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    British Columbia, Canada · Epic

    Fernie Alpine Resort

    1,012 hectares, 142 runs across five alpine bowls near Fernie. Substantial snowfall, historic mining town, Epic Pass.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    Opens
    30 Nov 2025
    Closes
    13 Apr 2026
    Days open
    134
    Annual snow
    7m
    The Overview
    MF
    Michael Fulton
    Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.

    Fernie Alpine Resort's summit reaches 2,134 metres, dropping 1,082 vertical metres to a base at 1,052 metres across 142 runs spread over roughly 1,012 hectares near Fernie, British Columbia. Terrain splits 40 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent beginner, 25 per cent advanced and 5 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 7.4 metres. The resort carries Epic Pass affiliation. Ten lifts, including four quad chairs and one double chair, serve the mountain alongside three triple chairs and two surface lifts.

    Fernie holds a distinctive place among Canadian Rockies resorts for its five separate alpine bowls, Currie, Cedar, Lizard, Timber and Siberia, each offering a genuinely different character across the mountain. This bowl-based terrain, combined with the area's substantial, reliable snowfall, has built Fernie's reputation as one of the more varied big-mountain destinations in the region.

    Fernie Ski Development Ltd was incorporated on 20 November 1961 by local community members who raised capital through private sources, with land donated by Galloway Lumber and construction carried out largely by volunteers. The resort opened as Fernie Snow Valley Ski Resort on 10 January 1962, and Heiko and Linda Socher acquired a 30 per cent ownership stake in 1973, stabilising operations through targeted regional marketing.

    The Sochers sold Fernie Snow Valley to Resorts of the Canadian Rockies in 1997, and the resort was renamed Fernie Alpine Resort as expansion followed. RCR has weathered ownership changes since, including a period under Charlie Locke before Murray Edwards took control, and today owns Fernie alongside Kimberley, Kicking Horse, Nakiska, Mont-Sainte-Anne and Stoneham. Adult daily tickets run from 175 to 189 Canadian dollars.

    1082m
    Vertical
    142
    Runs
    2,501 acres
    Skiable
    7m
    Annual snow
    Epic
    Pass
    The Terrain

    142 runs across 2,501 acres skiable

    Fernie Alpine Resort spreads 142 runs across 2,501 acres skiable of terrain. It leans intermediate at 40%, with 43 beginner runs to find your feet and 43 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.

    Terrain split
    142
    runs
    142 runs across 4 grades
    Beginner43 runs · 30%
    Intermediate57 runs · 40%
    Advanced36 runs · 25%
    Expert7 runs · 5%
    Time it right

    When to visit Fernie Alpine Resort

    The 2025-26 season at Fernie Alpine Resort ran from 30 November 2025 to 13 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 7.4 metres. Season dates can shift depending on early and late-season weather in the southern Canadian Rockies.

    Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent, snow-rich conditions across Fernie's five alpine bowls. As an Epic Pass resort through Resorts of the Canadian Rockies' partnership with Vail Resorts, Fernie draws substantial visitation from Epic Pass holders alongside dedicated powder-focused skiers.

    Fernie's considerable, reliable snowfall continues to draw committed skiers throughout the season, with the historic mining town of Fernie itself adding character to the visitor experience. School holiday periods bring family visitation given the resort's varied terrain across all five bowls.

    Specific event programming beyond standard operations is not confirmed in available resort information. Since Resorts of the Canadian Rockies' 1997 acquisition, Fernie has continued building on more than six decades of history since its 1962 founding by local community members. The resort's five distinct bowls and substantial snowfall remain central to its enduring appeal.

    Season 2025 - 2026
    30 Nov 2025
    Opens
    13 Apr 2026
    Closes
    134
    Days open
    7 m
    Annual snow
    Getting there

    Getting to Fernie Alpine Resort, and where to stay

    Fernie Alpine Resort sits near Fernie, British Columbia, in the southern Canadian Rockies, with a base elevation of 1,052 metres and a summit at 2,134 metres across a 1,082-metre vertical drop over roughly 1,012 hectares. This setting places the resort in the Elk Valley, close to the Alberta border.

    The town of Fernie itself, a genuinely historic former coal-mining community with a well-preserved heritage downtown, offers extensive lodging and dining within a short drive of the resort.

    Highway 3 provides direct access to the resort from Fernie. Winter driving conditions on this route can include snow and ice, though the well-travelled road is regularly maintained given the resort's status as a significant regional destination.

    Calgary International Airport, roughly a three-hour drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Fernie's considerable distance from major population centres drawing a genuinely dedicated visitor base seeking the resort's substantial, reliable snowfall.

    Where to stay

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    Hotels and lodges near Fernie Alpine Resort, powered by Stay22.

    Latest News

    From the SnowStash desk

    View all news →
    FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032

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    4 Sept 2026
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    Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026

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    4 Sept 2026
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    2 Sept 2026
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    1 Sept 2026
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    31 Aug 2026
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    28 Aug 2026
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    27 Aug 2026
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    26 Aug 2026

    Fernie Alpine Resort Ski Trails

    Downloadable Fernie Alpine Resort trail map

    Fernie Alpine Resort trail map↓ Download PDF
    Terrain split
    142
    runs
    Beginner30%
    Intermediate40%
    Advanced25%
    Expert5%
    2,501 acres skiable1,012 hectares
    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base1052m
    Summit2134m
    Annual snowfall
    7m
    Season
    2025 - 2026
    30 Nov 2025 - 13 Apr 2026
    Trail coverage
    142 runs
    2,501 acres (1,012 ha)

    Fernie Alpine Resort ski trails

    Fernie Alpine Resort offers 142 runs across a mix of difficulties. The terrain split and trail map here show how the mountain breaks down so you can plan a day that suits your group.
    • • Match runs to your ability - the terrain split shows how much of Fernie Alpine Resort is beginner, intermediate and advanced.
    • • Check grooming and open-run status against the live conditions before committing to the upper mountain.
    • • Early season and after fresh snow, favour the lifts serving your preferred grade to make the most of the day.

    More Fernie Alpine Resort intelligence: trail map, lift system, resort overview.