A variety of local trail notices and updates have caused the need to clarify the current situation for this summer season.  Trails in Fernie are extensive, cherished and a critical part of what Fernie is well known for. Though 2019 will experience a few interruptions most trails are accessible to mountain bike, walk and hike!   Continue below for current details and updates.

DID YOU KNOW?

Most mountain bike trails are easily accessible from town without the need to drive to the trailhead.

Many of Fernie’s trails are on private land with land use agreements in place that allow locals and visitors to enjoy them. Please respect these permissions and all trail-use ethics.

The best online source of current trail information, updates and mapping is available on this website! 

You can also download the Trailforks App to use it on your mobile device while out on the trails. It will show you where you are on a GPS based map while providing trail updates.

View the general Fernie Trail Map PDF to understand where the below areas are located.

Stop by local sport/recreation shops for additional information, weekly group trail rides and your biking and hiking needs. Shops are located downtown on 2^nd Avenue: The Guide’s Hut, Gearhub, Straightline, Ski Base, Edge of the World, Commit, Boardstiff, and Elevation.

TRAIL AREA & INFO LINKS	2019 Trail Updates:
RIDGEMONT – 14 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/ridgemont-fernie-ridge/ This is private land owned by Ridgemont Holdings	CLOSED Closed for summer 2019 due to logging by private land owner. Trailforks map shows this area in RED for closed status. Expectations are that some trails will be available this fall.
FERNIE RIDGE – 8 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/ridgemont-fernie-ridge/ This is private land owned by Canwel	PARTIALLY OPEN Advanced trails for mountain biking Adjacent to Ridgemont Trails and outside of the main effected area, many of these trails are or will be open once spring maintenance is completed. Such as Contra, FloWrkr, Big Money. Note there may be new access routes to these trails.
MONTANE – 6 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/fernie/ This is private land owned by Parastone Development. This specific trail area, and Montane Hut, are managed and maintained by the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club	OPEN Beginner and intermediate trails for hiking, biking and walking. Includes a wide, gravel ‘Inclusive Trail’ to Montane Hut with a maximum grade of 5%
CASTLE MOUNTAIN – 11 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/castle-mountain/ This is private land owned by Canwel	OPEN Intermediate to advanced biking and hiking trails such as Hyper Ventilation, Hyper Extension, Castle Rocks and the popular new trail Today’s Special.
MORRISSEY RIDGE – 6 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/fernie/ This is private land owned by Canwel	OPEN Advanced mountain biking trails such as Dirt Diggler, primarily shuttle downhill trails. All trails are or will be open once snow all gone and any spring maintenance is completed. Check Trailforks for updates.
MT PROCTOR – 7 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/fernie/ Area around Swine Flu, Far Side are cattle grazing areas with special restrictions such as no dogs allowed	OPEN Beginner to advanced mountain biking and hiking trails such as Fairy Creek Falls and Swine Flu. Watch for new Swine Flu climb in near future. Full Mt Proctor backcountry hiking trail is accessible June to September.
MT FERNIE – 20 Trails https://www.trailforks.com/region/mount-fernie-provincial-park/ Primarily public/crown land or provincial park lands.	OPEN Beginner to advanced hiking and mountain biking trails including Sherwoody, Stove and Slunt Trails. Note during spring and fall season Mt Fernie Provincial Park Campground is undergoing road improvements and campsite expansions, please use caution during these times. Parking areas and some trailheads may be affected and rerouted during these times.  Mt Fernie trails are easily accessible by bike from town. The middle section of Burma Road will be closed due to construction until end of June, no thru access.  Phat Bastard trail access will still be available from the south end of Burma Road.
FERNIE ALPINE RESORT – 36 Trails https://skifernie.com/discover-fernie/summer-resort-map/ https://www.trailforks.com/region/fernie-alpine-resort/ Use of area only during open season. Visit Resort Guest Services for details	OPEN  June 22 – September 2 Beginner to advanced trails for mountain biking and hiking. Guided hiking and bike clinics available for all ages. Elk Chair – OPEN for lift access mountain biking, hiking and sightseeing Timber Chair – CLOSED for summer 2019 for major lift maintenance work. The 4 trails off this chair will be closed this season. Trails such as lower BC Cup and lower Bin Logdin will be partially accessible via Elk Chair.
ISLAND LAKE LODGE – 15 Hiking Trails, 1 MTB Trail https://www.islandlakelodge.com/summer https://www.trailforks.com/region/island-lake-24560/ This is private land owned by Island Lake Resorts Group, with day-use public access during open season in summer.	OPEN June 7 – October 7 When mountain biking Lazy Lizard Trail please bike to the trailhead when possible due to limited parking at the Lodge. Lazy Lizard is a two-way trail, beware of uphill and downhill riders.
TOWN AND VALLEY TRAILS https://www.trailforks.com/region/fernie/   Mix of City owned and maintained, private land and public/crown land.	OPEN with some interruptions: Parts of Coal Discovery Trail/Town Loop just below Ridgemont are not accessible until further notice due to the logging access to Ridgemont area. The Community Dyke Trail/Town Loop by and around Maiden Lake will be closed from mid-July till end of October for flood mitigation work by the City of Fernie to extend and raise the dyke.  This will also mean access to Maiden Lake will be closed. More Details
HEIKO’S TRAIL & THREE SISTERS TRAIL (Hiking only) https://tourismfernie.com/activities/hiking-trails/Heikos-trail-mnt-lake-trail https://www.trailforks.com/trails/mountain-lakes-trail-hiking-only-59253/ Primarily on public/crown land with portion of Heiko’s Trail on Island Lake Lodge property.	OPEN ~ late June to mid-September (due to snow and poor weather, spring and fall travel on this trail is not recommended) Island Lake Lodge offers professional guiding on Heiko’s Trail - https://www.islandlakelodge.com/summer

Fernie Map from TrailForks

Faded pink area shows the Ridgemont Trail area closure.  Tons of trails still accessible in Fernie!

For further details and updates contact locally:

1.       Fernie Trails Alliance (FTA) – manager@fernietrailsalliance.com
a.       FTA FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/Fernie-Trails-Alliance-136085899841404/
b.       Trail Conditions & Ride Group Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1591680514481230/
2.       Fernie Mountain Bike Club (FMBC) – www.bikefernie.ca
3.       City of Fernie – cityhall@fernie.ca or call 250-423-2245
4.       Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club - fernietrails@fernie.com
5.       Fernie Alpine Resort – guestservices@skifernie.com or call 250-423-4655
6.       Island Lake Lodge – info@islandlakeresorts.com or call 250-423-3700
7.       Mt Fernie Provincial Park – info@ekparks.com
8.       Fernie Visitor Centre – vic@tourismfernie.com or call 778-519-0748

SUPPORT LOCAL TRAILS – DONATE OR JOIN

Adapted from the original post by Tourism Fernie

Ridgemont Holdings have advised this area will remain closed for the Summer of 2019. You can read their official notice to the FTA here.

The map of the closed area is below which can also be viewed on Trailforks.

To ensure safety for trail users and workers, please abide by these closures. Anyone accessing these trails without authorization is jeopardizing future access for all users.

Please respect the private landowners that allow us to recreate on their land.

Thank you for your cooperation. 

Logging began mid October 2018. Date of access to the trails is still unknown.

Information on the logging plans:

Kids Stuff, Eric's Trail, Splitting Bears, Hessian, Bored to Tears, Split Decision and R-Trail. This area was to be logged first, 50-100 trees to be left standing per hectare. Numerous skid paths will cross the trails.

4 Corners area, Deadfall, Oh Dear, Faceshots, EVT-CDT, Stumpy, Ich Bin Sofa, Bridget Funda. This area was to be logged after freeze up (Dec-Jan start) and 100-150 trees to be left standing per hectare. Numerous skid paths will cross the trails.

Wildlife Tree Patch & Reserve includes the following trails: Eco-Terrorist (all sections), Kiddy Up, WUD, Queen V, Broken Derailleur, Deadfall (south of 4 Corners) Brad's Gay Trail and some of Sidewinder. No logging in this area but some of the trails do border the other zones. The north end of this area comes just short of 4 Corners.

Logging commenced mid October and there was NO ACCESS to the property from this date forward until logging, wood chipping and cleanup is completed.

Ridgemont Road will remain open for logging trucks during this period but there will be no public access. 1000 truck loads of wood are expected to be removed from Ridgemont property. VAST has stated that all slash piles will be chipped and removed from the property. Machine Free Zone means that the mechanical machine will not enter that zone but the arm reach is 8 meters and harvestable wood will be removed. What this means is that our trails have a 8 meter MFZ around them but the arm will remove value wood trees without affecting the trails. Trees will be removed from the trails.

VAST (Pollyco) will be installing more signage and gates on most of the access points into Ridgemont stating its Private Property with NO ACCESS during this period of time.  They state that there will be enforcement of this, the area is considered a Worksafe BC site. 

BC Parks will be continuing with the project this spring. Contractors and equipment will be in the park beginning April 1^st and will work until May long weekend. Works will halt for the summer and resume in the fall. Upgrades to the Mt. Fernie Park road including widening the section of road through the campground and raising the road elevation at the Stove Creek crossing will be undertaken over the next month and will result in disruption to traffic flow. Traffic controllers will be utilized for safety and to minimize the closure times.     

Several areas of the park which were closed in the fall will remain closed during construction including the Gorby parking lot, the campground and the last  section of Hedonism trail.

Works scheduled for the fall will include asphalt, road line painting and installation of safety features and works at the park entrance.