Mountain Biking in Fernie: Contra Flow Trail

Let me introduce to you Contra Trail! 

Are you looking for a ride that is fast and furious?  Big air (if you want!), bermed corners and a steep flowy descent?  The Fernie Contra Flow Trail might just be your thing.  Rated as a black diamond (advanced), you might not notice the beautiful views as you lay it out on the berms or launch off the table tops.

For a conservative downhill rider like me, that might sound a little bit full-on.  And it kind of is.  But you can also roll over everything and ride with caution rather than reckless abandon. Trailforks offers great advice: Be sure to scout it out properly before reaching warp speed.

How to get to Contra Trail

Travel down Coal Creek Rd for 3.04km

Turn right Left onto Rifle Range Rd (FSR), and travel 2.53km

Turn right onto Spur 3

The trailhead is 400m up Spur 3 on the right.

Access Issues for Contra

Summer of 2022: Rifle Range Rd is closed from 4am to 4pm on weekdays due to active haul logging.  After 4pm and on weekends Rifle Range road is available to both shuttle vehicles and riding. Check Trailforks for the latest updates.

Contra Stats

Most people do several laps while they are at it.  New for 2021, a new section of trail has been added to the bottom of Contra called Trail Dogs, and in 2022 a new up trail is being added – Up Dogs.  You can see this addition in Trailforks.

• Contra Length: 1.3km. Descent: 160m
• Trail Dogs Length: 625m.  Descent: 105m
• Up Dogs Length: 1.4km. Ascent: 133m

Trail Dogs is a smidge easier than Contra (rated blue or intermediate), with more ability to roll through the features.

Fernie is quickly becoming a mountain biking mecca

Every year it is great to see the trails getting used by an awesome variety of people.  All ages, all abilities!! Apparently, visitor numbers to mountain bike in Fernie in the summer are outnumbering visitors that come in the winter to ski! Trails are evolving and improving all the time.

Trails like Contra boost our little mountain town’s reputation!

Check out Trailforks for all the deets 🙂