Fernie Ski Holidays

Après-Ski in Fernie

Après in Fernie is a game of two halves. Kick off for the first half in the mountain village. Half-time shuttle to the town. Then a strong second half in downtown Fernie. Here’s a few first team picks:

Griz Bar (mountain village)

Fernie’s #1 après ski venue since 1962. This is a proper old school ski town banger of a pub with ice cold draft beers, daily drinks specials and the world famous ‘Mogul Smoker’, all washed down with a pyramid of nachos and a raft of wings.

Cirque Restaurant & Bar (mountain village)

Located within the Lizard Creek Lodge, slopeside in the mountain village. Pull up a seat at the Cirque bar for a great range of local BC wines, draft beers and hand-made cocktails. Follow this with a dinner which sets the standard for fine-dining in Fernie. And then…it’s a short stagger to the elite Vodka Ice Bar, where you’ll get togged up in Helly Hansen parkas and sample a variety of vodkas at ultra-low temperatures.

Fernie Taphouse (downtown)

Smack in the middle of Fernie downtown this is a lively pub with a rotating seasonal craft draft list and classic beer line up on tap. Expect weekly drinks specials, a wide menu of gastro-pub favourites and a cool sports bar vibe.

Brickhouse Bar & Grill (downtown)

This is a converted and renovated heritage brick building in downtown Fernie – the old Imperial Bank of Canada building. Street level for après, beer, eats. Downstairs for après, beer and DJ. The Brickhouse has a Mediterranean infused pub menu, great range of beers, nice selection of BC wines and really relaxed atmosphere.

The Pub Bar & Grill (downtown)

This is Fernie’s favourite spot for a wee social beer, a plate of wings and a game of pool and has the feel of a really nice neighbourhood pub. Watch all the best sport on their large screen HDTVs. Expect a great range of beers on tap and a comprehensive Canadian pub-grub menu, all at reasonable prices.

Dining in Fernie

Fernie has a wide array of dining options available, mostly in downtown Fernie – here you’ll find cuisine from around the planet backed up by local produce and beers brewed in the town. Here are some of our recommended restaurants in Fernie:

Cirque

The Cirque sets the tone for fine dining in Fernie. Expect Canadian classic cuisine with a strong emphasis on local produce and the freshest of ingredients. Expect AAA Alberta grass-fed beef, duck, seafood and pasta options, paired with a nice selection of local BC wines.

Yamagoya

There’s a strong authentic Asian influence in British Columbia and in Fernie this is the place to go for wonderful Japanese dining in a laid back atmosphere. There’s a great choice of sushi dishes and you can dine privately in a ‘tatami’ room and enjoy a drink of sake in the restaurant’s bar.

Himalayan Spice Bistro

A truly fantastic and wonderfully authentic Indian restaurant in downtown Fernie serving a huge variety of traditional curry options including some great vegetarian options.

Nevados Tapas & Tequilla

Taco Tuesday anyone? Habanero Cucumber Margarita maybe? Little dishes made in-house with serious passion and style are the signature dish here. Here’s a place you could spend a lot of time in – tapas food to die for, backed up by a cocktail list crafted with care, and a funky Spanish vibe.

The Brickhouse Bar & Grill

A restored heritage building offering a Mediterranean infused pub menu with some great farm-to-fork favourites, a great beer selection featuring several local brews and wonderful atmosphere with live music.

The Loaf

Downtown Fernie’s perfect place for craft beers, a good wine list, pizzas, pastas, and some other nice mains, but nothing overly fancy. Just a nice casual place for great food and drink, and for a small loaf.

Activities in Fernie

Cat Skiing

If you want to see a different side of the mountain try the exciting option of Cat Skiing, a great way to get off piste and in to the back country with minimal effort. Fernie’s cat skiing is mostly on lightly wooded slopes known as ‘glades’ in North America, with the tree cover thickening in to belts every so often with chutes through the gaps so you’ll need to be either an advanced or good intermediate ability skier. Exactly how much skiing you can expect to do will depend on the ability of the group you’re in and snow and weather conditions when you hit the slopes but usually 8 to 10 runs are possible, clocking up 10 to 12 thousand feet of vertical during the day. There are three cats available, each of which can hold up to a dozen people.

First Tracks

First tracks are a very special experience – get access to the mountain before everybody else and get to leave first tracks through the snow. To take part you need to sign up for first tracks the afternoon before you want to try it – ideally the day before a big snow storm is forecast, but make sure you do so promptly before the available places all go.

Ice Fishing

You can try the millennia old experience of ice fishing at Fernie. You’ll fish for brook, cutthroat or rainbow trout through holes in the ice which are cut for you by ice fishing tour guides, who’ll also get you to the fishing holes by four wheel drive vehicle or snowmobile. Trips last all day and along with the fishing you’ll receive hot drinks and at lunchtime there’ll be a hot meal cooked camping-style on site.

Kids Night Out

Twice a week (Wednesday as well as Saturday) your kids can enjoy Kids Night Out when they have loads of fun in the Childcare Centre while you can enjoy a meal, shopping or another activity knowing they’re safe and having a great evening.

Activities include:

• Sledging
• Playing football on the snow
• Arts and crafts
• Storytelling evenings
• Movie and music nights
• Games

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing is great fun and a magical experience walking over pristine powder while the guides explain how the local animals in the Rocky Mountains have evolved to surprise the extreme winter conditions. You’ll be provided with a warm beverage and home-cooked baking during your hike and return feeling enriched by your experience as well as having a better understanding of winter ecology.

Stargazing Snowshoe Fondue

Snowshoeing is a wonderful experience (so long as the weather is good!) in the daytime, but on a pristine starry night it is even more special, with the winter wonderland floodlit by moonlight as you snowshoe over open meadowland. Guides will help you identify the natural fauna of the Canadian Rockies at night and the feeling will be dreamlike as you travel across the light crisp snow, identifying the constellations above and the tracks of wildlife that have walked across the land before you. The evening comes to a scrumptious end with a gorgeous chocolate fondue.

Torchlight Descent and BBQ

A wonderful evening begins with a barbecue at a site at mid-mountain after which guides take you holding torches down the Elk Run.