Fernie Facts

Fernie is located in the Elk Valley of the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. Completely surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Fernie is a small, historic mountain town with modern-day lifestyle and adventures.

Cool, small-town charm: Fernie’s funky main street with its turn-of-the-century brick buildings framed by postcard-perfect mountains provides this rugged and unpolished little town with a unique charm.

Mountain culture: From the pick-up trucks and mountain bikes that travel its streets, to the ski bums and guide shops that line them, Fernie’s distinct mountain culture is evident at almost every turn.

Stunning scenery: Fernie is a magnificent outdoor setting from which to experience the beauty and majesty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Authentic and real: Fernie is a casual, comfortable, and laid-back place where a local community still thrives. A community first, destination second, Fernie is not a packaged experience for the mass-market tourist.

Adventurous and outdoorsy: Fernie is a place where adventure-seekers, mountain enthusiasts and outdoor lovers of all kinds come to experience the stunning natural surroundings and range of fresh-air activities.

Down-to-earth: Fernie’s residents are humble, honest, natural and welcoming, with a resiliency that stems from their hard-working roots.

Enduring history: Fernie has a rich history that is alive and thriving to this day.

Community-minded: Fernie’s people work together for the betterment of their town, its residents and its visitors. They take pride in their community and welcome visitors who share their values.

More Fernie Facts:

• Founded in 1898, incorporated as a 'City' in July, 1904. Read more about Fernie's History.
• Coal mining and forestry industries settled and built Fernie
• Year-round population: 6,320 (with a significant number of additional non-residents)
• Town elevation: 1,010 metres (3,314 ft)
• Longitude: 115'03'43"W  Latitude: 49'30'29"N. View maps of Fernie.
• Fernie climate has four distinct seasons and enjoys temperate mountain weather
• Fernie is famous as a powder town with over 30 feet of snow annually during the winter season (Nov-Apr). Fernie Alpine Resort is a world-class ski & snowboard destination.
• Local prominent mountain ranges and peaks include Lizard Range, Three Bears, Mt. Fernie, Three Sisters, Mt. Procter, Mt. Hosmer, Castle Mountain and Morrissey Ridge.
• The Three Sisters mountains (a.k.a. Mt. Trinity) are not to be confused with those of the same name in Canmore, Alberta.
• Fernie's time zone is Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7), summer (UTC-6) for MDT
• Closest communities to Fernie are Sparwood (30km) and Elkford (65km) to the north, and Cranbrook (96km) to the west
• Fernie is located 70km / 43 miles west of the Alberta border and 68km / 42 miles north of the United States border
• Distance from Vancouver 941 km / 585 miles
• Fernie lies on the banks of the Elk River, a 220km / 137 mile river originating from the Elk Lakes near the Continental Divide in the Rockies. The river is well known for fly fishing, rafting and other river sports.
• Explorer David Thompson travelled along the Elk River in 1811 and called it the Stag River. The river was labelled Elk River on John Palliser's 1857-1858 map
• The Elk Valley is home to five large open-pit coal mines owned and operated by Elk Valley Resources, a spin-off company formed in 2023 by former owner Teck. The closest one to Fernie is located near Sparwood.

External Fernie Fact Links

Wikipedia

Community Statistics

City of Fernie website