Epic views of the Lizard Range catch your eye as you bump over mellow rapids with seven other paddlers standing by your side on a giant 17-foot stand-up paddle board called a SUPsquatch. The Elk River in Fernie, BC, is the only place in Canada where you can go on a guided SUPsquatch tour. SUPsquatching is just one of the many opportunities Fernie has to offer paddlers. The area is home to relaxing flatwater paddling, world-class white water rafting and kayaking, and some great spots to try kayak fishing for a chance to reel in a lunker. This article will tell you everything you need to know about Paddling in Fernie, BC.
The Elk River
The Elk River offers class V rapids in the upper section, a meandering, gentle float through the town of Fernie and everything in between. Tourism Fernie offers a map that is the perfect guide to help you plan the right route down the river to meet your vibe. If a gentle float is just the relaxing day on the water you are looking for, try putting your stand up paddle board or kayak in at the bridge on the north end of Fernie and either taking a 30-minute trip to Dogwood Park, where you can hang on the beach, or keep floating for up to three hours and travel 15km past an ancient cottonwood trail to the Boat Launch at Morrissey Road. This would also be a great section of the river to bring along a fly rod and try out kayak fishing. Anglers on the Elk River will have the chance to catch Cutthroat Trout, Bull Trout, Kokanee, and Rocky Mountain Whitefish. Those looking for a rush of adrenaline should dip their paddles into the Upper Elk River or Elk River Canyon. The Upper Elk River is a section recommended for expert white water kayakers only with waterfalls, drops, slides and mandatory portages. If you’re not an expert kayaker but still want the excitement of white water, try a guided rafting trip through the depths of the Elk Canyon. The Elk Canyon Trip will take you through 16km of wilderness as the river carves its way through the Rocky Mountains and eventually into Lake Koocanusa.
Lake Koocanusa
The calm jade-coloured waters of the 145km Lake Koocanusa are an ideal destination for a variety of paddling adventures. The lake is a great spot to launch for a mellow day on a stand up paddle board or kayak to explore the shoreline and find the perfect quiet beach spot to sunbathe or have a picnic. Keep an eye out for bald eagles, osprey, and loons as you glide through the lake’s clear waters. While most paddlers will opt for a day paddle launching from one of the nine different campgrounds across the lake, there is an option to connect some of these campgrounds to plan a multi-day canoe trip. Multi-day paddlers can explore the many sandy beaches, sheltered bays, and hoodoos along the way. The lake also offers excellent fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, and bull trout. Some of the more popular campgrounds and resorts along the shoreline of Lake Koocanusa include Newgate Sandy Shores Resort, Koocanusa Lake Campground and Resort, Oestrich RV Ranch, and Kikomun Creek Provincial Park.
Surveyors Lake
Surveyors Lake is adjacent to Lake Koocanusa and is also part of Kikomun Creek Provincial Park, making that park an excellent spot for those who want access to two water bodies within one campground! Surveyors Lake is much smaller than the nearby Koocanusa and doesn’t allow motorized boats, making it a perfect lake for a family-friendly adventure. Take in the dry, sunny environment surrounding the lake with its interior douglas fir and ponderosa pine forest and grassland habitat. The lake is also a great place to spot painted turtles, the only native species of freshwater turtle in British Columbia, which is also listed as an “at-risk” species in the province. The lake also has stand-up paddle board and kayak rentals available at Campers Beach. So, all you need to do is show up with sunscreen, snacks, and a bathing suit, and you will be good to go!
Baynes Lake
Baynes Lake is also adjacent to Lake Koocanusa, located just south of Surveyors Lake. The lake is part of a small rural community named after the lake, known for its farmers market every Saturday, where over 80 vendors sell fresh local produce and locally crafted goods. The lake hosts an excellent fishery for rainbow trout between 1-5 lbs in the deeper parts of the lake and largemouth bass who are eager to bite and put up a fight hanging out around the shoreline. While most of the lake is surrounded by private land, there is a public boat launch on Baynes Lake Road North to get your kayak or canoe in the water for a day of fishing.
Island Lake
If you want to paddle in freshwater but also want a wilderness experience that rivals those to be enjoyed by rafters on the remote sections of the Elk River, check out Island Lake. The lake is located up the mountains far above the town of Fernie, just below the towering peaks of the Lizard Range. With options to travel to the lake for the day or stay at the Island Lake Lodge (https://www.islandlakelodge.com/), this is the perfect place for a relaxing paddle in the heights of the Rocky Mountains. It is important to note that the road does not go right to the lake, so paddlers must portage their canoe, kayak, or stand up paddle board a short distance from the parking lot down to the water. The lodge also has canoe rentals for those who do not own a watercraft.
Bull River
While the above lakes are just a handful of Fernie’s many flat-water paddling options, this blog wouldn’t be complete without mentioning another iconic destination for white water paddling. In about an hour and a half drive from Fernie, paddlers can find themselves dropping into the raging rapids of the Bull River. In the spring, as the water levels rise with snow melt and rain, Canyon Rafting runs guided trips down the uninhabited river valley within which flows one of the most sustained stretches of class IV water in the area.
Fernie is one of the most paddle-friendly cities in British Columbia with its wide range of options, including the Elk River, which flows through the heart of the community. Whether you want a relaxing paddle on a calm river, sunny days on the lake, world-class fishing, or adrenaline-pumping white water, Fernie has you covered. For more information on visiting Fernie, including places to eat and stay, visit https://tourismfernie.com/
