Only a short fifteen-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, the Grouse Grind is undoubtedly one of the busiest hiking trails in the Vancouver area. Situated on Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver, British Columbia, the trail originated in the early 1980s as an alternate to the British Columbia Mountaineer Club trail. It was primarily used as a training hike for Vancouver mountaineers and backpackers preparing for longer trips or simply looking for a convenient way to stay in shape. The popularity of the trail really exploded during the 1990s and it was around that time that the trail was renamed the Grouse Grind.
Characteristics of the Grouse Grind Trail
Ask any local Vancouver hiker about the Grouse Grind and they will tell you that it is either one of the best hikes or one of the worst hikes in the Vancouver coastal mountain area. This ambivalence stems from the spoils the summit has to offer versus what a hiker must endure to enjoy to those spoils.
This trail has the odd combination of being extremely steep yet clearly marked and manicured. In fact, some sections of the trail are basically landscaping installations that look more than a little out of place in the middle of a coastal forest but are quite necessary to help ease the increased erosion from the 100,000-plus hikers who use the trail every year.
From the base of the mountain at 274 metres (900 feet) above sea level, the "Grind" climbs aggressively to its summit at 1,127 metres (3,700 feet) in just 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles). This 853 metres (2,800 feet) of relentless vertical hiking requires zero technical climbing skill but instead draws heavily upon the stamina and physical fitness of the hiker – hence its nickname "Mother Nature’s Stairmaster". It is no surprise that this naturally occurring Stairmaster attracts Vancouver’s outdoor fitness crowd – who commonly compete for the fastest completion time (both unofficially, after work and on weekends, and officially, at an annual race that takes place in the fall). The average hiker will require an hour and a half to reach the summit, while the record for fastest ascent sits at just over 24 minutes.
View from the Top of the Grouse Grind
Although there are few viewpoints on the trail itself, once the summit is attained, the hiker is greeted with some truly amazing panoramic vistas. On a clear day, the summit of Grouse Mountain offers up superb views of the entire Lower Mainland as well as Vancouver Island to the west and the snow-capped Mount Baker to the south.
Adding to the spectacular nature of these views is the fact that they can be enjoyed from the patio of a multi-level chalet that houses no less than three restaurants, a bar, and a cinema dedicated to the natural wonder of Grouse Mountain and the province of British Columbia.
Further Information on the Grouse Grind
- A gondola frequently runs up and down the mountain – ideal for the tourist who does not want to hike up or the hikers who do not want to bother with the hike down.
- The trail is open from dawn to dusk and is seasonal – first opening when the snow melts (usually in late May or early June) and closing for the year in late October or early November.
- For more details on Grouse Mountain.
- Tips on how to lower your time on the Grouse Grind.
- The Stawamus Chief – hike the alternate to the Grind.
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