Hwy 3 Spring, Fernie, British Columbia, Canada

## Overview The Hwy 3 Spring is a popular year-round natural spring located along Highway 3 between Fernie and Elko in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The spring emerges from a hillside and has been piped through a white outlet, making it easy for travelers to fill bottles and jugs. Over the years, locals and passersby have made minor improvements to the site — most recently, a wooden plank has been placed near the pipe to help visitors keep their shoes dry and mud-free while collecting water. The water has been reported to be slightly alkaline, with a pH of approximately 8. Many visitors have described it as cool, refreshing, and delicious — and it has long been used as a drinking water source by locals and road-trippers along this scenic stretch of highway. The spring flows continuously throughout the year, is free to access, and is available 24/7 with no fees or restrictions. The spring sits at a highway rest stop pull-out, complete with animal-proof trash bins, making it a convenient place to stretch your legs and top up your water supply while traveling through the Elk Valley. ## Directions **GPS Coordinates:** 49.365069, -115.013783 The spring is located at a rest stop pull-out on Highway 3, approximately 11 miles (18 km) southeast of Fernie and 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Elko. It is easily accessible by car. **Coming from Elko (heading northeast toward Fernie):** 1. Travel northeast on Highway 3 from Elko. 2. After approximately 8 miles (13 km), you will pass through the highway tunnel through the mountain. 3. Shortly after exiting the tunnel, look for a rest stop pull-out on the **left** side of the road. 4. You'll see a couple of animal-proof trash bins at the pull-out — the spring is located here, with water flowing from a white pipe emerging from the hillside. **Coming from Fernie (heading southwest toward Elko):** 1. From the turn-off to Fernie Alpine Resort, head southwest on Highway 3 (sometimes locally referred to as Hwy 93 in this corridor). 2. Continue for approximately 11 miles (18 km). 3. Look for a rest stop pull-out on the **right** side of the road. 4. The spring is at this pull-out — look for the white pipe coming out of the hillside. ## What to Expect The spring is located at a well-used highway rest stop, so parking is straightforward — simply pull into the designated pull-out area. The white pipe protruding from the hillside delivers a steady flow of clear, cool water year-round. A wooden plank has been placed on the ground near the pipe to keep your feet out of the mud while you fill up. The area around the rest stop features the rugged, forested scenery of the Elk Valley and the Canadian Rockies, making it a pleasant spot to pause during a drive. Animal-proof trash bins are provided, so please pack out what you pack in and keep the area clean for fellow visitors. Bring your own containers — there are no cups or facilities beyond the trash bins. The spring is right off the highway, so no hiking is required. It's an ideal stop for road-trippers traveling between Cranbrook and Fernie or anyone exploring southeastern British Columbia.