Not a skier or snowboarder? Fernie still has plenty to do in winter. This Canadian Rockies town in southeast British Columbia offers six great activities that don’t involve a chairlift: fat biking, snowshoeing, curling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, and ice skating.
Below, you’ll find where to go for each activity and what to know before you head out. Most are beginner-friendly and work well for families or mixed-ability groups.
Fernie is about a 3-hour drive south from Calgary and about a 75-minute drive east from the Canadian Rockies International Airport near Cranbrook, so it also makes an easy winter getaway.
#1 Fat Biking
It feels like the bikes never get completely put away in Fernie. Even as winter arrives and the trails are covered with snow, there is a passionate fat biking community that ensures locals and visitors alike can get out rolling on two wheels.
If you can ride a bike, you can (most probably) ride a fat bike too. You'll cover more ground and reach more spots rolling rather than on foot, plus you'll have the thrilling reward of descending old familiar favourite trails from the summer or fall months.
Fat bike rentals are available at Gearhub Sports or Straight Line Bicycles in downtown Fernie. If you want to know which trails you can fat bike on, check out our Fernie Winter Trail map and consider joining the community Facebook page - Fatbike Fernie.
#2 Snowshoeing
Explore Fernie's winter wonderland trails at Fernie Alpine Resort. Stop by their Guest Services to pick up the trail map and you'll see how extensive the snowshoe trail network is. You can find short family-friendly snowshoe hikes in the forests, to longer whole-day hikes to viewpoints of the valley. All you need is a pair of snowshoes to get you on your way.
Fernie Alpine Resort regularly offers scheduled guided group snowshoeing, we highly recommend.
#3 Curling at the Fernie Curling Club
Anybody can give Curling ago! The Fernie Curling Club offers drop-in sessions for non-members every Thursday, with no experience required.
#4 Nordic Skiing at the Fernie Golf Course
Ok, so technically this activity is skiing... However, cross-country skiing (a.k.a. Nordic skiing) is a lot easier to pick up and more accessible than its downhill cousin (alpine or downhill skiing). Fernie has 4 unique areas for cross-country skiing, and Fernie Golf Course has the most beginner-friendly trails, and best mountain views to get out and experience this outdoor activity.
A trail pass is required to access these trails. You can purchase a day pass or a family pass online the from the Elk Valley Nordic Society or contact them for a membership / season pass.
#5 Fishing
Fly fishing season on the Elk River in Fernie goes from June 15 until March 31, and the lakes are open for fishing all year round. While we understand it might be hard to fathom that there are indeed trout lurking under all that thick ice, winter fishing is a great activity to do with friends or family. Just make sure to dress accordingly. For the best winter fishing experience, we recommend contacting a local outfitter, such as Fernie Wilderness Adventures, and booking a guided day out.
#6 Ice Skating (Indoor or Outdoor)
Ice skating in Fernie is an absolute classic way to immerse yourself in the Canadian winter sports culture, not to mention it's great fun for the whole family. The Fernie Memorial Arena offers regular public skating and drop-in Shinny in the winter months. We have it from a trusted source that an outdoor ice skating rink will be going up for the 2026/2027 season near the Fernie Aquatic Centre. Follow the Fernie Ice Rink Society on Facebook for updates!
This article was last updated on October 28, 2026
