Fernie Ski Resort Guide✔️9 Things to Know about Fernie Alpine Resort

Legendary powder, world-class off-piste terrain, and virtually no lift lines… What more do you need to know about Fernie Alpine Resort?

Well, as someone who’s lived and worked here for 3 years now, I can tell you that there’s more to Fernie than meets the eye. Even though I’ve skied every bowl and found many secret powder stashes myself, I know for a fact that there’s still much more to explore.

To help you get the most out of your ski trip, I decided to make a comprehensive ski resort guide to Fernie! In this post, I’m covering everything you need to know about Fernie Ski Resort, including who should ski here (and who shouldn’t), where to buy cheap tickets, what to expect from the mountain, where to stay, rent gear, eat, party, and so much more. Basically, all the practical details you need to plan an incredible trip.

Bags Always Packed is a reader-supported site which means some of the links on this page may be affiliates. I spend a lot of time researching these hotels, tours and products and only recommend those which I would use myself. Booking your trip through my links is a great way for you to support my work for free, as I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. ♡

Quick Summary of Fernie Alpine Resort

Fernie is not a flashy resort. While the skiing is world-class and you will have everything you need in a ski resort here, it’s not new, shiny or fancy in any way.

For beginners, the lower mountain is a great area for you to learn, practice and develop your skills, all season long. The snow conditions don’t really matter because the groomers focus on making this accessible.

For intermediate skiers, there’s a huge jump from the lower to the upper mountain, which can be difficult for those who are not confident in their abilities. Once you get over this hurdle and are comfortable with harder blues and starting off piste, you’ll love it here.

When the snow falls, Fernie can’t be beaten for advanced skiers; however, if we’ve had a drought and everything is icy, it’s a different story. The groomers are not interesting enough to keep you skiing all day. There aren’t really any long, flowy groomers that can be fun for all abilities. Instead, most of our runs follow the fall line and are frequently interrupted by cat tracks.

❄️ Average Snowfall:	8.8 m / 29 ft
⬆️ Vertical:	1082 m / 3550 ft
📍 Summit:	2,134 m / 7,000 ft
⛰️ Terrain:	2,504 Acres
⛷️ Trails:	145
🟢 Beginner Terrain:	30%
🟦 Intermediate Terrain:	40%
⯁ Advanced Terrain:	30%

1. Who is Fernie Ski Resort Recommended For?

Fernie Alpine Resort is a paradise for experienced skiers who live and breathe off-piste powder skiing. This mountain is perfect for anyone who’s up for adventure, loves steeps and doesn’t mind a little bushwacking in exchange for finding hidden powder stashes days after a storm.

It makes sense why Fernie is a bit of a hidden gem, as the steep terrain attracts a very specific type of skier or snowboarder. The lower mountain is great for beginners and novice skiers practicing their skills, but there’s a huge jump in difficulty when you head to the upper mountain, where the real magic happens.

Honestly, while there is a decent amount of terrain for all abilities, intermediates and above really need to love off-piste skiing to get enough out of the resort. You won’t really find any groomed black runs here!

Who will love Fernie:

• Advanced and Expert skiers looking for steep terrain
• Powder hounds who hate crowds – Even on our busiest days, you’ll find untracked snow
• Tree skiers – a ton of great gladed terrain
• Skiers who enjoy navigation challenges – You’ll find some of the best runs when you figure out how all the bowls connect

Fernie is NOT for:

• Groomer lovers – We don’t have many (if any) long, interesting groomed runs.
• True Intermediate skiers – Our blue runs are black at other resorts, you’ll want to have confidence before heading to the upper mountain.
• Groups with mixed abilities – While there is plenty of terrain for all abilities, beginners will be stuck on the lower mountain, while everyone else wants to go to the top
• People who need extensive amenities – This isn’t a resort where you’ll find heated walkways and fancy village shopping

When I meet people who fall into the true intermediate category (enjoying blue runs but not ready for black/off-piste), I honestly recommend they go to Kimberley or Sun Peaks instead. Those resorts both have the long cruising runs and gentle progression that Fernie completely lacks. For families with bigger budgets, Sun Peaks offers that perfect resort experience with terrain for everyone, though you’ll pay significantly more than Kimberley.

2. Pros and Cons of Fernie Ski Resort

Let me be completely honest about what you’re signing up for, because I’ve experienced this mountain in every possible condition over three years. When the taps are turned on, Fernie is one of the best ski resorts in Canada. However, when conditions are less than ideal, it can leave a lot to be desired.

3. Practical Info about Fernie Alpine Resort

Now for the juicy stuff. If you’re in the thick of planning your ski trip, I’ve compiled all the nitty-gritty details that you need to know in order to make the most of your vacation below. If there’s anything I’ve missed, let me know in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to help you out.

Winter Season Dates

OPENING DATE: 5th December 2026
CLOSING DATE: 12th April 2026

Fernie normally opens the first weekend of December and closes the second Sunday of April. This can vary year to year, so I will update the box above when the details are announced.

It’s also important to note that, as with most ski resorts, terrain will open depending on coverage. So it’s not uncommon for some off-piste terrain to stay closed for most of December until it’s safe to ski.

Fernie Ski Hill Hours

You can find the current open hours for all the shops, restaurants, individual lifts and guest services, etc on this page. Below is an overview of the average opening hours for the most important elements of your ski trip.

• Lifts Open: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Except Polar Peak, which closes at 3:30 pm
• First Chair: 9 am – I recommend being in the lift line by 8:30 am on powder days during the holidays.
• Guest Services: 10 am – 3 pm

Snow & Grooming Reports

The snow and grooming reports are posted by 9 AM each morning and updated live throughout the day. This is where you will find information for the day, such as which lifts will be open, any runs that are closed, how much snow we received overnight, as well as how full the parking lots are (super helpful).

The two main reports that I always check are the Lift and Terrain Status.

Lift Status: Check the opening times for each lift. Sometimes the White Pass has a delayed opening due to avalanche control work. If that’s the case, I head up Elk and Bear first so I don’t waste time with huge timber laps.

Terrain Status: Since 85% of Fernie Alpine Resort is located in avalanche-prone terrain, it’s not uncommon for large sections of the mountain to be closed for half a day or more before opening. This is how I manage to score fresh lines all day long on a powder day.

There are 3 statuses:

• OPEN: As you may assume, open terrain is open and ready for riding.
• STAND BY: This is terrain they are working on opening throughout the day, but it could go either way (open or closed). Pay attention to the runs on Stanby, as you may be able to get them just as they open.
• CLOSED: Closed terrain will not open today. There is no intention of opening these runs due to avalanche or coverage concerns.

Fernie Web Cams

If you’re wondering what lenses to use or how to dress for the weather, there are multiple mountain webcams you can check to see the current conditions. The webcams update every 5 minutes.

The upper mountain cams area is particularly helpful because each of the bowls may have completely different visibility. This might help you decide which part of the mountain to head to first.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any cameras in the base area, so there’s no way to see the lift lines, but the Lizard Run and Bears Den camera is good for rainy days, as this is usually where the snow line is.

Ski Passes

There are many different types of ski passes you can buy for Fernie, but one thing is for sure, skiing here isn’t cheap. Ticket prices change depending on the time of year and by quantity (multi-day tickets are cheaper). But don’t worry, I will explain all the pricing below and give you some more tips on how to save money.

1 Day Pass:

1-day passes are bought for a specific date that you must choose ahead of time. If something happens and you need to change the date, you can do so up to 4:30 pm the night before; however, there is a fee of $20 to move dates.

When buying your ticket, you can pay an additional $5 to change it to a “flex” date. In this case, you still need to change the date ahead of time; however, it won’t cost you any extra.

Half Day Pass:

Half-day passes start from 12:30 and go until 4 pm. These passes can only be purchased on the day and in person at guest services from 12:15 pm onwards.

Beginner Area Only (Mini Moose & Mighty Moose):

If it’s your first day on the slopes, don’t pay for a full ticket. You can buy a beginner area only ticket for the learning zone (magic carpet and pommer lift). Note that you can only buy this pass in person from the ticket window or guest services.

Even though kids are free, you still need to pick up a ticket for them due to liability.

• Adults: $35.95
• Kids: Free

Multi-Day Passes:

Multi-day passes are the best option if you are skiing for 2-3 days, as buying them all together gets you a good discount. That being said, it doesn’t give you much flexibility if you don’t think you’ll ski every day.

If you might want a rest day but don’t exactly know your schedule, the RCR Rockies Card or 1-day passes might be better for you.

RCR Rockies Card:

The RCR Rockies Card is the best option for anyone skiing 3+ days at any of the RCR Resorts, as these cards work at Fernie Alpine Resort, Kicking Horse, Kimberley and Nakiska.

Essentially, you buy the card for $180 CAD, and that covers your first day (so it’s not really free). When you buy tickets for days 2 & 3, you’ll receive them at a discounted rate and on your 4th day you ski for free. Days 5 & 6 are again at the discounted rate, and the 7th day is free. All days after this are at the discounted rate, but there are no more free days.

Discount:

• $30 off single day rate from Resort Open – March 30th, 2025.
• $60 off single day rate from March 31st, 2025 – Resort Close.
• 1st, 4th & 7th day free

The great thing about this card (other than the discounts) is that you don’t have to use the days consecutively, and you can use this card at any RCR Rockies resort. So if you’re doing a powder highway road trip, this is a great ticket.

NOTE: There is something in the small print that says “The card will be sold to residents of Canada and the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana ONLY”, however, I’ve never heard of anyone being rejected from using it.

Season Pass:

If you’re thinking of spending a whole season in Fernie or any of the other RCR resorts, it’s worth investing in a season pass early. I say “investing” because season passes are not cheap!! That being said, you do get a bunch of benefits, such as 10% off food and retail at Fernie, plus 50% off Vail Resort lift tickets.

Early bird season passes go on sale at the end of summer, and this is when you will get the cheapest price. Plus, you only need to ski 10 days throughout the winter to make the season pass worthwhile.

There are three types of season passes:

• Fernie Alpine Resort Season Pass – works all season long with no restrictions, only at Fernie Alpine Resort
• RCR Season Pass – works at all RCR Resorts (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley and Nakiska) all season long
• Super Pass – same as the RCR pass, plus you also get Lake Louise included.

Epic Pass:

Good news if you already have one, Epic Passes of 4+ days include some days at Fernie!

If you have the Epic Season Pass, you’re eligible for up to 7 free days of skiing at any of the RCR resorts (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberley, Nakiska, Mont-Sainte-Anne, and Stoneham). You can spend all 7 at Fernie or split them up between the 6 resorts.

Discount Tickets for Fernie Alpine Resort

I know lift tickets can get pretty pricey (unfortunately, Fernie is no exception to that). But thankfully, there are a few ways to save money at Fernie.

• Book online at least 48 hrs in advance for up to a 15% discount
• Afternoon passes (starting at 12:30 PM) are around $69 CAD
• Spring passes (April) drop in price quite significantly, but snow quality becomes very hit-or-miss
• Cosco sometimes sells ski tickets for a much cheaper rate; however, they sell out quickly for the big resorts. If they have them, the tickets are usually on a special rack near the front.
• RBC Avion Visa: Buy 1, get 1 on Fridays. If you have an RBC Avion Visa credit card, you can get buy 1 get 1 free tickets on Fridays at Fernie.
• Friends and family passes: 15% discount if you know someone with a season pass (or more if you know an RCR staff member).
• Canadian Military Discount – 20% discount off full prices, 1-day tickets for you and your family if you have an NDI 75 or NDI 20.

Ski & Snowboard Gear Rental in Fernie

There are multiple places to rent ski gear in Fernie. The easiest place for beginners is directly from the ski resort. The shop is located right at the base of the slopes, and you can pay for it in guest services when buying your ticket. While they do have both standard and performance gear, the equipment here can be pretty well used, and the prices do reflect the convenience.

If you’re looking for another on-mountain rental shop with more higher-end gear. Try The Quest, located in Snow Creek Lodge (near the Elk chair). Packages are slightly cheaper, and they have a better range of performance skis.

For those of you who want to deal with all this before heading up in the morning, Gear Hub (downtown Fernie) has a great selection of both ski and snowboard rentals as well.

Ski School & Day Care

Whether you’re a first-time skier or a lifelong expert new to the mountain, I always recommend people take lessons. Living in Norway, I saw so many advanced skiers who had been skiing since birth, with absolutely 0 technique.

The Fernie Ski School has many great programs to suit all abilities, with both group and private lessons, as well as skill-focused off-piste camps and much more.

Having worked in the ski school, I can tell you firsthand that the Fernie instructors know what they’re doing and will go above and beyond to find the right terrain for your needs. And for experienced skiers, we’re not afraid to show you our secret spots

Lessons can be booked by calling the Fernie Snow School on 250 423 2406, but here are some things to know in advance:

Griz Kids Centre

The Griz Kids Centre is the on-mountain day care for kids ages 3-5 years old. However, this is not a normal daycare. The Griz Kids Centre combines indoor play time with small group lessons (you cannot book just the day care without a lesson).

The day care is small, with a maximum of 20 kids at any time and a supervision ratio of 8:1 and can be booked for a full day (9 am – 4 pm) or half day (9 am – 12 pm or 1 pm – 4 pm).

There are two types of ski lessons for the little ones:

These lessons can be booked on their own or part of the Griz Kids Centre daycare package.

• Mini Griz (3-year-olds):
  Semi-private lesson with 2 kids per instructor for all ability levels.
  Half day = 1 hr lesson. Full day = 2 x 1 hr lessons.
• Griz Kids (4-5 year olds):
  Group lesson with 4 kids per instructor and your choice of 1 or 2-hour lessons.
  Half day = 1 lesson. Full day = 2 lessons (both the same if you pick 1 or 2 hours).

Kids and Teen Lessons

Kids’ lessons are for ages 6 – 12, and teen lessons are for 13 – 17-year-olds. Both are available every day for all ability levels and can be booked as group or private lessons.

For Group lessons, you can choose from half-day AM or PM, or full-day, which has an optional lunch add-on for all-day supervision.

Private lessons are offered for 1.5 hrs, 2 hrs, 3 hrs, 4 hrs, 6 hrs or 2x 2 hr lessons (morning and afternoon). Up to 3 kids are covered under the private lesson price, but you can always add more for an additional fee. Just make sure everyone is doing the same discipline (ski or snowboard) and are around the same ability level, as the lessons can only go as high as the lowest ability.

You can get all the details for kids’ ski and snowboard lessons here.

Adult Lessons

Adult lessons are also run as either group or private lessons; however, adult group lessons are usually restricted to ability levels 1-3 (Never Ever to Novice).

You can choose half or full day group lessons, or 1.5 hr, 2 hr, 3 hr, or 6-hour private lessons. Private lessons can include up to 3 people under the cost of the lesson, and additional students can be added for a small fee.

Make sure to check the ability level chart above to see what level skier or snowboarder you are in order to book the right lesson.

Family Private Lessons

Fernie ski school also offers family lessons for up to 2 adults and 3 kids. These private lessons will be just for your family and can be either 3 hours or 6 hours.

In my opinion, this option offers the best value for money if you are all around the same ability level, as you will progress so much faster in a private lesson than you would in a regular group lesson.

You can find out more information about the family’s private lessons by calling the Fernie ski school.

Specialty Ski and Snowboard Camps

If you are looking to learn or improve a specific skill, such as off-piste or backcountry skiing, have a look at Fernie’s specialty programs.

They have multiple special lessons, such as steep and deep, backcountry basics, and first tracks lessons that will get you out of the normal daily grind and into some epic terrain!

These lessons only run on specific dates throughout the season, so plan accordingly!

Mountain Tours & Snow Hosts

You’ll see many different coloured staff uniforms floating around the mountain, but the yellow jackets are the ones to look out for!

Snowhosts are local volunteers who know the mountain inside out, and they’re here to help. If you need directions, have a question or are just looking for a friendly smile, feel free to chat with a snow host.

What’s more, snow hosts run free daily mountain tours at 11 am throughout the whole season. If it’s your first time in Fernie, I highly recommend joining a tour. They will split everyone into smaller groups based on experience level (intermediate+ only), and take you on a 2-hour orientation of the mountain. Meet the group at the “Mountain Tours” sign at the Sports School Meeting Place (next to the Deer Chair).

It took me 2 full seasons to feel like I knew where I was going at Fernie, despite having locals show me around every week. I highly recommend taking a snowhost tour so you don’t spend hours looking at a map. Or, check out my terrain guides for the best runs by experience level for beginners/novice, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders.

Facilities at Fernie Ski Resort

Bag Storage

There is a limited number of lockers for rent at Fernie Alpine Resort, all of which are located in the Day Lodge.

As the parking lots are so close to the ski area, most people just leave things in their cars for the day. But if you don’t have access to a vehicle, try to get to the resort before 9 to secure a locker.

Warming Huts

Something that I feel is really lacking at the Fernnie Ski Hill is places to warm up at the top of the mountain. Currently, the only free place to warm up is at the top of the Elk Chair (Old Side). Here you will find a large yurt that is always open to the public; however, there are no heaters or anything to actually dry off.

Aside from the Bear’s Den yurt, on the New Side, you can warm up inside Lost Boys Cafe at the top of the Timber chair, but only if you are a customer, as there is limited space inside.

Toilets

There are pit toilets in the following locations around the mountain, as well as flushing toilets in the base area and day lodge.

• Top of Timber Lift
• Top of Elk Chair
• Bottom of Haul Back T-Bar

Water

There is no running water on the mountain, so the only place to get free water or fill up your water bottles is in the base area.

If you’re not ordering from a restaurant here, enter the Day Lodge and walk downstairs amongst the lockers. On your left, you will find a small seating area with a sink and water fountain.

WiFi

There’s no wifi on the mountain itself; however, there is free Wifi all over the base area and in the day lodge.

4. Where to Eat at Fernie Alpine Resort

On Mountain:

• Lost Boys Cafe (Top of Timber Chair) – This is the only proper cafe right on the slopes at the top of the Timber chairlift, offering incredible mountain views. Despite having no running water (so a limited menu of soups, sandwiches, and mac), they still serve up both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to fuel your day on the mountain. Wrap-around deck provides some additional outdoor seating in good weather.
• Bear’s Den (Top of Elk Chair) – A small snack shack at the top of the Elk chair on the “old side” of the resort, serving basic eats like hot dogs, nachos, and sandwiches, plus packaged snacks. You can enjoy your meal at the outdoor picnic tables overlooking Bear Run.

Lunch:

• Slopeside Cafe – Your go-to spot for a quick bite with both sit-down and grab-and-go options. They serve up quality sandwiches, wraps, soups, salads and bowls for lunch, plus the usual breakfast fare like bagels and pastries.
• Griz Day Lodge – This is the budget-friendly cafeteria-style option with a big hall of tables and classic ski resort food. The breakfast (especially the “Sasquash”) is a staff favourite, while lunch features the usual suspects like burgers, poutine, wings, and fries.

Restaurants:

• Cirque Restaurant and Bar – Fine dining restaurant with cozy ski lodge vibes, complete with a crackling fireplace and stunning mountain views. They serve up elegant dishes with top-notch service, making it perfect for a special night out.
• Legends Restaurant – A casual ski resort bar in the base area with all the classic Canadian vibes. Think wooden decor, skis on the walls, plaid, and a circular bar. They serve up classic pub food and is perfect for grabbing a drink or a full meal in that authentic ski lodge atmosphere.

Bars:

• Griz Bar – Fernie’s legendary apres ski spot above the day lodge! The Griz Bar often gets packed before the lifts even stop running, so be prepared to get cozy. This historic bar serves drinks and bar food (don’t miss their massive customizable nacho platter), and guarantees a good time whether it’s a busy weekend or weekday.
• IceBar – Located inside Lizzard Creek Lodge below Cirque, the IceBar is exactly what it sounds like…everything’s made of ice and kept freezing cold, but they provide warm jackets! They serve vodka shots in actual ice glasses that you smash when you’re done. The cold temps supposedly make the vodka smoother and more flavorful.

5. Where to Stay at Fernie Alpine Resort

Since the town of Fernie is about a 10-15 minute drive from the ski hill, picking where to stay in Fernie can have a pretty big impact on your vacation.

I go into detail on the different places to stay in Fernie, as well as my hotel recommendations for all budgets in my Fernie Hotel Guide, but to summarise, in the winter, both the town and the resort village are good options; the choice you make really depends on your priorities.

My recommendation: Stay in downtown Fernie unless you are here to ski and ski only. You’ll save money, have more restaurant options, better shops, and the après scene is much more happening in town. The drive to the resort is easy, and you’ll appreciate having a real town to explore in the evenings.

On-mountain is for you if: You want to be first on the chairlift for powder days and don’t really have the desire to spend much time in town. For those who want to rent a condo or chalet with your friends, make home-cooked meals and play games all evening, you can’t really beat the ski-in/ski-out location of staying in the resort village.

6. Getting to Fernie Alpine Resort

How to Get to Fernie

The easiest way to get to Fernie is by renting a car, as there is no public transport from other major cities to Fernie.

If you’re arriving by air, the closest airport is Cranbrook (1 hour drive) or Calgary (3.5 hour drive). Both of these airports offer car rentals or private shuttles.

For those of you who are looking to get creative to save some money, there are a few other options. I’ve gone through how to get to Fernie from all different locations in this article on Getting to Fernie.

Getting Around Fernie

Once you have arrived in Fernie itself, it’s about a 10-minute drive from the town of Fernie to the Fernie Alpine Resort. Head west on Hwy 3 towards Cranbrook. After around 7 km (4.5 mi), you will see flashing lights and a large sign for Fernie Alpine Resort. Turn here, the resort parking is about 1 km off the highway.

Another option is to take the Stoke Shuttle, which runs throughout the day with multiple stops between the ski hill and downtown.

The Stoke Shuttle runs from 7:45 am to 5:20 pm (minus a lunch break) all season long. Tickets are $5 per ride and need to be purchased beforehand on the Stoke Shuttle App. You can also track the shuttle in real-time, so you’re not stuck freezing your butt off waiting in a snowstorm!

Parking

There are 3 large parking lots at Fernie Alpine Resort, all very close to the slopes.

P1 is reserved for priority parking (you need to buy a seasonal parking pass for this), P2 is the closest free parking to the lifts and is usually full by 9:30 am, and P4 has the most space (also free). Ignore P3, it’s small, confusing and usually the first to fill up.

On good powder days, you can expect all the parking areas to all fill up pretty quickly. In which case, the traffic will often be backed up on the highway. That being said, the parking attendants are pretty good at finding room for everyone, and I’ve never heard of them turning people away.

P1 and P2 are located right next to the village at Fernie Alpine Resort, and you can easily see the slopes from your car. P4 is a little further away, but it is still very walkable. From your car, walk to the exit of the parking lot, cross the road, and you can ski down to Timber from here.

If you are a beginner or a family with a lot of gear, there is a shuttle bus that circles the parking lot and takes you to the village free of charge.

7. Fernie Winter Trail Map Explained

I’ve said it constantly throughout this article, but I’ll say it again: Fernie Alpine Resort is a confusing resort! I never had any clue where I was for my first season here, and even after 3 winters, there are still pockets I’m just discovering. The trail map doesn’t show half of what’s actually skiable, and many of the best runs aren’t marked at all, so I thought I’d give you a quick rundown to help you get situated.

Old Side vs New Side

First things first, you’ll probably hear locals referring to “Old Side” or “New Side” when discussing where to ski.

New Side is essentially all the terrain accessible from the Timber Chairlift and above. This includes Siberia Bowl, Timber Bowl, Polar Peak and Currie Bowl.

Old Side is the rest of the mountain, including the Lower Mountain, Lizard Bowl and Cedar Bowl. As you may be able to guess, this part of the mountain has been around for much longer than New Side.

Lower Mountain & Learning Zone

Between the Deer and Elk chairlifts, you will find the bunny hill, which is perfect for brand-new beginner skiers and snowboarders. There is a magic carpet (Mini Moose) and button / pommer lift (Mighty Moose) running throughout all operational days with a gentle, wide slope. This area is great because it’s a short walk from the village plaza, so you won’t have to navigate difficult terrain in tricky ski boots.

Once you’ve mastered the learning zone, you can jump on the 3-seater Deer Chair to access the Lower Mountain Area. Just make sure you have your turning and stopping fully in control before tackling something bigger.

All of the Lower Mountain consists of wide, mellow groomed runs, so nearly any route you take here is going to be okay for beginners, but I highly recommend following the progression in my list of best ski runs for beginners in Fernie.

Alpine Bowls

This is where Fernie earns its reputation. Each bowl has a completely different character, and conditions can vary dramatically between them on the same day.

Lizard Bowl: Usually the first bowl to open on a powder day, Lizard Bowl is also the most mellow of the bowls. There is a good mix of groomed and off-piste runs for intermediate skiers, plus snow often collects on the north-facing slopes when the winds are blowing.

Cedar Bowl: When the wind is blowing south-west across the Lizard range on a powder day, you can expect Cedar Bowl to be knee to waist deep at points! Seriously, I’ve found fresh tracks here at 3 pm! There are plenty of tree islands and fun glades down the center of the bowl, but Snake Ridge is really the area that shines in Cedar Bowl. Unfortunately, the high traverse to access Snake Ridge plus the furthest runs from the lift are often closed on powder days due to avalanche risk. But this just means they’re saving some powder for the next day!

Currie Bowl: Currie Bowl is my favourite bowl at Fernie Ski resort and has, hands down, the best tree skiing on the mountain. It is also the most popular bowl, and people line up, waiting for it to open on a powder day in what’s called the Currie 500. Honestly, it’s kind of intimidating to watch 500+ people storm the bowl as soon as the rope is dropped. Pure carnage is a good way to explain it. I personally like to hang back and hit up the secret spots after the chaos is over, but if you’re looking for a true Fernie experience, this is it!

The entire bowl is gladed with a ton of fun intermediate to advanced level tree skiing down the main bowl, but if you’re looking for some steep, deep and tight runs, take the reverse traverse to access the runs on the right-hand side of the bowl. You can either drop down the face back into Currie center, or cross over the ridge into Lizard Bowl. These chutes are steep and narrow double black runs, so make sure you’re experienced enough to tackle them!

Siberia Bowl: Often overlooked, Siberia Bowl has some epic steeps, but because of this, a large portion of it is permanently closed. Another reason that people avoid the Siberia Bowl is that you often have to ski all the way back to the base area. That being said, because of this, you can almost always find fresh turns all day long here.

For experienced skiers, Siberia Ridge offers some epic skiing over the ridge into Timber Bowl. Hike up the cat track from the top of the Timber Chair and choose your chute. This is mostly steep, tree skiing and narrow chutes, so choose whisky. If you drop to the right of the Cat Track, you’ll have to go to the bottom of the Timber Chair; if you drop to the left of the Cat Track, you’ll end up at the Whitepass Chair.

Timber Bowl: Timber Bowl has a lot of varied terrain, but you’ll mostly want to lap the Whitepass Chair, rather than wasting your time going all the way to the bottom. While you can find everything from mellow powder fields to steep chutes here, my favourite is all the tree islands that drop off of Falling Star. Many people say that the Knot Chutes are the star of the show here (you’ll see them on your right when riding the Whitepass Chair), but I feel like they are always skied out far too early.

Polar Peak: The converted Polar Peak! Polar Peak is the highest point on the mountain, and unfortunately, this area is not open very often due to its high risk (so take advantage of it when it is). As of the 2024/2025 season, this area is double black, expert only, as they stopped grooming the summer road down. This means the only way down is via steep, ungroomed off-piste terrain. Don’t go up there unless you’re genuinely comfortable with steep and variable snow conditions.

When you are looking at the bowl from the base, the area looker’s left is the most mellow terrain (but still super steep). The rocky chutes to looker’s right of the lift line are called the baby bear, mumma and puppa bear chutes; all of these are no-fall zones. There’s actually a terrifying video on YouTube of someone slipping and falling all the way down here if you want to get an idea of how serious this terrain is.

Terrain Park

RCR has a rule that they will not build jumps in the terrain park, which means that Fernie Alpine Resorts’ terrain park certainly isn’t the best one around.

If you’re just looking to learn on small boxes and rails, or simply want a park lap or two, it’s fine, but if you’re a park rat, I highly recommend you go to a resort that is known for its park, like Whistler, Sun Peaks or Silverstar.

What is good about Fernie’s terrain park is that it’s located in the lower mountain, which means it’s easy to do quick laps on the Deer Chair.

Best Runs at the Fernie Ski Hill

Here’s where my local knowledge becomes invaluable, especially for first-time visitors to Fernie. I’ve actually written an entire step-by-step guide for each ability level, going through the best runs at the Fernie Ski Resort.

I’ll summarise the best terrain for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers and snowboarders here, but you should absolutely check out the dedicated article for your skill level because it will save you so much time (Fernie is a bit of a complicated resort).

For Beginners & Novices

Start in the learning zone to get your snow legs, then head up the Deer Chair to the lower mountain. There’s a bit of a jump between the learning zone and the lower mountain, and then a bigger jump between here and the upper mountain, so take it slow.

• Meadow 🟢
• Bambi 🟢
• Elk 🟢
• Giggy Gully → Incline Trail 🟢
• Minute Maid trails 🟢

For Intermediate Skiers

The first thing to know about intermediate runs in Fernie is that a lot of the blue runs here would be classed as black runs at other resorts. So it’s particularly important for intermediate skiers to start on an easier run than normal before heading off into the unknown.

• Dancer → China Might 🟦
• Heartland → 100% → Silver Lining 🟦
• Currie Powder → Gilmar 🟦
• Facelift 🟦
• Currie Glades ◆ → Down Right 🟦

For Advanced & Expert Skiers and Snowboarders

Advanced terrain is where Fernie really shines! There are so many hidden chutes, tree runs, and hikes to incredible powder stashes that it’s impossible to summarize them all here.

Something to note about the advanced terrain at Fernie Alpine Resort is that there aren’t really any groomed black runs. Once you get above blue, it’s all about steep and deep off-piste.

Head to Curry Bowl for the best glades, Snake Ridge in Cedar Bowl for the best hikable terrain and Polar Peak for the best chutes.

8. Other Activities at Fernie Alpine Resort

There are a few other activities you can do at Fernie Alpine Resort in the winter, and you will find most of them on the Multi-use trail map. To book any of these activities, contact guest services at 250 423 2435.

The multi-use trails are free to use for XC, snowshoeing and fat biking!

• Snowshoeing – Rentals available at the resort rental shop & guided snowshoe tours depart on Wednesday afternoons and Tuesday nights.
• Fat Biking – Rentals available at the resort rental shop & guided rides available on Sunday afternoon and Thursday nights.
• XC Skiing – Rentals available at the resort rental shop & guided Nordic skiing tours on Sunday mornings.
• Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides – Dec & Jan only, $25 per person, book at Guest Services.

9. Tours to Fernie Alpine Resort

Since Fernie is a little bit off the beaten path, there aren’t actually many ski tours that make a stop here. If you’re trying to search for a tour to Fernie, look for ones that are called “Powder Highway”, but still make sure to check the exact stops, as many skip our little mountain town.

Here are a few tours that I found that include skiing in Fernie. All these companies have great reviews and look like a lot of fun!

• Fresh Adventures: 12 Day Ultimate Powder Highway Ski & Snowboard Tour
  This tour starts off strong with 2 days of skiing in Fernie before heading to Whitewater, Red, Revelstoke, and Kicking Horse. Basically, nearly all of the best Ski Resorts in Canada are covered in one epic trip!

• Fresh Adventures: 9 Day Canadian Rockies Ski Trip
  If you prefer to focus on the Rockies, this 9-day ski trip also includes 2 full days of skiing at Fernie Alpine Resort. On top of that, you’ll get to try Lake Louise, Sunshine and Kicking Horse!

• Aurora Backcountry: 10 Days Powder Highway Canada
  Starting in Kelowna and ending in Calgary, this action-packed backcountry tour is for intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders only. The tour focuses on ski touring in some of the most epic mountain destinations in B.C (including Fernie, of course).

Frequently Asked Questions about Fernie Alpine Resort

After three years of skiing Fernie, working as an instructor here, and experiencing this mountain in every possible condition, I can tell you it’s either going to become your absolute favourite place to ski or you’ll head back to the crowds of Whistler.

Fernie rewards the adventurous (and maybe that’s why there aren’t any crowds). If you’re the type of skier who sees unmarked tracks disappearing into trees and thinks “I need to follow those,” you’ll understand why locals become obsessed with this place.

Just don’t come to Fernie expecting a luxury ski resort experience. While Fernie has all the facilities you could ever need for a winter getaway, this isn’t Whistler or Vail with heated walkways and fancy villages.

I recommend booking your accommodation 2-3 months before your trip to have the most options and shopping around online for the best deals on lift tickets. Plus, if you’re coming during the holiday period, book your ski lessons and day care at least a few weeks out (if not more).

Happy skiing,

Kate

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