Best Hikes in Fernie: Lizard Lake

Add Lizard Lake to the ‘Best Hikes in Fernie’ list. The colours pop, the reflections are magic and moody fall days are beautiful.

For those hikers that are looking for a pristine alpine lake, Lizard Lake might fall short looking more like a ‘muddy puddle’.

Dont’ stop here though! It’s best to keep following the faint trail up to Liverwurst pass for views back to Lizard Lake, Mt Fernie and the Elk Valley, as well as the Koocanusa drainage to the south.

Fall is the best time to go.

Getting to Lizard Lake

There are two trailheads.

From the Lower Island Lake parking lot (Mt Fernie Park Road) head out on the Rail Trail. After about 300m you will veer off the Rail Trail. Hike another 100m approx. and cross Lizard Creek. The creek is unbridged and may require getting your feet wet. Continue on until you meet the Lizard Lake Trail where you turn right. This section is approx 500m altogether.
Gorby Trailhead located on Mt Fernie Park Rd. Immediately cross Lizard creek on a bridge. Continue up the marked trail. This way is approx 700m longer than option one but has the advantage of keeping feet dry!

Distance to Lizard Lake: 4km

Elevation Gain: 540m

Trail conditions: The trail starts on easy single track for 1.5km. From there you travel through old growth cedars on a steep trail with little relief and no switchbacks! It is a challenging trail but obvious to follow. Eventually you pop out into the subalpine and Lizard Lake is nestled at the bottom of an alpine bowl.

Check out All Trails for more info.

Getting to Lizard Lake may feel a little anti-climatic. I highly recommend walking around to the south side of the tarn and up the slope a little where these next few photos are taken from.

Hiking to Liverwurst Pass makes this Trail one of the Best Hikes in Fernie

Keep going! Don’t stop at Lizard Lake!

There is a faint trail leading all the way to Liverwurst pass (once you know it’s there it is obvious!). Looking at Lizard Lake, hike on the left side and find a couple of rock cairns. Follow these up through the bushes. The trail could be a little overgrown but you don’t need to bushwhack.

Once you get to the bottom of the headwall, you are looking at rocky steep terrain. You aren’t hiking up there. Look for a larger cairn off to the right in the the grass/trees. This indicates the trail. The next part is more steep and challenging; a combination of looser rock and soil. As you get closer to the pass the trail switch-backs to the left and after another 100m or so, you are in Liverwurst Pass.

Distance from Trailhead #2 to Liverwurst Pass: 5.3km

Elevation gain from Trailhead #2: 830m