Snowsure: 4.0
- Occasionally gets enough snow for skiing
- Is often closed due to a lack of snow
- Occasionally suffers from a lack of snow
- Rarely suffers from a lack of snow
- Fernie is snowsure even in the poorest seasons
Visitor reviews for Fernie Ski Resort
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(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
(NOTE: Reviews may be edited by our content team for the purposes of ensuring accurate and relevant information)
Latest
February 04, 2024
Donald Duck
Donald Duck
The main issue with Fernie is that RCR has more or less given up, (think abandoned Fortress Mtn) The lack of summer grooming and winter grooming is so frustrating. I am tired of their excuses that there is too much terrain to summer groom. Come on, Heiko used to get it done. They are just too cheap to spend the money. If they summer groomed we would only need 1/2 as much snow to ski the favorite runs like Boom Bowl, Easter, etc. I don't care about a new lodge and have given up hope of any other amenities. They could at least take care of the area.
On top of that the winter grooming is abysmal. If you can't ski powder you want to be able to zoom the groom. There is so little grooming (no budget for diesel I guess?) that your teeth rattle loose.
Come on RCR, have some pride. Nice touch though on the $99 Propane Fire Pit at the old Bear's den!
Quack, Quack...
Donald
December 02, 2023
kootenays skier
kootenays skier
Interesting reviews here.
Clearly some of the negative reviews are people who just booked a vacation in bad weather. And some of the overhyped reviews clearly got good weather. I am going to try to be as honest as possible with my take.
For several years I basically had to ski here and developed some FOMO wondering if other hills in the area were better and if anything had a negative take on Fernie, so the last few years I have spent some dedicated time skiing other hills.
In the end, I realize Fernie is, all in all, amazing: if you know where to go, and you get great conditions (which is true at every hill). While Fernie can have terrible conditions (rain, heavy mucky snow, avy closures, etc) one thing worth noting is that Fernie has, season to season, one of the most consistent number of 20 cm+ days. So while any ski vacation is a crapshoot, if your goal is "powder skiing" Fernie is as reasonable a bet for a 20 cm+ powder day as any hill.
In terms of terrain, Fernie really has everything. Kicking Horse may have "more" alpine double black terrain, but Fernie has quite a bit, along the spine between Currie and Lizard bowls. There is far more tree skiing in Fernie than most hills, roughly the same as Revy, with beautiful cedars (but I find more variety in the runs - personally I find the terrain off Revy's "The Ripper" to be almost "too much trees" - at times you are really buried in the forest). Also, compared to same Revy or Red you are far less likely to run into "trouble" skiing Fernie. From Siberia Bowl to Snake ridge there are only a very few very well marked permanent terrain closures, and while there are cliffs to drop here and there they are all very well marked and/or pretty clear where to drop. You basically can ski anywhere without worrying about accidentally ending up at the top of a 40 foot cliff (unlike Revy - "cliffed out" is a common recurring issue there as I learned, repeatedly. lol.). Terrain park could be upgraded but it is there if you like to play on pipes and dance floors.
Looking at the vertical on consistent 40 degree pitches, if that's your thing (it is mine) - Fernie is pretty much as good as anywhere. Skiing from Polar Peek through Skydive is a pretty awesome run. Snake Ridge when it opens after a storm is some of the best skiing in western Canada. And I find the comment here about "Fernie has no sidecountry" to be absolutely bizarre - has to be someone who never figured out where to go. In addition to the sidecountry, there is a fair bit of touring in the area. Tunnel Creek is one of the world's best "tree skiing" touring areas.
If you book a vacation here and everything is skied out, there still are options. Both Island Lake Lodge and FWA offer worldclass cat skiing and are just minutes away. And Kimberley and Castle are alternatives that are easy drives. (there are also smaller but still large for back east hills at Pass Powderkeg in the Crowsnest pass and Wapiti ski hill, in Elkford). Day trips to Panorama near Invermere or Big Mountain are a doable 2ish hours from Fernie if you had to.
Fernie has groomers. But if your goal is low consistent pitch groomers and not off-piste skiing, Fernie is probably not the best hill for you, it is not its strength. Ironically, Kimberley is just 90 minutes down the road and also run by RCR. It is a fantastic long consistent groomer hill (but lacks the off-piste skiing of Fernie). Fernie also does suffer from a lack of easy top to bottom greens. A beginner-intermediate skier may be able to handle Tower 6 and Falling star, but Fernie is a hill really geared for advanced to expert skiers who love skiing powder off-piste.
Yeah, RCR could do a far better job investing some money and developing the hill. Some of their decisions out of the Calgary office the last few years have been a bit bizarre. They could do a far better job developing the hill for tourists and some lift and facility upgrades could turn this into a world class hill and draw far bigger crowds. But I've come to realize the fact they haven't developed the hill with better lifts, lodges etc is actually a strength! If anything, I'm wondering if it would be to my advantage to post a negative review here - lol. The hill is remarkably uncrowded for the quality of terrain and skiing, beyond the early morning pow day lines at Timber and White Pass. If you learn how to get from Deer to Bear on a pow day it is pretty damn easy to avoid lines and still hit great unskied steep and varied terrain. And the crowds die down pretty quick, its not too hard to figure out how to ski directly on/off lifts. One of the more interesting things I find about how RCR runs things is that they refuse to let the ski hosts take guests on the most interesting terrain, and part of skiing Fernie is knowing where to go. The secret to the best experiences is figuring out how to get to the "reverse traverse" in Currie Bowl and following that spine between Currie and Lizard which hits everything from Concussion to the saddles, window chutes, cougar glades and "the big 3" (stag's leap, decline and my favourite, skydive). I've met a few tourists who didn't figure this out until they skied with me on the last day of their trip.
Another strength of Fernie is just how close town is to the ski hill. By all means stay at the hill, but you don't have to! And Fernie, as a ski town, is pretty epic - if you're into low key authentic ski town vibes. There are a remarkable number of locals who moved here from Banff and Whistler after those 2 towns became "overdone." If your thing is to go for one beginner ski run wearing Prada, eat at a 5 diamond restaurant, stay at a Fairmont hotel, and be seen among celebrities, Fernie is probably not the vacation for you. But if you are fine at a Best Western level/mom and pop hotel (or B n B), want to hang out at ski bum pubs, eat at some awesome mom and pop independent restaurants, and focus on skiing some epic terrain, then Fernie is an awesome destination.
For probably the best rundown of skiing in Fernie Bill Handley used to post a daily blog of where he skied until he sadly died a few years ago. It is at times brutally honest (Bill was a bit controversial with RCR.). It's a must read if you are booking a vacation in Fernie (or spending the winter): www dot billhandley dot com (convert dots to periods and remove spaces for links to work, clearly this is not spam).
December 23, 2018
john
john
January 09, 2018
Mr Nicky
Mr Nicky
Came to Fernie for family holiday for 2 months.
Great skiing in the first week we were here; nice powder and it keeps on giving!
If you explore the mountain you will find the goods.
But just like any holiday that relies on the weather it can be hit and miss. So ya need to keep an open mind and relax a bit.
I fully recommend Fernie for a family, the terrain covers all levels of riders.
The town is cool to hang out in and there is always something going on in the area.
April 10, 2017
Dave from UK from
United Kingdom
Dave from UK from
United Kingdom
Just had 2 weeks at Fernie and had a pretty fantastic trip. We did get the legendary powder (3 times in 2 weeks we had great dumps).
Had a very cold snap for a couple of days which meant it was apres-ski all day as bit chilly for anything else but Lizard Creek was a very, very nice place to stay so we're more than happy.
Really recommend heading up to Island lake in the valley next door as well if you can for a great day.
Looking forward to getting there again next year :)
March 16, 2017
Rich Jungman from
USA - California
Rich Jungman from
USA - California
Came to Fernie for a family ski trip after hearing about the legendary powder. Worst ski trip in 30 years of skiing. Rained every day. Gloomy to say the least in fact depressing. In seven days never saw the sun once. I will never come back. Unless you are close, don't waste your time. Why did I ever go anywhere but the Western US I don't know. If you don't get snow there, you at least get sunny days and blue bird skies.
January 12, 2015
wes from
Spain
wes from
Spain
Went to Fernie several years ago for its mythical powder for 2 weeks and didn't see the sun once. Gave up after 5 days not being able to ski and hired a pick up truck and explored the hot springs instead. I have since had some of the best powder skiing here in Spain of all places. Will not be going back to Fernie.
December 12, 2014
Julius
Julius
I recently stayed at the Silver Creek lodge for 1 night. The room had a good view and the cleanliness was ok. However, there were no staff to help with baggage and we did not receive locker skis and the card did not work for the parking, so we had to travel back to the main office. When we checked out the next day they had charged us for three nights instead of the one night we stayed. I requested to speak with the manager, her name was Jules, she was abrupt and rude informing me that I agreed to 3 nights, which was untrue, and that the additional 365 dollar charge was for holding the extra 2 nights and I wouldn't get that money back. She made us feel stupid and dismissed all of our questions and concerns. I am an avid skier and traveller and I have never had this experience before. I will never recommend this lodging to anyone as they are a scam and try and rip people off. Do not stay here!
January 29, 2014
Mo
Mo
Fernie likes to deliver big dumps mid-week for the regulars. The Griz has always delivered, I don't have enough fingers to count all my powder days at Fernie. Nothing like barking down the Currie Bowl, off Polar Peak, after fresh snow. You want steep and deep you got it. You want a beginner hill for the little ones, you have that too. Sure if you're late season or early season, Fernie may not fully deliver. The season is a tad shorter than the others, but the peak season is by far the best snow option and best overall terrain option, with little to no lineups.
For those who "need" a gondola to get up the mountain... enough said. Revelstoke, is the only other mountain, in the Rockies, that I'd put in the same sentence as Fernie. Kicking Horse, with deep snow, is really good. But they often are in icy conditions, and I'd never take my kids to that hill; it's just setup poorly for beginners.
Nearest