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Fernie Ski Holidays

At a glance

  • Amazing powder bowls
  • Award winning ski town
  • Ski-out Alpine Resort

Great for

  • Off piste
  • Doorstep skiing
  • Snow sure

Ski Holidays in Fernie

Whether it’s down to a local legend, the Griz, or just good old Mother Nature, an annual snow depth of more than two double-decker buses is the making of an awesome week on the Rockies. And with those glorious groomers and deep powder bowls up in resort, plus some cool Canadian vibes downtown, what’s not to love about Fernie?

  • Flight Time
  • 9 hours
  • From London
  • Nearest Airports
  • Calgary, Montreal
  • Vancouver
  • Time zone
  • GMT - 3.5 to -8 hours
  • Language
  • English, French
  • Currency
  • Canadian Dollar
  • Ski Season
  • Dec - April

Fernie Stats

Top Altitude
2149m
Bottom Altitude
1068m
Resort Altitude
1068m
Total Piste
2504 acres
Longest Run
5km
Slope Orientation
N E
Vertical Drop
1082m
Skiable Vertical
1082m
Night Skiing
Yes
Glacier Skiing
No

What do you get when a mythical mountain man, born in a grizzly bear’s den, fires an enormous musket into the Canadian skies? A whopping annual snowfall of up to 37 feet… So goes the local legend of ‘The Griz’, the reputed source of Fernie’s fantastic snow record. Whatever causes the snow to fall, there are over 2500 acres of terrain on which to enjoy it, and it’s not unusual to find you have a run completely to yourself…

It’s easy to see why Fernie Alpine Resort pipped Whistler et al to the post for the title of ‘Best North American Resort’ in 2012’s World Snow Awards; the easily navigable mix of terrain includes everything from steep chutes to gentle groomers, and the base station has a great mix of restaurants, bars and slopeside accommodation.

Even if you’re planning to ski from dawn til dusk (we wouldn’t blame you), a trip to town is well worth the 3 mile bus journey - stand at the corner of Victoria Ave and Hanson Street and take in the view of the Lizard Range of the Rockies, framed by the town’s historic buildings.

They say Fernie Time is generally 15 minutes behind normal time and tellingly, the town has resisted hasty development. Founded in the 19th Century by the prospector and coal miner William Fernie, the streets have retained their historic charm and the whole place exudes a tight community feel.

Rolling Stone magazine once dubbed this the “Coolest Town in North America” and we’re inclined to agree; the vibe is infectiously relaxed, visitors are warmly welcomed and you’ll find overwhelming evidence that, above all else, the locals love their mountains.

The ski resort and town each have their fair share of accommodation so you can choose your base depending on where you plan to spend more time. Both are best reached from Calgary’s international airport, which may be 3 and a half hour journey, but the route’s an impressive one, passing through the heartland of the glorious Canadian Rockies.

Winter Sports Ratings

Beginners

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboarding

Fernie Transfer Times

Calgary210mins
Kalispell (Montana)180mins
Cranbrook75mins

The nearest airport to Fernie is Calgary at 295 km or about 3 hours 30 minutes by car

What's the ski area like in Fernie?

The Lower Mountain seems tailor made for newbies, with the Mini and Mighty Moose areas easing learners and little ones into the basics, under the tutelage of the excellent Telus Winter Sports School (this is also where you’ll find floodlit skiing on certain evenings). Improvers can then access some gentle green groomers from the Deer Chair and Elk Quad (including the delightfully named Holiday, Dipsy and Giggly Gully).

The intermediate and expert terrain’s nicely mixed throughout the area, meaning groups of different abilities won’t find themselves miles apart. From the top of the Elk Quad, a cruise down the blue, tree-flanked Lower Bear leads into the Lizard Bowl, where you’ll find a nice collection of blues and black diamonds. For progressing intermediates, there are also a couple of blue/black trails like the lovely Linda’s run, which after a testing start eases into a gentler descent.

The Boomerang Chair takes you over to the Cedar bowl – here experts will find numerous black diamonds (the aptly named ‘Steep & Deep’ is a must ski) while those after an easier route can stick to the blue Alpine Way to traverse the top of the bowl and descend one of the many blues. The Siberia Bowl’s always a pleasure to ski - take the Timber Bowl Express from the base where the likes of double diamond ‘Knot Chutes' and an awesome 5km blue called ‘Falling Star’ await.

An “Experts Only” sign at the top of the Polar Peak Chair leads to some serious double-diamond gradients. Because you can get some laps going there (and of course for its Simpson’s reference…) we’re big fans of Side Show Bob’s. The Currie Headwall Gated Terrain on the other side of the ridge requires transceivers and a lot of experience, but with both of those it’s incredible. Confident boarders will love the knee-deep powder bowls, gullies and off-piste. Some flat spots and traverses are required to get to the good bits, particularly in the Currie Bowl, but it certainly pays off.

A rail-centric freestyle park runs below the Deer Chair and requires a separate pass - if it’s kickers you’re after, pick any one of the bowls and nature will be your park.

Ski Area Facts

LocationBritish Columbia, Canada
Established1962
Downhill2504 acres
Lift Pass£259 (adult for 6 days)

Beginner Slopes

751acres30%

Intermediate Skiing

1001acres40%

Advance & Expert Terrain

731acres30%

Snowboarding Trails

2504 acres100%

Fernie Restaurants

Where to eat in Fernie and on the mountain

Yamagoya The people have spoken and for many, the consensus is that the food, service, atmosphere and value for money in this downtown sushi restaurant is excellent. Yamagoya’s menu of fresh fish, top-notch teriyaki and tempura, vegetarian options and gluten free goodies come in good portion sizes, so it’s well worth a visit. They don’t take reservations though, so it’s worth getting there early to avoid disappointment, especially during the weekend when the locals head there in their droves. The famous ‘Fernie Roll’ is recommended and if you get the chance, ask to be seated in one of the private tatami rooms if it’s a romantic setting you’re after.

The Brick House The Brickhouse puts a spin on pub culture, providing an old feel with a fresh new twist, with a strictly 100% BC-only wine list and craft beer on tap. Open for lunch and dinner til late, 7 days a week, it's a place where you'll feel at home straight away. Enjoy incredible homemade burgers, drinks specials and live music. The Patio opens in May, so grab a friend, and stop by for a beer after a long bike ride or shopping in town. The Brickhouse Bar and Grill: 401 2nd Ave, on the corner of 2nd Ave & 4th Street in beautiful downtown Fernie.

Boston Pizza Fernie The games, big screens and good food makes this a super restaurant for groups and families alike. Boston Pizza Fernie's menu is full of delicious dishes, from delicious pizzas and pastas to Ribs and steaks as well as light lunches. There's a lovely outdoor deck to eat on when the sun's out in the summer. Soak up gorgeous views of the Rockies with a pint of our Sub Zero Draft System. or get to know the locals and other visitors over a game at the sports bar. Boston Pizza Fernie is open every day from 11am to 12am.

Lost Boys Cafe Situated on top of the Timber Express Chairlift, it makes the perfect pit stop to refuel while on the mountain. Enjoy of hearty meal or a quick snack whilst basking in the views of the Elk Valley. Open from 10-4pm every day.

Kelseys Bar and Grill Based in the plaza, this family friendly bar is great for a quick meal. With finger licking good chicken wings, have a beer and enjoy.

Lizard Creek Lodge Dining Room Whether its casual dining in front of the fire in the Great room, or the Steak house for a fine dining with dishes including Pacific seafood, Elk and steak on the menu.

SLOPESIDE COFFEE AND DELI Serving gourmet deli products for breakfast and lunch eat in or takeaway. There’s even an outdoor fire pit if you start to get chilly. Enjoy a Starbucks coffee and relax. Open daily from 7:30-4:30pm.

Lost Boys Café Situated on top of the Timber Express Chairlift, it makes the perfect pit stop to refuel while on the mountain. Enjoy of hearty meal or a quick snack whilst basking in the views of the Elk Valley. Open from 10-4pm every day.

Kelseys Bar and Grill Based in the plaza, this family friendly bar is great for a quick meal. Have a beer with some finger-licking good chicken wings and enjoy.

Lizard Creek Lodge Dining Room Whether its casual dining in front of the fire in the Great room, or on to the Steak house for fine dining choose from a menu of Pacific seafood, Elk and steak.

Slopeside Coffee and Deli Serving gourmet deli products for breakfast and lunch, eat in or takeaway. There’s even an outdoor fire pit if you start to get chilly. Enjoy a Starbucks coffee and relax. Open daily from 7:30-4:30pm.

Fernie Après Ski

Bars Late Night Clubs and Cafes in Fernie

The Griz Bar Like the legendary mountain man-beast this slopeside bar is named after, The Griz is THE place to go for an après pint, but if a frothy, ice cold one doesn’t take your fancy, try the famous “Mogul Smoker”. The Griz does some cracking nachos and bar snacks, so if you’re feeling peckish, it’s a great spot to hang out at noon or night. With music every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, there’s plenty of entertainment, although it’s likely that nothing will be as entertaining as the naked table sliding!

Fernie Activites for Non-skiers

Canyon Raft Company With rides on either the Elk River or upper Elk River depending on how wild you want the experience to be. Trips include transport, river gear, professional guides and a river side lunch and of course a boat load of fun!

Vogue Theatre Playing all the latest movies in 2D or 3D in English, the Vogue Theatre normally has a couple of showings of each film a day. There is also a 3000 foot arcade on the upper floor.

Clothing Food & Souvenir Shops

Fernie resort has one sports shop - The Sports Alpine Shop have retail all covered. Theres a full selection of ski and snowboard clothing, acessories and equipment. The rental shop offers high performance demos, powder skis, snowboards, cross-country, snowshoes, telemark, mountain toys and helmets. The rental shop also offer service and repair with overnight tuning, custom boot fitting and even a lunch hour hot wax service. Downtown Fernie has six sports stores including Frozen Ocean, Fernie's original snowboard shop and Board Stiff Touring Co which stocks mostly Canadian product lines. They offer backcountry equipment, ski and snowboard tuning, rentals, clothing and accessories. Carosella in downtown Fernie have a fine selection of local pottery, artwork and unique gifts such as forged iron, home accessories, jewellery and glasswork while the Fernie Shirt Company offer custom Fernie souvenirs from T-shirts to fleece jackets and hats.

Snow Pro Rental Ski and snowboard rental for all levels at the best prices. From big mountain powder skis to powder fish snowboards, perfect if you do want to do test out Fernie's incredible freeriding terrain.

Fernie Package Ski Holidays

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Best Time to Visit Fernie

The area wasn’t once called ‘Snow Valley’ for nothing - and hopefully the Griz will continue to deliver Fernie’s outstanding average snowfall of 37 feet / 11 metres each year.

The lifts tend to open at the end of November (although there have been occasions where it’s been earlier than that) meaning conditions are a relatively safe bet between December and February.

If you’re keen to meet the famous Griz, or at least a person dressed up as him, head there around the beginning of March for the Griz Days Winter Carnival for music, ice hockey games and bacon eating contests…

Or if you're more into big games, it's worth finding out when the Ghostrider Hockey Games take place and heading down to see one.

Later on in the season, the lower slopes can suffer due to the resort’s modest altitude at the base but of course you get the bonus of milder temperatures, awesome views of the Rockies and brilliantly bizarre events like the spring Slope Soaker.

What's Fernie like at Christmas?

The average snowfall of 31 inches in December means a white Christmas in Fernie is a safe bet. Fortunately Santa handles powder pretty well and if you keep your eyes peeled, you might spot him on the slopes…
Christmas Ski Holidays

What's Fernie like in the New Year?

If it’s anything like recent years, you might find yourself skiing in the New Year in Fernie, where the Mighty Moose area is open until late. An arts and craft fair is usually followed by fireworks at the base of the mountain, which should get everyone in the party mood before things really kick off in the bars.
New Year Ski Holidays

What's Fernie like in Half-Term?

Head to Fernie in February half term and you’ll relish the space as the BC school holiday crowds will still be stuck in the classrooms and offices.
Half Term Ski Holidays

What's Fernie like at Easter?

A season of accumulated snowfall means that Easter in Fernie should deliver great late season skiing. Get there for the last weekend in the middle of April to witness the Slope Soaker contest where costumed skiers and boarders traditionally compete in an attempt to skim as far across Fernie pond...
Easter Ski Holidays

Fernie Snow Conditions

Snow Report, History & Forecast

View our detailed Fernie snow report to see skiing confitions now. Our Fernie snow history shows you what snow depths have been in recent years month-by-month. If you're visiting soon, use the Fernie snow forecast to see predicted snowfall over the coming days.

  • Light snow Today
  • Moderate snow Sunday
  • Light snow Monday
  • Moderate snow Tuesday
  • Light snow Wednesday
  • Partly cloudy skies Thursday
  • Current snow depth at top
    192 cm
  • Alternate Text
  • Current snow depth at base
    119 cm

Ski Accommodation in Fernie

We have 76 ski holidays in Fernie. Search all Fernie ski deals or pick your preferred accommodation type below:

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Fernie is so laid back and friendly that families quickly feel at home here. The ski area is nothing short of spectacular and you'll find excellent offerings for all from tiny tots to grandparents.

For children who are too small to ski, Fernie Alpine Resort Childcare Centre have programs for tots from 18 months to 6 years, including lunch and ski lessons (for 2 years +).

First timers can potter about around the Mini Moose and Mighty Moose lifts. Children will love the Wilderness Adventure Park, where they'll learn in a fun area dotted about with animals. Once they've built confidence, take them to the slopes from the The Deer and Elk Chair lifts - the trails here return straight to base, which is fabulous for teens who want a bit more independence.

Intermediates are well catered for around the Lizard and Cedar Bowls and if you're bringing a clan of experts, they'll be on cloud nine - this is one of the best ski areas on the planet for difficult terrain, with glades, steeps, moguls and knee-deep powder. Don't miss the Polar Peak Lift where you can ski off the summit of one of the tallest peaks in the area. Hopefully they'll continue hosting night skiing on the green Mighty Moose run which is good fun for all ages - pizza, nachos, beer and cocktails are always ready and waiting at the Rusty Edge when you're ready to come in from the cold.

If you need some indoor entertainment, the Aquatic centre in town has pools, a waterslide and wellness facilities to divide yourselves between. Elsewhere, Slopeside Lodge often holds a Family Game Night, you can take the kids to storytime at the library and Griz Kidz organise regular evening activities.

Groups of expert skiers and snowboarders will think Christmas has come early with Fernie's super steeps, knee-high deeps and awesome bumps and glades. Less experienced snow-lovers will love it here too - first timers can get to grips using the Mini Moose and Mighty Moose lifts, while intermediates explore the Lizard and Cedar Bowls.

Choose between the Alpine Village and downtown Fernie when it comes to accommodation. The first is brilliant if you're all keen skiers who want to get straight out onto the mountain while the latter works well if you have any non-skiers tagging along, or want to be nearer the hub of restaurants and nightlife. Both are easy to travel between via a regular bus which tends to run quite late.

However fussy your group are when it comes to eating, there should be something to please all in town, from Pizzas at Elk Valley to Nachos at Nevados, Indian at Curry Bowl and Sushi at Yamagoya.

Rusty Edge at the foot of the slopes makes for a terrific meeting point - with daily meal deals (we loved their burger & beer / 1lb of Wings for $10), cocktails and huge jugs of Fernie beer. It's near the Mighty Moose run, where night skiing makes for a great group activity.

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Ski Extras

How much is a ski pass in Fernie

Maximum and minimum adult Fernie lift pass prices ranged from C$475 to C$579 for 6 days access to the Fernie ski lift system at the start of the 2025 winter season. Our lift passes are part of a packaged Fernie holiday with accommodation, so prices vary depending on chalet or hotel suppliers. Confirm price for the lift ticket before booking your holiday.

Lift Tickets Child Adult Senior
1 Day Price C$42 - C$42 C$105 - C$105 C$84 - C$84
6 Day Price C$190 - C$259 C$475 - C$579 C$380 - C$472
Age Range 6 - 12 18 - 64 65+
Fernie Packages + Extras

Getting to Fernie

Most of our ski holidays to Fernie packaged with flights include airport transfers. We can also arrange private transfers to Fernie from nearby airports

How long does it take to fly to Fernie from the UK?

Flights from London take about 9 hours to Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver. This table shows approximate transfer times to Fernie from the nearest airports, smaller airports can be more prone to delays.

Airport Distance Transfer Time
Calgary 295 km 3 hours 30 minutes
Kalispell ( Montana ) 200 km 3 hours
Cranbrook 116 km 1 hour 15 minutes
Packages with Plane Train or Car

How long is the transfer from nearest Canada train station to Fernie?

The transfer time from alpine train stations are generally shorter than from airports, Call us for details of Fernie transfers.

Station Distance Transfer Time
Whitefish ? km ?
Ski Train Holidays

Fernie Maps

Fernie piste map
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Regional map
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Town Map
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More Fernie Information

Fernie Visitor Information Centre For all your local needs and latest information about what is happening in resort. There are two offices, found on Commerce Road and Downtown on the corner of 5th St & 2nd Ave.

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Fernie Ski Holiday Resources

Need help choose your Fernie ski holiday? Call us on 020 7770 6888 or click Enquire - we love to help!

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Every Sno holiday packaged with flights is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. All our suppliers are ATOL bonded, so your money is safe. In addition to this, payments for your holiday are held in trust, by NatWest bank and the Travel Trust, who insure every booking against supplier failure.

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