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Explore great summer hikes around Fernie Alpine Resort.
Open from June 22 - September 2, 2024 for summer operations.
Get surrounded by majestic views of the Canadian Rockies. Walk amongst ancient fossils and native flora. You may even catch some of the local wildlife as you venture through lush sub-alpine forest and climb high into the rocky alpine
Trails at Fernie Alpine Resort are well maintained and can be accessed from the base area or chairlift.
Hardcopies are free and can be found at Fernie Visitor Information Centre, or Guest Services at Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie Alpine Resort Summer Trail Map
Elk Chair: Daily 10:30am - 4:30pm; Thursdays until 7pm
Timber Chair: Saturdays from July 13 plus Sunday August 4 & Sunday September 1. 10am - 3:30pm.
CEDAR TRAIL
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.69 m / 1 hour one way
Elevation Gain/Loss: 49 m / -270 m
Access from: Base area
This wide shaded road ascends from the base area through mature forest, huckleberry and wild strawberry patches. Watch for calypso orchids near the trail.
BOOM TRAIL / PEAK TO PARK
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 1.43 km / 1 hour one way
Access from: Elk Chair
A great hike on a hot day! This wide multi-use road travels through old-growth forest but also offers exceptional views of the Elk Valley.
GORBIE LOOP / OLD GROWTH MAGICAL FOREST
Difficulty: Easy
Length: 2.5 km / 2 hour round trip
Access from: Peak to Park/Boom Trail, Cedar Trail or View Trail
Elevation Gain/Loss: 160 m / -200 m
A meandering trail through the Cedar Bowl leads to A secluded grove of old-growth cedar forest. Watch for moose in the seasonal creek.
SUMMER ROAD
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 2.46km / 2 hrs one way
Elevation Gain/Loss: 320 m / -21m
Access from: Elk Chair
Sub-alpine forests thin into alpine tundra as you climb this wide road. Enjoy premium views from the mid-trail observation deck and discover fossils at the end of the trail.
SKELETON FLATS
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 1.5 km / 1 hr one way
Elevation Gain/Loss: 156m / -36m
Access from: Summer Road
A stunning alpine hike that passes through a unique ecosystem of wildflowers, moose and bears. Please stay on the trail to protect the delicate glacier lilies, blue clematis and western anemones.
Lost Boys Lookout & Mammoth
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: 1-2 hours
The Lost Boys Lookout is an easy 2km hike through the alpine meadows reaching the observation deck. With a vertical gain of only 80m this walk is suited for youngsters as well as adults. Follow the signs from the top of Timber Chair on the Lost Boys Trail.
For an extended hike off Lost Boys Lookout Trail, include the Mammoth Trail. The trail descends through the alpine to the Mammoth Droppings to an interesting area of giant boulders below the Mammoth Peak. The additional loop is 1.7 km with a vertical climb of about 100m. To hike the loop would take about 1 hr. The trail is suitable for children.
Polar Peak Ridge Walk
Difficulty: Advanced
Time: 6 hours round trip
At 2100 metres, Polar Peak provides a spectacular 360º 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.
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 6 hrs depending on weather and rest stops. The trail is about 5 km from Timber Chairlift to Polar Peak with a vertical rise of 240 vertical metres. From Polar Peak return to the top of the Timber Chair via Polar Road & White Pass Trail.
Lost Boys Lookout & Mammoth
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: 1-2 hours
The Lost Boys Lookout is an easy 2km hike through the alpine meadows reaching the observation deck. With a vertical gain of only 80m, this walk is suited for youngsters as well as adults. Follow the signs from the top of Timber Chair on the Lost Boys Trail.
For an extended hike off Lost Boys Lookout Trail, include the Mammoth Trail. The trail descends through the alpine to the 'Mammoth Droppings' - an interesting area of giant boulders below the Mammoth Peak. The additional loop is 1.7 km with a vertical climb of about 100m. To hike the loop would take about 1 hr. The trail is suitable for children.
White Pass
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 3 Hours round trip
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. Look up at the top of the trail and 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.
Siberia Ridge
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: Up to 1 hour round trip
Siberia Ridge is a short approx 1-hour hike that goes straight up left of the Timber Chair. The elevation change on this hike is minimal. The views as you descend Siberia 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.
The Resort offers a wealth of great summer activities for everyone to enjoy.
Featured activities & services include:
