After four years of construction, the Lazy Lizard Trail at Island Lake Lodge in Fernie, British Columbia, opens today.

The new trail is seven kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 339 metres. It starts at the north side of the Island Lake property gate and it officially opens today, June 12.

The project has been a joint effort between a number of local organizations including:

  • The Fernie Trail Alliance
  • Fernie Mountain Bike Club
  • Columbia Basin Trust
  • Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club
  • ZINC Ventures
  • Resort Municipality Initiative

McPhee_ Lazy Lizard-12

The trail was also made possible by private donations, numerous volunteers and, of course, Island Lake Lodge. Backcountry experts constructed the majority of the machine-built trail, which is wide, smooth and flowy, and their efforts were supplemented by Fernie trail volunteers and the Island Lake trail and glading teams.

Highlights of the ride include steel frame wood decked bridges, elevated boardwalks, a section through some beautiful old growth forest and view points of it’s namesake, the Lizard Mountain Range. It terminates at the lodges of Island Lake where you can toast your rip with a frosty brew.

For video of the trail in all its glory, check out below: