Thunder Meadows
Available for booking
Here are some classic pictures from this year’s adventures at Thunder Meadows and some recently taken images of the great ski terrain.
It was a Good Friday of riding on the Elk Rim – Dorr Road single-track. The north rim was muddy but most of the flats were dry and excellent condition.
Road the Elk Rim single-track from Hwy 93 this Sunday, April 10. The single-track is quite dry and only the areas where you have to cross roads or double-tack is muddy. The forest roads that branch off of Dorr gravel road are very muddy so it is best to ride from the parking area above the Hwy 93 bridge crossing of the Elk River.
Elm Rim – Dorr Road is usually the first ride of the season for Fernie folk. The trails were built by dirt and mountain bikers so don’t be surprised to see a few dirt bikes. The trails are cross countryish and the full ride is 28 km with 2800ft of climbing.
Climbed up Heiko’s Fernie Mountain Trail on Friday and skied down the slide path on the NE flank of Fernie Mountain. Access is from Alpine Trails condo land (old gravel pit). Park at the locked gate at the end of the public road and walk up to Fairy Creek access road. Fernie Mountain Trail starts about 50 meters past the junction and is signed. Snow shoers frequently use the trail so it is well broken in until you reach the east ridge of Fernie Mountain. Climbing this ridge is a steep, safe route with nicely spaced fir and cedar trees.
Had a good ski up North Tunnel Creek and down the Morrissey Slide Path that drops onto HWY 3. Instead of climbing up from the Tunnel Creek parking area we went up over the power transmission line right of way and up North Tunnel Creek, under the Tunnel slide paths. Need good stability to take this route.
The ski down the Morrissey slide path was very nice at the top 800 meters but very ugly in the lower 300 meters to the highway. Highway 3 drivers should be very thankful for the numerous avalanche structures that prevent large slides from crossing the roadway.
Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday February 15 7 PM
Freshies Coffee Shop (new location across from Guides Hut)
everyone welcome
Deep in the heart of the Fernie backcountry, at the legendary Thunder Meadows, Tunnel Creek, and Harvey Pass cabins, a shadowy barter economy thrives. No, it’s not trading trail mix for dry socks or a thermos of coffee for a warm seat by the fire. It’s something far more primal: toilet paper. Yes, in the […]
The January 15 booking period for Fernie’s backcountry cabins opens Thursday, January 15 at 6:00am MST, releasing February 1 to April 30 overnight inventory for Thunder Meadows Cabin and Tunnel Creek Cabin. This is the second and final winter release for the 2025–26 season and typically fills quickly. What’s Being Released on January 15 Thunder […]
The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FTSTC) 2026 Avalanche Bursary Program awarded a total of $2,500, with funding allocated based on the cost of each recipient’s training program. Applicants this year reflect the breadth of avalanche education being pursued in the Elk Valley, from first-time courses to continued skill development. FTSTC President Magnus Leckenby […]
Nine dedicated volunteers made the trek up to the Tunnel Creek Cabin this week for a full day of fall maintenance and cleanup. The crew completed a deep clean of the hut, installed a new chimney, added snow stops to the roof, and took care of extensive brush and weed trimming around the cabin, outhouse, […]
Fernie backcountry cabins are now easier to book: no membership is required to reserve Thunder Meadows or Tunnel Creek for overnight stays this season. We’ve moved to a simple flat nightly rate to streamline accounting and bookings. That said, we encourage you to purchase a $5 membership—it helps maintain the huts and supports backcountry-access advocacy […]
Bring it back!!!