This is a very unique experience to be sure. More of an adventure than a hike, heading up a creek to get a glimpse of this ancient fossil requires a river cross, bushwhack and some route-finding. If there ever was a trailhead or a trail, as of summer 2022 it was not visible.

An ammonite is an extinct variety of cephalopod that swam the earth some 150 million years ago (give or take). This one near Fernie, BC is nearly 1.5m in diameter and is the largest complete fossil ever discovered in Canada (first sighting was 1947).

Take Coal Creek Rd east out of Fernie. There isn’t great parking alongside the road so the best place to park is at the rifle range. A heritage trail parallels Coal Creek Rd and is a good alternative to travelling along the road. Biking to the trailhead is another option that could save a few kilometers.

There is no great way to explain how to explain the route aside from navigating by GPS. Essentially, find a way to cross the river at 49.489470, -115.012030 then head uphill. Heading away from the river will soon lead to a gully with a stream feeding the main river. Head up the gully for approximately 750m and it is hard to miss the fossil along the riverbank.
This isn’t a very long hike so there are other sites to visit along the heritage trail – try exploring the nearby Mine # 9.