Favourite Hikes and Après Hike Patios in Fernie, BC
I love to go a-wandering,
Along the mountain trail,
And as I go, I love to sing,
My Camelback full of ale…
Oh wait! Wrong words….water….it’s full of water! The ale is for après hike, sitting in the sun on one of Fernie’s many patios. So let’s go for a hike first! Fernie is a hiker’s haven…..so many to choose from that sometimes the summer just doesn’t seem long enough. Last summer I was lucky enough to spend a number of days on the trails and I have decided to share with you 5 trails that stand out – some family friendly and some a little more adventurous and challenging.
Castle Mountain: Prepare yourself for a 4 – 6 hour round trip (also used for mountain biking) with spectacular views of our beautiful valley once at the top. There are 2 ways to access the trail, either from River Road or from Cokato Road, so you can actually go up and back down on 2 separate trails.
Old Growth Trail: Very family friendly and only a 1 hour round trip. Rain or shine, the giant ancient cedars canopy you as you make your way to Island Lake Lodge. Stop and grab some lunch on the famous Bear Lodge deck before you wind your way back down or head out on another of Island Lake’s diverse and well maintained trails.
Mt Hosmer: Plan on using up a day to explore the full two part hike to the summit of this spectacular peak – home to our legendary Ghostrider. There are some switchbacks, steep hills and scrambles but worth it once atop this magnificent mountain. Watch for mountain goats!
Mt Fernie: The easiest access is just off the power line above Alpine Trails/Parkland Terrace. This hike is approximately 3 hours and can be a tad scrambly towards the top, but there are benches strategically placed at amazing viewpoints and the view from the top is absolutely awesome! The trail meets up with the notorious Mountain Lakes Trail aka Heiko’s Trail which brings you to Island Lake Road just below the lodge and I will be honest, I’ve not done this latter one yet but it is definitely on my bucket list!
Lizard Lake: Accessed via Island Lake’s lower parking lot, Lizard Lake although a relatively short hike gains vertical fairly quickly. It leads to a lake found just below the peaks of the Lizard Range. There is a rough game trail above the lake if you want to get to the top – it becomes fairly challenging – but if you like bushwhacking, loose rock, snow and complicated terrain (which all seem to be criteria when hiking with my sister Sue) then all the power to you. The sea of wildflowers and the view of Lake Koocanusa will be your reward…you may even spot a few mountain goats!
Well there you have it…some great trails to choose from. Now for the après hike info….I seem to be good at this part …my top 5 Fernie patio picks:
Bear Lodge Deck at Island Lake Lodge – Sunshine, Sangria & Smoked Cod Pasta
Bridge Bistro – Half Chicken and Rib Dinner
The Clubhouse at Fernie Golf and Country Club – Clubhouse Sandwich & Daily Drink Special
Kelsey’s at Fernie Alpine Resort – Hit it on a Thursday after the race series and enjoy half price wings
The Curry Bowl – Sit rooftop and enjoy an ice cold Stella and a tantalizing Mango/Shrimp Curry
Once you’ve hiked til your legs are jelly and you’ve filled your belly come stay with us at Fernie Lodging Company! Check out our Summer Savings on our accommodations which include cabins, condos, chalets and resort homes.
Love Fernie in the Summer!
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Once upon a time, in a sleepy little coal town nestled in the majestic Rocky Mountains in the East Kootenays, some exciting things happened – the town was abuzz – a ski hill was built and curious adventurers traveled from far and wide to see this wondrous new addition. Soon they wanted to stay for days at a time so accommodations were built…..cozy little cabins, chalets, lodges and condos. These folk needed to eat and just like a well-watered garden, an eclectic assortment of restaurants began popping up all over town. Cat skiing, nordic skiing and snowmobiling all surged forward in popularity. Wow! Fernie BC certainly seemed to be booming in the winter….but what about summer?
So I think my ranting in yesterday’s post woke Mother Nature up! Today is the first day of summer and the clouds are giving way to some azure blue and the sun is peeping through! Fernie is looking absolutely spectacular….decorated in lush, varying shades of green and dotted with colourful wildflowers poking their way towards the heavens above. The 14 day forecast is showing lots of little sunshine icons which puts a great big smile on my face! There’s really nothing better than Fernie in the summer! So many things to do….how do you fit them all in? Well for a start, you need to check out our 
Okay so here’s the deal. Thanks to my parents, I’m a pretty optimistic person. You know…the glass is half full, when one door closes another one opens….you get the idea. Well it would seem Mother Nature is testing me! I have never chanted, “Rain, rain, go away…” so many times in my life! I even tried it in 4 different languages and came up with three new tunes to sing it to! It is time for some summer and sunshine! I left Fernie for another part of BC over the weekend to attend an annual family gathering….a place renowned for sunshine but alas, the rain was torrential there as well. Now having said that, equipped with large tents, umbrellas, rain gear and a roaring bonfire, nobody’s spirits were dampened and the weekend was full of family, friends, laughter and some crazy game called Chickens Ready. The same thing applies here in Fernie…..going mountain biking or hiking? Rain gear. Golfing? Umbrella. There are always ways to enjoy the great outdoors even in inclement weather…you simply have to be prepared. Just like in the winter when you book your ski vacation package – good weather or fresh snow are never a guarantee, but you plan for anything and everything!
Summer is coming…I can feel it! Yes, we’ve had our unfair share of the ‘monsoon’ and the Elk River is challenging the very banks that guide it through our beautiful valley, but everything is looking so green and lush. Riding our mountain bikes along River Road to Morrissey (we chose to stay off single tracks to preserve them until they are able to dry out) on Sunday afternoon took longer than usual because we kept stopping to take in the spectacular views…okay fine, we may have also stopped to ensure our lungs weren’t splayed on the road behind us after what seemed like endless steep uphill sections….but the scenery definitely helped the recovery process! That’s the thing about Fernie…it is positively therapeutic. Speaking of which, we are home to some of the best massage therapy in BC and after partaking in all the outdoor activities you can possibly fit into one day, what better to do than book an appointment in one of our many spas for some relaxing and pampering?
Although I have been visiting Fernie on a fairly regular basis over the last 2 decades to visit my sister and her family, I only moved here this past September and I have not regretted one single second of living here. Admittedly, there has been a fair amount of precipitation of late, but there are still plenty of things to do in this quaint little resort town. Time to do some exploring and where better than the Fernie Museum or visit the beautiful Fernie Heritage Library housed in the building that survived the Fire of 1908. There is the Vogue Theatre if you’re into popcorn and a movie but one of my favorite places is The Arts Station – the hub of Fernie’s cultural scene. With 2 art galleries featuring our very talented local artists, a 110 seat theatre and painting and pottery studios, there is always something going on!
There is never a dull moment in Fernie! Truthfully, I can’t even remember the last time I was feeling house bound…suffering from cabin fever…bored out of my mind…craving a vacation….you get the idea, right? Why would I want to go to another resort town when I live in a little piece of heaven right here where, in a heartbeat, there is whitewater rafting, fishing, hiking, mountain biking, golfing and horseback riding? This past weekend was no exception as I decided to improve my mountain biking skills and participate in the Women’s “Spring Into It” Weekend through 
Well, wasn’t that a weekend! Summer in Fernie is drawing near!
The weather in Fernie, BC this past weekend reminds me of how grateful I am to live in such an amazing resort town. The sunrises and sunsets dancing with the mountains are spectacular and they make me smile at the start and finish of my day. With the weather so beautiful, it’s a local’s goal to pack as much into one day as possible and usually a bike ride is on the list of activities. The trails are in great shape right now and as I nervously navigated my way along Deadfall and Sidewinder and a number of other trails whose names I seem to have blocked from memory it occurred to me that having only one year of mountain biking under my belt, I really need to learn some tricks of the trade. Well guess what! 
Well, my spring training is still in full swing! Swing? Why yes….my first round of golf last weekend at