Fairy Creek Falls Trail is an easy hike to a beautiful, cascading waterfall that starts at the Fernie Visitor Information Centre.
Whether you’re staying in Fernie, or just passing through, you should plan to spend 1-2 hours hiking or snowshoeing to Fairy Creek Falls. The well-marked trail is short, easy, and rewarding. Begin your adventure on the single-track trail on the east side of Fernie Visitor Information Centre. Start on “Dairy Run” and follow the signs to Fairy Creek Falls. As you traverse the lower slopes of Mount Proctor, you travel through mixed forest and slowly gain elevation.
After the initial climb and a few switchbacks, the trail levels off. At a meadow, the views open up offering nice views of Mount Fernie and neighboring peaks. From here, the trail goes along the creek (listen for it on your left), tricking you into thinking the falls are super close, but they are further ahead and around to the right.
When the trail starts to go downhill, you are on the home stretch. It is narrow on the last 50 metres to the falls, so hiking poles are recommended in the winter months or if you are baby-wearing. If you’d like to donate to trail maintenance efforts, you can leave a donation in the fairy box.
Fairy Creek Falls is a lovely cascading waterfall that is about five metres high1. In summer, you can hike to the base of the falls or above it (use caution and stay back from the edge). In winter, stay back from the base of the falls; there is avalanche danger there!
We loved hiking to Fairy Creek Falls on our way home from Cranbrook. It was the perfect opportunity to stretch our legs and play in the snow in a scenic spot.
Table of Contents
Fairy Creek Falls Trail at a Glance
- Distance: 4 km round trip
- Elevation gain: 120 metres
- Difficulty: Easy
- Stroller-friendly? No, the single track trail is narrow in some spots, especially as your approach the falls.
- Nearest washrooms: Fernie Visitor Information Centre (when open) or pit toilets near trailhead
- Parking: Fernie Visitor Information Centre 102 Commerce Road, Fernie (on the right side of Hwy 3 if you are traveling west)
- Trailhead: The trailhead is marked with a sign and is on the east side of the visitor centre.
Know Before You Go
- WINTER NOTES: There is avalanche danger at the falls, so do not hike to the base of the falls in winter. Bring snowshoes or traction devices and assess conditions at the trailhead.
- Use caution around the creek in spring, when water levels are high.
- This is a shared hiking and biking trail, so keep an eye out for bikes year-round.
- Part of the trail passes through private land, so please stay on the trail and pack all trash out (as per usual).
- Donations for trail maintenance are accepted at the fairy donation box near the falls.
Reference
- Strong, J. (2011) Mountain Footsteps: Hikes in the East Kootenay of Southeastern British Columbia-3rd Edition. Toronto, ON. Rocky Mountain Books.
