Mount Fernie

Mount Fernie Provincial Park is a 259-hectare (2.6 square kilometre) park in the Kootenay Range of the southern Rocky Mountains, about 3 km south of Fernie, British Columbia, on Highway 3. ^{[1] [2]} It was established on May 4, 1959 to protect the ecology of the lower Lizard River while providing recreation for local residents and visitors. ^[1] The park is named for Mount Fernie, a 2,210 m mountain northwest of the town of Fernie that lies next to the park. ^[3] Visitors come for camping, hiking trails, mountain biking and the view of a waterfall on Lizard Creek. ^[2]

BC Parks notes diverse wildlife in the park. ^[1] Backcountry areas are not suitable for dogs or other pets because of the potential for problems with bears and other wildlife. ^[1] Lizard Creek offers limited fishing, and the nearby Elk River offers further fishing opportunities. ^[1]

BC Parks describes diverse forests and vegetation in the park and notes that its location supports a unique variety of plant life. ^[1] Campsites sit among lush green forest next to Lizard Creek. ^[2] Hikers are asked to keep to designated trails because shortcutting destroys plant life and soil structure. ^[1]

The park lies in the Kootenay Range on the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains. ^[1] Lizard Creek drops over a waterfall beside the campsites, with a bridge spanning the creek. ^[2] The neighbouring Mount Fernie rises to 2,210 m. ^[3]

Fernie has a cool, wet humid continental climate (Koppen Dfb) with warm summer days, cool summer nights and cold, snowy winters. ^[1] Chinook winds make winters mild for the latitude, though the climate is more continental than coastal British Columbia. ^[1]

The town of Fernie owes its origins to prospector William Fernie, who founded the Crows Nest Pass Coal Company in 1897 after Michael Phillips' coal discoveries. ^[1] The Canadian Pacific Railway reached the valley the following year, and a townsite grew alongside the line. ^[1] A coal mine explosion on May 23, 1902 killed 109 miners. ^[1]

Mount Fernie Provincial Park was established on May 4, 1959. ^[1] It is classed as IUCN Category III, a natural monument or feature. ^[1] The park is operated by EK Parks Ltd. ^[2]

The park offers hiking trails and a view of the waterfall that flows from Lizard Creek. ^[1] The area is popular for mountain biking, and e-bikes are permitted on signed or designated trails. ^[1] The Fernie Mountain Bike Club is the source BC Parks points to for details on riding in the park and surrounding area. ^[1] Golfing, restaurants and art galleries are available in nearby Fernie. ^[1]

The park is on Highway 3, 3 km south of Fernie. ^[1] It has a campground with sites that can be booked through the BC Parks reservation system. ^[1] EK Parks Ltd. describes it as a busy little park loved by mountain bikers, hikers and anglers. ^[2] Pets must be on a leash at all times and are not allowed in beach areas or park buildings. ^[1]

BC Parks highlights the park's unique variety of plant life as its conservation focus. ^[1] The park was created to protect the ecology of the lower Lizard River. ^[2] Visitors are asked to stay on designated trails and keep pets leashed, because backcountry areas are unsuitable for pets given bears and other wildlife. ^[1]