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Best for
Fernie has a bit of everything for everyone. Beginners will love the easy rides through the forests and the natural trail network is vast enough to offer up plenty for experts and intermediates.
Beginner
Intermediate
Expert
Trail ratings
The draw to Fernie has to be the massive network of man made trails that literally fill the mountainsides all around the Town. There’s the park for the gravity inclined with it’s handy uplifts that are riding distance from the town centre
Natural
Man Made
Park
Environment
While Canada’s national energy mix is heavily skewed towards renewables the truth is Fernie is really only accessible by car and also it’s a flight away for all of us on the other side of the Atlantic.
Trail types explained
Bike Park
Perhaps the easiest to get your head around. Predominantly uplifted serviced DH trails. Carefully designed, curated and maintained. Bike parks are usually pay to play in one for or another even if that is just the cost of the lift pass or uplift. UK examples include Bike Park Wales
Man Made
Generally not uplifted so you earn your descents on these trails with the climbs. Often based in forested areas specifically designed for mountain biking. Usually way marked and maintained. UK examples include Glentress forest.
Natural
Lines on maps that are often public rights of way. Not way marked so you will generally need navigational skills and a map. Not specific MTB trails so expect to share them with other trail users from walkers to horse riders. Not generally maintained other than by landowners or local authorities as rights of way. UK examples include bridleways.
Why Fernie?
Nestling in the heart of the Elk Valley, Fernie is the only city in Canada that is fully encircled by the Rockies
It is nothing short of spectacular. Step out of your hotel room and the scale of the surrounding landscape is almost overwhelming. From Mount Fernie and the Three Sisters to the north to Fernie Ridge in the east and then to Morrisey Ridge and the Lizard Range in the south, you can almost taste the adventures which await you. I’ve spent a lot of time in the Alps and the Dolomites but the sheer scale of the Rockies truly has to be seen to be believed. A mixture of cedar, spruce, balsam and fir trees along with ancient rainforest and exposed rocky peaks, I was almost giddy with excitement at the prospect of what the riding had to offer.
Sanny – Singletrack Road Trip 2025 – Issue 164
- Spectacular Scenery
Fernie is the only city in Canada fully encircled by the Rockies, offering jaw-dropping mountain views in every direction. - Massive Trail Network
With around 400km of trails on the doorstep, Fernie’s network dwarfs most UK and European destinations—enough to keep even locals exploring all season. - Signature “Trail to Ale” Challenge
Tackle three distinct summit trails in 24 hours, snap your selfies, and earn a free drink at Fernie Brewing Company—adventure, achievement, and reward, all in one. - Variety for All Riders
From gentle valley spins to technical black diamond descents, Fernie’s trails cater for every level of mountain biker. - Epic Climbs & Descents
Experience iconic climbs like Hyperventilation and Project 9, with flowy, grin-inducing descents through ancient forests and open clearings. - Community-Powered Trail Care
Ride trails maintained by passionate volunteers and local charities—your trail pass directly supports year-round upkeep, including winter fat biking. - Friendly, Welcoming Vibe
Fernie’s locals (and even the imports) are famously friendly, helpful, and welcoming to visiting riders. - Classic North American Riding
Expect big trees, exposed roots, and the kind of “North Shore” style features that make Canadian riding legendary—without terrifying wooden stunts. - Wildlife Encounters (the Safe Kind!)
Ride in bear country with a sense of adventure—just don’t forget your bear spray and your “Hey bear!” shout. - Après-Ride Scene
Refuel at local favourites like the Brickhouse or Fernie Brewing Company—mountain air guaranteed to turbocharge your appetite. - Rich Outdoor Culture
Fernie’s outdoor lifestyle is at the heart of its community, with events, markets, and plenty of opportunities to mix with locals. - Perfect Launchpad for Canadian Adventures
Fernie sets the bar high as a starting point for any Canadian Rockies road trip—expect to leave already planning your return.
Getting there
We flew Air Canada from Heathrow to Calgary direct.
Prices here are indicative only and based on September 2026.
- Return flights from £850 economy, including one checked bag.
- Bike carriage CAD$50 one way.
- Don’t forget to apply for your travel visa before you go.
Getting to the resorts once you land
Trains – Computer says no
For those of us who are used to UK trains, be prepared for a bit of a wake-up call. There are no passenger trains from Calgary to Fernie, which is surprising given the proximity to railway tracks that run through the town
Shuttle and bus transfer
Again, a non-starter. There are options, but they are all prohibitively expensive compared to…
Car hire
Canada is very much a car culture and for our ten-day trip, we were able to hire a frankly enormous Ford F150 six-seater flatbed truck for just over £330 through Enterprise, before adding on the cost of additional drivers. Fuel costs were half the price of the UK, meaning that we only spent about £150 on fuel for the entire trip, which involved four reasonably lengthy drives between the resorts we stayed at.
Fernie Summer 2026 Update
Fly to Cranbrook (YXC) or drive 7–8 hours from Vancouver. Cranbrook/Canadian Rockies International Airport is only 33 miles from Fernie Expedia.
- Lizard Creek Lodge — ski-in/ski-out at the resort, full-service spa, fine dining. Fine dining is available at Cirque, the on-site restaurant Priceline. From ~£120–200/night in summer.
- Park Place Lodge (downtown) — highly rated 3-star, hot tub, gym, pool. Located in the heart of downtown Fernie with balcony rooms KAYAK. From ~£90–130/night.
- Best Western Plus Fernie Mountain Lodge — guest rating of 9.0, indoor pool, spa tubs, free breakfast Expedia. From ~£80–120/night.
- Fernie Stanford Resort — waterpark on-site, overlooks Elk River. Less than 5 minutes’ drive to skiing at Fernie Alpine Resort Booking.com. From ~£90/night.
Rough 7-night package ballpark (July, mid-range): Flights ~£750 + car hire ~£500 + hotel ~£840 (£120/night) = ~£2,090pp (split 2 people). Fernie is noticeably more affordable than Whistler on accommodation.
Bike Shops and Bike Hire
Fernie Recommendations
GearHub Sports, Straight Line Bicycles, Ski Base and Fernie Bike Park all offer high-end rentals. James of Straight Line Bicycles gets a special mention for providing exceptional service when Nutty went in to buy a new helmet. Typical hire prices (approx.): High-end MTB CAD$500/week (£280 at time of publishing). CAD$120/day. High-end eMTB CAD$600/week or CAD$100/day.
Travel Insurance
Cover for our trip was provide by Yellow Jersey and included cover for guided rides above 5000ft and competition cover. See yellowjersey.co.uk for full details.
Guiding Services
Operating out of Fernie, Kimberley and Cranbrook, Ridetheory offers mountain and gravel bike tours, private coaching, summer camps, women’s only and social rides. Alina (photo) was our guide over two days and had us laughing the whole time. Just don’t try to keep up with her on the climbs and hold a conversation at the same time. Chances are you will lose!
Where to stay
We stayed at the Red Tree Lodge in Fernie, which was well set up for our biking needs. The staff were welcoming and friendly. Our comfortable room was spotlessly clean, while the provision of a kitchen, secure bike storage, indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, movie room, heated boot room, WiFi and complimentary light breakfast made it an excellent base for our stay. Price guide: From around £130/night
Eating Out
Breakfast – The most important meal of the day
Big Bang Bagels – Perfectly situated on the main street, Big Bang Bagels was busy throughout the day. Baked fresh daily, the choice is almost overwhelming as is the range of fillings. For those who laugh in the face of diabetes *, Da Bomb is a pound of bagel filled with more meat and cheese than is perhaps wise. Let a free t shirt be your reward (*insulin not included)
Coffee – even more important than breakfast
Rooftop Coffee Roasters – Family owned and operated, Rooftop don’t just serve excellent coffee and pastries but also do all their own roasting in house. They are justifiably proud of their ethical approach to sourcing their beans and have none of the coffee snobbery that you sometimes get in other self proclaimed artisanal coffee shops. A wee gem.
Dinner – Essential post ride refuelling stops
The Brickhouse – situated in an old brick bank building on the main street, this was a significant step up from the burger and fries staples we were expecting. An expansive menu, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Service was friendly, the food delicious and the portion sizes generous. Nutty went for a Caesar salad and gave it a big thumbs up.
Himalayan Spice – just past the cinema (which sounds weirdly like the adverts for the local curry shop that were a staple of eighties trips to the pictures), we were delighted to stumble upon this purveyor of tasty south Indian food. BC is not an easy place to find a good curry but this one hit the mark. I wolfed down my chicken saag while the Peshwari Naan was a welcome highlight. Friendly service and a real buzzing place on a Sunday evening when we visited.
The Loaf – a contemporary take on your classic Italian eatery, the Neapolitan pizzas proved to be an absolute winner. Doughy crust with a thin base and generous topping, we had to wait at the nearby Northern bar before getting a table on a bustling Saturday night but it was well worth the wait. Also open for brunch and coffee, it had a warm and welcoming atmosphere with prices similar to here in the UK.
Adding it all up
Prices here are a guide only and based on typical costs in September
A DIY trip for seven nights in Fernie for two, including economy flights, accommodation, car hire and fuel, plus bike hire, in September would cost approximately £3,900. (Approx. £400 less if taking a bike rather than hiring.)
Our ten-day road trip through Fernie, Rossland and Revelstoke would need a budget of approximately £3,800 for two with your own bikes or £4,300 with rentals in each resort, including Yellow Jersey insurance cover.
Not included: Food, tips, airport parking and UK transfers. If taking your own bikes, you’d also need Yellow Jersey insurance cover.
Covered by the crew
Insurance handled by people who ride, wrench and understand mountain bikes.
When something goes wrong, your claim is handled by people who genuinely understand how mountain bikes are ridden, repaired and put back together after a bad day on the trails.
From blown suspension to cracked frames, decisions are made by cycling specialists – not general insurers.
We also keep key bike parts in-house and work directly with trusted bike workshops, helping reduce delays and get riders back on the trails sooner.
What this means for you
- Cyclist-first decisions focused on getting you back on the trails
- Claims handled by people who ride and work with bikes
- Experience with real mountain bike damage, including off-road riding
- Repair-first approach using specialist cycle workshops
Fresh Goods Friday is sponsored by Pedal Cover