FERNIE’ S PRESENT is because of COAL CREEK’ S

Coal Creek’ s First Mine Opens 1897

In 1898, the CPR southern line arrived in Fernie. The Crow’ s Nest Pass Coal Company( CNPCC) brought Cape Opening an early coal mine Breton miners from Nova Scotia to open Coal Creek’ s first underground mine, hauling coal by wagon 7 kms west for stockpiling, awaiting the CPR’ s arrival.

Beehive Oven Coke Manufacturing

Know Before You Go on the Coal Creek Heritage Trail:

• Length: Loop 23 kms( Phase 1- 11 km, Phase 2- 12 km). KM markers at the interpretive signs will denote your distance travelled. Track your route on Trailforks or Strava.

• Difficulty of Trail: The trail is easy to moderate difficulty, so conserve your energy and rest often.

• Expected Time to Complete the Loop: On a human-powered bike: Streakers( ride the route with minimal stops) – 4 hours; Strollers( stop at 50 % of the signs and sites) – 6 hours; Studiers( stop to read all the signs and enjoy all the sites) – all day up to 8 hours. E-bikers reduce time by approximately half the time.

• What to Bring: Plenty of water, food, tools, extra clothing, bug spray / sunscreen, bear spray.

PAST

Marvel at the majestic Canadian Rockies homes. Smaller pieces were transported and experience the vibrant charm of by special hoppers, top loading the rows of historic Fernie. Our reality today is fire-brick coke ovens. Coke was the‘ real worlds apart from what it was like in thing’, almost pure carbon, used to melt

Maintaining beehive coke ovens

Glenbow Archives NA-1465-10 in Fernie

Between 1898 and 1908, 452 firebrick beehive coke ovens were built in rows from here to downtown. Coal was baked at 1,000 ° C for 48 hours in oxygenstarved ovens, cooled with water, and shipped as coke to steel smelters in Spokane, WA and Trail, BC.

• Safety Tips: After 3 km up Coal Creek Valley, there are no amenities and limited cell service. Hikers should be self-reliant, carry bear spray, and follow a pack-in / pack-out ethic. Be sure to tell someone where you’ re going and when you expect to return. The area is hazardous: off-trail risks include mines with toxic / explosive gases, unstable historic structures, and ground collapse over abandoned underground workings. Explore at your own risk.

• E-bikes: Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on trails. A Class 1 e-bike means a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling( pedal assist) and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 32 kilometres per hour and has a maximum continuous wattage output of 500 watts.

Coal Creek Heritage Trail June 2026 | Page 2

FERNIE’ S PRESENT is because of COAL CREEK’ S

Coal Creek’ s First Mine Opens 1897

In 1898, the CPR southern line arrived in Fernie. The Crow’ s Nest Pass Coal Company( CNPCC) brought Cape Opening an early coal mine Breton miners from Nova Scotia to open Coal Creek’ s first underground mine, hauling coal by wagon 7 kms west for stockpiling, awaiting the CPR’ s arrival.

Beehive Oven Coke Manufacturing

Know Before You Go on the Coal Creek Heritage Trail:

• Length: Loop 23 kms( Phase 1- 11 km, Phase 2- 12 km). KM markers at the interpretive signs will denote your distance travelled. Track your route on Trailforks or Strava.

• Difficulty of Trail: The trail is easy to moderate difficulty, so conserve your energy and rest often.

• What to Bring: Plenty of water, food, tools, extra clothing, bug spray / sunscreen, bear spray.

PAST

Maintaining beehive coke ovens

Glenbow Archives NA-1465-10 in Fernie

Between 1898 and 1908, 452 firebrick beehive coke ovens were built in rows from here to downtown. Coal was baked at 1,000 ° C for 48 hours in oxygenstarved ovens, cooled with water, and shipped as coke to steel smelters in Spokane, WA and Trail, BC.

Fernie during the early 1900s.

Fernie beside 452 belching coke ovens

Instead of the crisp mountain air of

today, Fernie was lined by 452 beehive

economy. Today, the metallurgical coal

coke ovens and the tang of their toxic smoke. Coal cars from the mine clanked and squealed as they were shunted onto the CPR mainline, destined for export, a

mines of the upper Elk Valley employ 5,500 people and generate $ 369 million in Provincial tax revenue( 2024), about 5 % of Provincial and Municipal funding

Coking, a process invented in 1709, fuels steelmaking. Most Elk Valley coal is exported to Asia for coking.

PACK-IN PACK-OUT Keep the area and creek clean for all users

DAY-USE ONLY Limit your use to daylight hours only. No overnight parking or camping.

constant reminder of coal’ s grip on the town.

Coal cars containing large chunks of coal fueled steam locomotives transporting

for hospitals, schools, roads, and municipal services. Fernie’ s coal industrial fortune began 7 kms east of here up Coal Creek. The region’ s first underground coal mine operated there for 60 years.

Grey pumice-like coke produces double the heat of coal, powering steel making for skate blades, bicycles, ski edges, vehicles, and renewable energy structures.

Modern molten steel

P

and wildlife.

PARKING Please park in designated areas in a respectful manner that

PREVENT WILDFIRES No campfires or smoking. If you see a wildfire report it immediately by calling 1-800-663-5555( or * 5555

settlers westward, and warming their

doesn’ t restrict access to

the road.