The End of Winter

Winter has now given way to spring, and the temperatures are rising again to a heady 25C in the day, and above freezing at night. The ski hill is now closed to skiers, and we have taken the opportunity to “summer-ize” our skis and store them away ready for December.

There’s a saying in Fernie, “I came for the winter and stayed for the summer”. While the skiing is fantastic, there is a lot more to do here in the summer, and a wider range of guests find that they are able to have a greater involvement in the local activities that are available.

Fishing

Did you know that the pristine Elk River that runs through Fernie has some of the best fly fishing anywhere in the world.  The river anda number of the local lakes hold a healthy population of cutthroat trout, bull trout and mountain whitefish. There is such a high demand for fishing spots throughout the season that licenses are highly prized. The summer season starts June 15th and follows through until October.

Biking

Fernie is rightly famous for it’s mountain biking trails. All of the mountains are easily accessible to town, and are maintained by an army of locals who are passionate about the sport. With names like Cedar Trail, View Trail, Verboten and Little Chainring Big Trouble, you can see that there is a variety of trails to have a go at. Version 3 of the Fernie Mountain Bike Map, available from The Guide’s Hut and Fernie Mountain Bike Club is a mine of information, and displays the locations and gradings of fifty trails, while their website provides information about sixty seven trails!

Hiking

Well, the bike trails can be hiked as well, and you have more besides. Again, you can put together a day of hiking that is within your capability. A free town trail map is available in town and at Cinnamon Bear Lodge that sh0w a number of trails in the City of Fernie area that are relatively flat, or absolutely flat! You can walk, jog or run under a towering Mount Fernie on the river path, or take the undulating Stumpy Trail to the north end of town before turning back via the golf course. For the more adventurous you can hike up Mt Hosmer do the Three Sisters Heiko Trail, or do a ridge walk along Morrissey Ridge (something I’m planning this summer, the sunrises and sunsets up there are amazing!).

Based at the bottom of Coal Creek Road, Cinnamon Bear lodge is perfectly situated for both hiking and biking behind Ridgemont, on Coal Creek, along both the top and bottom of Morrissey Ridge!

Golf in Fernie

One of the top 25 golf courses in BC, this 18 hole course is a par 70. Only a five minute drive from the lodge, this beautiful course has fantastic views under the Three Sisters, and of Mt Hosmer with its famous Ghostrider.

Whitewater

If you want an adrenalin rush, but you want a day off biking, what about white-water rafting in Fernie? There are a couple of outfits that run rafting trips that range from a gentle guided punt down the river to a wild roller-coaster ride down the Elk River Canyon! Can’t get enough? Then there’s the Bull river as well just waiting to be ridden.