Location: This superb, small resort situated in British Colombia is popular with the expert and advanced skier thanks to its reliable snowfall (average of 360 inches per year) as well as its collection of powder bowls and steep lines to keep even the most experienced skier happy.
Getting there: Calgary Airport is approximately a 3 ½ hours drive from the resort. With direct flights to Calgary from all around the globe, Fernie is proving to be an ever-increasingly popular ski destination for resort skiers. For ease, we’d recommend hiring a car to get you there as the scheduled buses from the airport only run on Saturdays and Sundays. Cranbrook Airport is a little closer being only an hour and 20 minutes by road.
Where to stay: Fernie has a variety of lodging options available for everyone with the choice of staying up at the mountain – for maximum convenience – or in the local town where there are more restaurants and bars to explore.
If you want to stay in town, just a bus ride from the slopes, then head to the family-friendly Best Western PLUS Fernie. Opting for something closer to the slopes then check out the ski-in, ski-out lodge, Snow Creek offering one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites– you can’t get any closer to the action than here.
Highlights: Because Fernie has over 2,500 of skiable acres of terrain and a load of off-piste skiing opportunities in the 5 bowls, most of the time the slopes are really quiet. It is slowly becoming one of the best resorts in North America for skiing powder, especially for those who want to warm up their ski legs before embarking on their heli skiing in Canada experience.
Downsides: Not many of the lifts are fast which can be fairly frustrating. That being said, there are never many problems with queuing (some crowds on the weekends) but generally fast-moving traffic. With a lot of the runs being quite difficult to find and involving long traverses it can be seen as challenging for the intermediate, less confident skier but they are continually working hard to broaden its appeal.
Best piste run: In the mornings we’d say head to Morning Glory (black) in the Seberia Bowl. It is perfect for powder hounds looking for untouched spots on the mountain. For a great afternoon ride, head to the Surprize (black) and Shaky Acres (blue) – you’ll find it very hard to find someone who doesn’t love these runs.
Best Mountain Restaurant: Unfortunately, you aren’t spoilt for many good places to eat on the mountain. However, you’ll find one tiny sit-down self-service hut called Lost Boys Café at the top of Timber Bowl. Expect a basic limited menu with some queues – this place seems to always be busy, even when the mountains seem empty! Worth a try but most people like to eat at the base.
Best Restaurant in town: Yamagoya, hands down! You might be surprised to hear there is a wacky Japanese restaurant in Fernie, serving fresh sushi. What makes this joint so special is the friendly staff and the relaxed ambiance. Try to get a table on the balcony if it’s a nice evening – it’s got fantastic views of the mountains… oh, and don’t miss out on the famous ‘Fernie Roll’!
Best Après Bar: You can find Fernie’s number one place for Apres, The Griz Bar, located conveniently on the mountain above the Day Lodge. This hangout is the perfect place to relax with an ice cold beer after a long days skiing. Make sure you check it out if you’re in town on the weekend as there’s always live music to accompany your drinks.
Best off piste run: Fernie is famous for snow – there are lots of those secret places to go after a storm (of which there are many here). Snake Ridge in Cedar Bowl delivers in spades – has all the elements of a perfect snow dream. Also look out for the fall line rippers in deep pow with undulating terrain changes and gully dives.
If you like the sound of skiing in Fernie for your heli skiing warm up, contact the heli skiing experts at Pure Powder!
