Exploring the Rocky Mountain Trench: From Fernie to Golden

Start your journey at the Canadian Rockies International Airport in Cranbrook, where you can pick up a rental vehicle and follow Highway 3 to Fernie, about an hour’s drive.

Note: You can also fly into Calgary International Airport in the neighbouring province of Alberta.

Fernie is a quintessential mountain town with heritage buildings, friendly locals, gorgeous mountain vistas, and plenty of options for outdoor adventure.

Fernie Alpine Resort offers about 25 kilometres of hiking trails, as well as one of western Canada’s largest networks of lift-access mountain bike trails. For something a little more low key, consider a 4.6-kilometre return hike to pretty Fairy Creek Falls, a great spot to indulge your senses, and be sure to fit in a round of golf and a trout fishing excursion while you’re here.

Once you’ve had your share of fresh mountain air and adventure in Fernie, take Highway 3 south to Elko (where it joins Highway 93) and head back along 93 toward Cranbrook.

Cranbrook and Kimberley, nestled between the Purcell and Rocky mountains, are home to stellar hiking and biking trails. The local waterways that weave their way through the valleys are ideal for fishing, boating, swimming, and paddling. Visit during the summer months to enjoy warm weather—Cranbrook is one of the sunniest places in BC—or come in late September to mid-October to enjoy the fall colours. The larch trees change to a golden hue in October.

This is the land of golf, and there are seven nearby courses to choose from. Stay and golf at the St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino, and don’t miss their Ktunaxa Interpretive Centre, where you can learn about the history and living culture of the Ktunaxa people.

Next, drive 30 minutes northwest to spend a day or two in Kimberley—you can also bike from Cranbrook along the paved, wheelchair-accessible Northstar Rails-to-Trails. This alpine resort community is home to Kimberley Nature Park, the biggest municipal park in BC. Options range from short, easy loops to more strenuous trails with a significant elevation gain. In the spring and summer months, stop in at Kimberley’s Underground Mining Railway for a little history. Head to the St. Mary River for whitewater rafting and some of North America’s top fly-fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, and bull trout.

Continue northeast and follow Highway 93/95 toward Fairmont Hot Springs.

Experience the natural mineral pools at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, where guests of the resort get access to an exclusive hot springs pool. From there, head into the mountains to hike, bike, and soar through the trees on a zipline. You can also take to the water in a canoe or kayak, or book a whitewater rafting excursion. But the most popular thing to do here is in the name. Whether you take advantage of the 9 golf courses in the Columbia Valley or hit the slopes in winter, you’ll want to end each day soaking in the healing waters of the hot springs. Ahhh.

And if Fairmont leaves you wanting more, never fear. Continue north on Highway 93/95, and Radium Hot Springs is the yin to Fairmont’s yang.

Surrounded by the towering rock faces of Sinclair Canyon, Radium Hot Springs is a ruggedly beautiful spot located on the cusp of Kootenay National Park. Radium is best known for its red cliffs, mineral-rich hot springs, and bighorn sheep, though there are also many fun and unexpected adventures to be had in and around the village.

With Kootenay National Park having celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020, there is plenty of recent and ancient history to celebrate. Add some historical context with a hike to the Stanley Glacier, home to fossils dating back 500 million years. Other popular hikes include: Marble Canyon to Paint Pots, the Juniper-Sinclair Canyon trails, and the Kindersley-Sinclair Loop.

Make your way along the local waterways on a river rafting trip, or by exploring the wetland ecosystem between Radium Hot Springs and nearby Invermere by paddleboard, canoe, or kayak with Columbia River Paddle. On land, follow the Columbia Valley Golf Trail.

When you’re ready to move on, continue north on Highway 95 to Golden.

Golden sits alongside both the Columbia River, home to North America’s largest wetland, and the infamous Kicking Horse River, so it’s no wonder water-based activities are popular here. Don’t miss whitewater rafting down the Kicking Horse, and paddling, fishing, and incredible bird watching on the Columbia. Come in the spring or fall to see 15,000 migrating waterfowl.

Nearby Yoho National Park is home to wonders ranging from 500 million-year-old fossil beds to powerful waterfalls, including Takakkaw Falls.  Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a hub of adventure, boasting alpine hiking, a bike park with more than 35 kilometres of trails, a Via Ferrata experience, and a grizzly bear refuge. End your trip on a high note with lunch at Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, the country’s highest-elevation dining experience at 2,347 metres—reservations are required.

Last updated: Jan 4, 2025