Wilds
2-4pm
$40 per person, includes snowshoes and tasty treats.
While snowshoeing learn about winter ecology in the Elk Valley. Discover the secrets of plant and animal survival strategies.
Sunday, January 19: Winter Survival Skills
2-4pm
$40 per person, includes snowshoes and tasty treats.
Inspired by the natural intelligence of nature, learn techniques for surviving if stranded outdoors. Participants will learn how to build a ‘quinzhee’ aka Canadian snow shelter, fire building techniques in winter, and fun games.
Sunday February 2: Winter Tracking and Stalking
2-4pm
$40 per person, includes snowshoes and tasty treats.
Learn to identify tracks and scat of winter wildlife. Read the stories in the snow about what activity is going on in your backyard.
Friday, February 14: Stargazing Snowshoe Fondue
7-11pm
Price $50 per person, includes snowshoes and fondue.
Learn the celestial constellations while snowshoeing under the romantic full ‘Snow Moon’. Chocolate fondue to follow.
Throughout the summer, Wild Nature Tours offers a series of interpretive tours and experiences, or contact the office about custom guiding.
Price for organised tours is $20 for Wildsight members/$30 for non-members.
Tours usually run on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 - 8:30pm.
Fungus Among Us
Discover forest fungus and learn which ones are tasty, which ones are deadly, and which ones are essential to forest health.
Ancient Ammonite Adventure
Discover the ancient geological history of the Elk Valley and visit one of the best-preserved ammonite fossils.
Forage in the Forest
Take a hike in the park and use your senses to forage in the forest for food, medicinal plants, and inspiration for technology.
Cool Critters in our Clean Water
Wear your rubber boots! Rub rocks and collect critters in nets! Use keys and magnify boxes to classify insects and learn cool facts about these indicators of high water quality. A great family adventure.
Watershed Tour
Discover Fernie's amazing water source, how water is used in our community and what happens when we are done with it. Increase your knowledge and awareness of our local watersheds and water-related issues in our community in this great afternoon walk spent with Lee-Anne Walker, naturalist and director of the Elk River Alliance.
ABOUT WILDSIGHT
Wild Nature Tours is a program of the Elk Valley, Golden, and Invermere Branches of Wildsight. Wildsight works to protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable human communities in Canada's Southern Rocky Mountain eco-region.
Wild Nature Tours guests contribute to Wildsight, our local conservation group working locally to protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable communities. In 2014, Wildsight got 5336 kids outside connecting to nature through education in the wild programs; operates the Fernie Eco garden; books fruit harvest equipment keeping wildlife safe; sponsors the annual Earth Day festival and Think Tank Cinemas. Wildsight also works in furthering a north-south wildlife management area in the Flathead and Elk Valleys to ensure connectivity corridors for wide-ranging carnivores.
