Grouse Mountain
Privately Operated Mountain Resort On The North Shore · North Vancouver, British Columbia
Grouse Mountain rises directly above North Vancouver, about 20 minutes' drive from downtown, and its developed summit area at roughly 1,100 m looks over the city, the harbour and, on clear days, the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island. Most visitors ride the Skyride gondola, which takes a few minutes. The fit climb the Grouse Grind, a steep, stair-like trail of about 2.9 km that gains more than 800 m. At the top are the Eye of the Wind turbine viewing pod, a refuge for rescued grizzly bears and wolves, restaurants and trails. In winter it becomes a ski, snowboard and snowshoe area, and in December the Peak of Christmas runs (confirm). It suits families, first-time visitors and hikers who want a big view without a long drive. It is not cheap, and low cloud often hides the view entirely, so check the summit webcam before paying. The Grind is hard and one way, so decide honestly whether you want the workout. Allow three to five hours, and confirm tickets, Grind status and event dates before you go.
6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7R 4K9, Canada
The Skyride and summit area operate most of the year, generally from morning into the evening, with later hours in busy seasons, and exact times change by season and weather, so confirm on the day. The Grouse Grind is a seasonal trail, usually open from spring to late autumn in daylight and closed in winter and when snow or ice makes it unsafe. Hikers cannot walk down it and normally pay to ride the Skyride back. Winter lifts, night skiing, snowshoe trails and the Peak of Christmas depend on snow and dates set each year. Wildlife refuge viewing and shows run at set times and may change, so confirm schedules and tickets before you travel.