Dive into the prehistoric world of the Paleo Trail through hands-on activities, interactive games, videos, and educational resources designed for all ages. The Interact & Learn section is a place to explore the ancient history of the Elk Valley in a fun and engaging way while discovering the incredible fossils, marine life, and geological forces that shaped the region millions of years ago.
Explore
Paleo Trail BC
Discover a region shaped over millions of years, where towering mountains, winding rivers, and rugged valleys reveal a rich record of prehistoric life.
Ancient Seas
& Fossils
Uncover an ancient marine past, where fossils and geological wonders reveal a time when vast prehistoric seas once covered this region.
Mountains, Coal
& Geology
Discover the ancient geological forces that helped shaped Fernie and the surrounding Elk Valley millions of years ago.
Follow the
Paleo Trail
Explore the ancient history hidden throughout Fernie, Sparwood, and Cranbrook with millions of years of geological and prehistoric history.
follow the trail
Explore the region at your own pace, where scenic drives, quiet trails, and rugged landscapes invite you to discover something new around every corner. From sweeping mountain views to hidden natural features, the area offers a unique blend of adventure and discovery.
Fernie
The Elk Valley is home to significant fossil deposits, including ammonites and marine life that once thrived when this area was covered by a prehistoric sea.
Sparwood
A key role in the story where visitors can explore ancient fossil sites and uncover evidence of a time when this landscape was once a vast inland sea.
Photo Credit: Janice Strong
Cranbrook
The surrounding area is rich with fossil beds and ancient rock formations, offering insight into a time when inland seas and prehistoric life shaped the land.
Ready to Explore?
Set out on a self-guided tour and explore at your own pace, following curated stops that lead you through the region’s rich geological and fossil history. With easy-to-follow routes and mobile-friendly access, you can uncover ancient stories, pause where curiosity takes you, and experience the Paleo Trail in a way that fits your own adventure.
Discover Deep Time
Travel back more than 200 million years and uncover the extraordinary story of the Elk Valley. Discover a time when warm inland seas covered the region, marine reptiles and ammonites thrived beneath the waves, and layer upon layer of sediment slowly formed the fossil-rich rocks found throughout the area today.
Explore the map
Explore the Paleo Trail like never before with the interactive Animated Trail Map. Designed to bring the region’s prehistoric history to life, the map guides visitors through fossil locations, geological features, educational stops, and points of interest throughout the Elk Valley and surrounding areas.
A Trail Through Time
Journey millions of years into the past, bringing the prehistoric history of the Elk Valley and surrounding Kootenay region to life through storytelling and animation. From ancient oceans filled with marine reptiles and ammonites to the dramatic geological forces that shaped the mountains we see today.
