Drive
Driving from Calgary, AB
Distance: 320 km (199 miles) – 3.5 hour drive
Most major airlines and rental car companies service Calgary International Airport (YYC). The drive from Calgary is a breathtaking ride into the Rocky Mountains. Take Highway #2 South, turn west on Highway #7 and take it to Black Diamond. Turn south onto Highway #22. At the T-intersection, turn west again on Highway #3. Just 2kms past Fernie, you will see the Island Lake Lodge sign. Turn right and travel through the Mt. Fernie Provincial Park campground. Follow the road for approximately 12 km until you reach our lodges (the road to the lodge is seasonal and rugged, please allow yourself 20 minutes to drive up).
Driving from Cranbrook, B.C.
Distance: 111 km (69 miles) – 1.5 hour drive
The Cranbrook Airport (YXC) is the closest airport to Island Lake Lodge. Domestic flights arrive regularly with connections from Calgary or Vancouver Airports. Rental cars may be available. To get to the Island Lake Lodge parking area drive east on Highway #3. You will see our sign on the left 3 kms past Fernie Alpine Resort before you reach the town of Fernie. Turn left and travel through the Mt. Fernie Provincial Park campground. Follow the road for approximately 12 km until you reach our lodges.
Driving from Kalispell, MT
Distance: 190 km (118 miles) – 2 hr drive
For our American guests, domestic flights arrive regularly at the Kalispell International Airport (FCA). Rental cars are available. To get to Fernie, drive north on Highway #93. Cross the Canadian border and continue until you reach Highway #3. Turn right. You will see the Island Lake Lodge sign on the left 3 kms past Fernie Alpine Resort before you reach the town of Fernie. Turn left and travel through the Mt. Fernie Provincial Park campground. Follow the road for approximately 12 km until you reach our lodges. (Don’t forget your passport)
Driving from Spokane, WA
Distance: 405 km (252 miles) - 4.5 hour drive
Another option for our American guests is to fly into the Spokane International Airport (GEG). Car rental is the only option for transportation – there are no shuttles between Spokane and Island Lake Lodge. From Spokane International Airport drive south on US-395/US2 to I-90 East. Go east on I-90E to US-95. Go north on US-95 to the Canadian border. Go northeast on Highway #95 to Highway #3. Turn east. You will see the Island Lake Lodge sign on the left 3 kms past Fernie Alpine Resort before you reach the town of Fernie. Turn left and travel through the Mt. Fernie Provincial Park campground. Follow the road for approximately 12 km until you reach our lodges.
Please note the time difference; Spokane is 1 hour behind Fernie.
Fly
You have three choices. If coming from the USA and looking for reasonable flights, you might want to consider Kalispell, Montana. From the airport, you will reach Island Lake Lodge in approximately two hours by car. The closest major centre is Calgary, Alberta – three to four hours away. The beautiful drive south through the Foothills of the Canadian Rockies is well worth the trip. If road travel is not your thing, then consider flying all the way to Cranbrook in British Columbia – only one hour from Island Lake Lodge, it is the preferred choice for some. You can get to Cranbrook by connecting through either the Calgary or Vancouver airports.
For more maps & travel information, please visit the Tourism Fernie website:
Shuttle
Skip The Rental Car!
Resort Tours is Island Lake Lodge's preferred service for round-trip private shuttle service. Offering stress-free transportation from nearby airports to Island Lake Lodge. Arriving across the border? They are a fully USDOT-compliant transportation provider and are insured for operation in both Canada and the USA.
Arriving in Winter
You can rent a vehicle from Kalispell, Cranbrook and Calgary airports. Transportation to the lodge is not included in the package price. Kalispell airport works best if you are a large group. Island Lake Lodge strongly recommends that our guests arrive a day in advance to avoid any possible delays. Please call or email well in advance for any transportation or accommodation information. Our Snow-Cat pickup is located 3 km north of Highway #3 near Fernie. Turn north off Hwy #3 at the Lodge sign, 2 km west of Fernie. The Island Lake Lodge sign at the end of the road will denote the parking lot. You will be sent your designated arrival time before your tour (5pm MST). It is essential that you are at our lower parking lot for your tour start time.
Alternative and/or Late Arrival Fees
Island Lake Lodge is 8 km up the Cedar Valley. Guests travel to and from the lodge via Snow-Cat, which takes approximately 30 minutes. Guest pickup is at the parking lot the night prior to the first ski day. There will be a charge per person for late, early or alternative pickups. Please call the office if you will not be arriving at the parking lot by your designated arrival time or if your travel plans have changed.