A Winter Weekend in Fernie, BC for Non-Skiers

Fernie BC Canada

Fernie, BC: The Ultimate Winter Playground

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Fernie is a popular ski town, but there are plenty of other winter activities to try.

Snowshoeing in Fernie, Brisith Columbia

Fernie, BC: The Ultimate Winter Playground

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From snowshoeing to Nordic skiing to breweries and après-ski galore, Fernie has it all.

Downtown Fernie, British Columbia, is straight out of a postcard and has a surprising number of stores, restaurants, and attractions for all interests and intensity levels. We’ve got you covered with a long-weekend itinerary focused on winter activities that don’t involve strapping on downhill skis, but are still packed with a ton of fun adventures. Have we piqued your interest yet?

Prepared By:

Colleen Goldhorn

Fernie, BC Winter Weekend Itinerary

Start / End

Calgary, Vancouver, Seattle or Missoula / Fernie, BC

Suggested Days

At least 3

Suggested Seasons

Winter

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Not Into Downhill Skiing? This is The Fernie, BC Long Weekend Itinerary For You.

Itching to go on a winter trip, but not the biggest fan of downhill skiing? Fernie, British Columbia, may be best known for its alpine ski and snowboard resort, but what makes this destination so great is that – unlike many other ski towns – there is much more to do here than just hitting the slopes. Fernie is home to an extensive network of cross country ski, fat bike, snowshoe, and snowmobile trails, as well as multiple spots for both inside and outdoor ice skating.

Getting to Fernie

Fernie is a short (and usually inexpensive) flight from Seattle, Washington, or about an eight hour drive; a three hour drive from Calgary, British Columbia; or a four hour drive from Missoula, Montana. Most people who fly choose to use the Calgary Airport and either rent a car or take the Fernie Stoke Shuttle to town.

Long Weekend Itinerary

DAY 1: FAT BIKING & CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Fernie BC is a ski resort town in Canada that has lots of other winter activities

Welcome to Fernie! We recommend getting into town the night before your first day (or maybe even first thing in the morning). Get bundled up because we’re heading to the alpine resort – but not for the reason you might think. Fernie is famous for fat biking, and the groomed trails at the base of the resort are perfect for beginners.

Fat biking is a form of mountain biking, except with wider tires that give increased traction and stability on the snow. The activity is a great way to explore further distances than boots or snowshoes can take you – and it’s a lot of fun.

Not into biking? The groomed multi-use trails at the alpine resort are also great for cross country (Nordic) skiing and are set with a track for classic cross country skiing.

After a day in the snow, head over to the village plaza at the resort for food, drinks, and shopping. Legends is ideal for casual food while Cirque is one of Fernie’s finest restaurants. On the other side of the plaza, The Griz Bar is perfect for après activities and has live music on the weekends. Each of these dining options offer slopeside views of the huge Lizard Range Mountains.

When it’s time to head back, we recommend staying right at the resort. Fernie offers multiple lodging options that give you the best parts of the British Columbia winter culture without needing to strap on ski boots. It’s also worth checking Airbnb because many condos at the resort area are privately owned and offer great deals for slopeside accommodations.

One of the best reasons to stay onsite is access to multiple hot tubs and saunas after a day in the snow. It’s also ideal for walking right to fat bike, snowshoe, and nordic ski trails, as well as dining options in the plaza.

DAY 2: DOWNTOWN FERNIE

Sauna

It’s time to explore the downtown area of Fernie, BC. Rooftop Coffee Roasters, Big Bang Bagels, and Freshies are all fantastic options for coffee and breakfast food. After fueling up head over to the Montane Trailhead for a snowshoe to the Montane Hut. This 5.2 mile hike takes you to a backcountry hut with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. Pack a lunch and hot chocolate, and spend some time warming up in the hut before trekking back to the trailhead.

After the hike, get lost wandering the streets of downtown Fernie. There are countless local shops to explore, and some insanely impressive food. We love Nevados, Brickhouse, Himalayan Spice Bistro, and Yamagoya Sushi.

If you have energy to squeeze in one more activity before settling into dinner downtown, Fernie is home to an entire winter trail system ideal for everything from Nordic skiing, fat biking, hiking, or snowshoeing. We love the Emily Brydon Trail, which is right along the river and features amazing mountain views (with a groomed track for nordic skiing off to the side too).

DAY 3: ICY RINKS & FROSTY BREWS

Fernie BC breweries

There is almost too much to do in Fernie, and day three is going to be different based on your top-choice activities. Snowmobiling is a great option as is going on a hike in Mount Fernie Provincial Park. The groomed cross country ski trails at Elk Valley Nordic Centre also make for an amazing day on the snow.

If you’d rather spend time on the ice than in the snow, Fernie is home to more than a few places to ice skate, including the Fernie Memorial Indoor Rink and multiple natural ponds (always check ice thickness before heading out). For those who really want to get into the Canadian spirit, drop-in curling is available at the Fernie Curling Club.

After your adventure, stop at Fernie Brewing for a beer before packing up to go home.