Rating: Easy Hiking Time: 1-2 hours Length: 2-3 km Access: Begin at the trail sign on the south side of the Bear Lodge and head down the trail to the lake, follow the signs from here. Highlights: The Lake Trail offers a gentle hike around Island Lake. A great choice for a stroll following lunch or dinner, or when your time is limited. The Fir Trail wanders through the legendary old growth forest of the upper Cedar Valley. Mature cedar, larch and Douglas Fir stand guard along this majestic trail.
Rating: Difficult – Unmarked, no trails exists above treeline requiring significant route finding and navigation skills; steepness, lose rock, becoming lost, encounters with wild animals and stream crossings are only a few of the hazards that exist. Access: From the Island Lake Lodge access road go to the Old Growth trail head 3km into the Island Lake Lodge land. Follow the Old Growth Forest Trail and after 1km take the left fork trail to the Cabin Trail. Hiring a guide is recommended.
Rating: Difficult – Unmarked, no trails exists above treeline requiring significant route finding and navigation skills; steepness, lose rock, becoming lost, encounters with wild animals and stream crossings are only a few of the hazards that exist. Access: Via Spine back trail, Just prior to reaching the crest of the spinback leave the trail heading West across the alpine bowl. Big White is found in the back of the second basin with a scree slope leading to the summit of the widest least steep access and is the only access to the Lizard Ranges ridge crest above Island Lake Lodge. Hiring a guide is recommended
Rating: Difficult – Unmarked, no trails exists above treeline requiring significant route finding and navigation skills; steepness, lose rock, becoming lost, encounters with wild animals and stream crossings are only a few of the hazards that exist.
Access: The trail head is in The Mount Fernie Provincial Park approximately ½km from the Island Lake Lodge property boundary and gate. No trail exists above and beyond the Lake itself, lose rock, snow and complicated terrain. Hiring a guide is recommended.
Rating: Moderate Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Length: 3.5 km Access: Begin as for the Lake and then Fir Trail toward the Wset end of Island Lake, from the marked junction follow the signage marked Spineback. Highlights: Paralleling the beautiful Spineback Ridge, the trail winds its way up through the Glacier Lilies and Horn Corral Fossils of the sub-alpine meadows, eventually reaching the crest of the Spineback Ridge and continues for another .5 km up to a second bench nestled between the 3 bears peaks.
Rating: Moderate to Advanced Hiking Time: 3 – 6 hrs Length: 3.3 / 10.5 km Elev Gain: 1900ft Access: From the trail sign on the South side of the Bear Lodge head West. fFom the summit the trail traverses the ridge of Mount Baldy, continuing west. Highlights: The Baldy Trail switchbacks it’s way up arriving at the north summit of Mount Baldy where hikers are rewarded with an uninterrupted panorama of the entire Island Lake area! The Baldy Loop traverses the panoramic summit ridge of Mount Baldy returning to the lodge via Lizard Pass.
Rating: Easy Hiking Time: 45min -1hr each Length: Rail Trail 3km, Old Growth1km Elevation Gain: Rail Trail 100ft and Old Growth Trail 500 ft Access: The Rail Trail starts at the Island Lake property line in the Parking area 100ft past the Island Lake gate and finishes at the Old Growth Trail Head, approximately 3 km into the Island Lake land and finishes at the Lodge. Highlights: Old growth cedar trees, historical railway, lumber mill site- these trails are steeped in the history of the Elk Valley wandering through the forests and meadows proving views to the tops of the Lizard Range and eventually of Island Lake itself.
Rating: Mod to Adv Hiking Time: 3 - 5 hrs Length: 4km to 8km Elevation Gain: 1-20000ft Access: From the trail sign on the South side of the Bear Lodge head East following signs for the Tamarack Trail. Highlights: The Tamarack trail winds it’s way up the south-west slopes of Mount Fernie soon takeing you through beautiful stands of mature Tamarack Larch and an option part way up to go to the view point. Higher up the trail crosses open grassy slopes to the dramatic rock crags of Mount Fernie.
Rating: Difficult. Hiking Time: 8 - 12 hrs Length: 22km Elevation Gain: 4500 ft Access: The trail starts 2 km down a cart track, 3km north west of Hartley Lake on the Hartley Creek road finishing at Island Lake Lodge. Highlights: Waterfalls, caves, snowfields, big mountain passes this trail is often done as an overnighter, A high level of fitness and route finding skills are required. Hiring a professional guide is strongly recommended.
Kootenay Rockies Fernie
Fernie Community Forum
Paddle Fernie