Western redcedar & western hemlock
Part of the valley’s lush old-growth forest. Look for towering trunks and layers of shade beneath the canopy.
The living landscape · Island Lake
Wildlife & Nature
01 / The Lizard Range
Once a sea.
Now a skyline.
The pale cliffs above Island Lake tell a much older story than the forest below. The Lizard Range includes fossil-bearing limestone formed from ancient marine deposits.
- Ancient life
- Researchers have documented fossil corals in the range’s Etherington Formation—evidence of seas that existed long before these mountains.
- Layers on the move
- Mountain building folded and thrust the rock layers. Around Fernie, some ancient beds now lie above younger rock.
- Look closely
- Notice the bands in the cliffs and loose stone along the trail. Leave rocks and fossils where you find them.
02 / The Cedar Valley
A forest with a long memory.
Some western redcedars here are estimated to be at least 800 years old. The valley’s tree community changes as you climb toward the alpine.
Douglas fir & western larch
Two more members of the Cedar Valley’s diverse conifer community.
Spruce & subalpine fir
Engelmann spruce, white spruce and subalpine fir are recorded here, linking the valley forest with the mountain landscape.
More trees in the valley
The lodge’s tree inventory also includes lodgepole pine, black cottonwood, balsam poplar and white birch.
Small things, worth noticing
Flowers & the forest floor
These plants appear in Tourism Fernie’s regional checklist. What you see depends on the trail, elevation and season.
Fireweed
Pink flower spikes in summer.
Red paintbrush
Bright red bracts among mountain vegetation.
Glacier lily
Nodding yellow flowers as the snow retreats.
Twinflower
Small, paired pink bells close to the forest floor.
Arnica
Yellow, daisy-like flower heads.
Huckleberries
Shrubs that provide food for wildlife.
Photograph flowers without picking them. Leave berries for wildlife. Fernie plant checklist
03 / Their home, our privilege
Wildlife, on its own terms.
Watch from a distance. Sightings are never guaranteed, and an animal should never have to change its behaviour for your photograph.
Moose & deer
Lake edges and forest provide habitat for moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer. Give them room, especially animals with young.
Bear country
Both black and grizzly bears live in the wider Cedar Valley. Never approach or feed them; keep food secured.
The smaller residents
Chipmunks, Columbian ground squirrels and weasels are part of the local wildlife community. Watch without offering food.
Higher slopes & quieter neighbours
Mountain goats inhabit steep alpine terrain. The lodge’s trail guide also records elk, wolves, cougars and lynx in the wider area. Give every animal space and let it move away freely.
Leave space for the wild
Explore with care.
Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Stay alert, make noise, keep dogs leashed and follow posted closures. Report wildlife sightings to the lodge team.
No campfires. No smoking on Island Lake property. Protect the forest and the people who share it.
A conversation is the beginning
Who would you
bring here?
Tell us your dates, your group size, and what you have in mind.
Our concierge will help you plan the stay.