Fernie winter trails season is officially underway after a lively celebration at the Montane Hut for Global Fat Bike Day last Saturday. Coal Creek Heritage Society (CCHS) volunteer Pat Gilmar was on the trails early, grooming at 9 a.m. for the annual gathering—and riders showed up in strong numbers throughout the day to welcome winter back to the valley. CCHS kept the stoke high with grilled smokies and warm beverages at the hut throughout the afternoon.
A Big-Day Adventure for One Local Rider
Local endurance rider Andy Ward marked Global Fat Bike Day with a full-on adventure. His goal: tackle a demanding loop with light race gear and see how far good conditions—and grit—would take him.
“Last year I did this route in reverse in the worst conditions with a 100% self-supported approach,” Ward said. “This year the plan was simple and ambitious—smash out a challenging route with light Fatbike ultra race kit.”
The reality? A punishing, all-day effort.
“It absolutely smashed my body to bits,” he said. “The largest mountain pass was left for last. Conditions were good, but the snowpack was sticky and slow.”
The reward came after dark: “Highlights were the bright moonlight and following two sets of bear tracks around Broadwood. The snow really shows where the wild things are.”
As part of the Winter Trails & Grooming Collaborative, led by Tourism Fernie, the Coal Creek Heritage Society works alongside several local trail groups to support Fernie’s shared multi-use grooming program. This collaboration continues to grow, improving access, consistency, and the overall winter trail experience for residents and visitors.
Fernie Groomed Trail Highlights:
Fernie Dyke Trail: now groomed for multi-use with Nordic track-set (pet friendly).
Fernie Ridge & Montane Trails: perennial winter favourites, consistently groomed and ready for riders, walkers, runners, and skiers (pet friendly).
Fernie Nordic Centre: Track-set and skate trails (no dogs)
Fernie’s winter grooming program maintains three distinct trail types across the valley: multi-use trails, Nordic-only trails, and fat-bike-only trails. The Fernie Nordic network is groomed exclusively for cross-country skiing, while Fernie Ridge features a combination of multi-use and fat-bike-only routes. The Montane network offers all three—Nordic, multi-use, and fat-bike-only—supported by clear grooming zones and on-trail signage. Riders, skiers, walkers, and runners are encouraged to review the 2025–2026 Winter Trail Map and follow posted signs to ensure everyone stays on the correct trails and enjoys a safe, respectful winter experience.
View new 2025-2026 Winter Trail Map here– hard copies coming soon!
