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Tucked away in a narrow valley in the rugged Rocky Mountains, the town of Fernie has a unique and colourful history.
Coal mining
The town was born when a prospector noticed black and shiny stones in a necklace worn by an Indian Chief’s daughter — it was coal. The chief agreed to reveal the source of these stones if the prospector agreed to marry his daughter. When the prospector reneged on his wedding proposal the angered chief put a curse of fire, flood and famine on the valley, but this didn’t stop Fernie from prospering. From coal, and through the 1920s it added to its wealth by smuggling whiskey into prohibition America.
The curse was finally lifted in 1964 and today it is an atmospheric town rich in history, with abandoned mines, museums and heritage sites letting visitors step back in time to the beautiful Elk Valley’s past.
who's been there
Start planning your tailor-made trip to Fernie by contacting one of our Canada specialists
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01993 838 92501993 838 700
- Make an enquiry
Suggested itinerary featuring Fernie
This sample itinerary will give you an idea of what is possible when you travel in Fernie, and showcases routes we know work particularly well. Treat this as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.
Places near Fernie
- Waterton Lakes National Park 60 miles away
- Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump 65 miles away
- The Purcell Mountains 67 miles away
- Claresholm 76 miles away
- The Kootenays 110 miles away
- Canmore 110 miles away
- Calgary 116 miles away
- Banff 118 miles away
- Yoho National Park 141 miles away
- Lake Louise 142 miles away
- Field 145 miles away
- Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park 158 miles away
- Dinosaur Provincial Park 181 miles away
- Naramata & Okanagan Valley 204 miles away
- Sun Peaks 235 miles away
- The Cariboo 264 miles away
- Jasper 268 miles away
- Edmonton 287 miles away
Photos of Fernie
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![Fernie historic downtown]()
Fernie historic downtown -
![Fernie aerial view]()
Fernie aerial view -
![Lost Boys Cafe at Fernie Resort]()
Lost Boys Cafe at Fernie Resort -
![The Three Sister Mountains, Canmore]()
The Three Sister Mountains, Canmore
Our expert guides to exploring Fernie
Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting Fernie, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate Fernie at its best.
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Self-driving in western Canada ![Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park]()
Self-driving in western Canada
Self-driving in western Canada
Canada specialists Kerry and Annie share their tried-and-tested self-drive routes in western Canada. You might want to follow a lesser-known loop through the Canadian Rockies, detouring to the Okanagan wine region. Or, take in British Columbia’s coastline and Vancouver Island.
Read this guide
