North Vancouver’s Grouse Grind

North Vancouvers’ Grouse Grind Trail is one of the most popular attractions in the Vancouver area. The Globe and Mail’s recent article shines even more attention on this giant stair stepper. Read about it and other activities in the Vancouver area in the Vancouver Airport eguide.

The best time to hike this trail is early in the morning when the air is cool and the crowds have yet to materialize. You can park in the dirt parking lot off of Capilano Road (at the top immediately east of Capilano Road) free of charge but anywhere on pavement will cost you money. Bring water, a sweater in cooler weather, and $10 or a credit card so you can buy a downloading ticket in the main building at the top. Otherwise you’ll have to walk down which isn’t recommended.

Opening hours change according to light conditions. In the summer the trail is usually open from 6:30 am until 7:30pm. This means that you can still start up the hill at 7:30pm but after that, the gates are locked. They have people sweep the hill every night for stragglers and those in difficulty.

Once at the top you can shop, enjoy refreshments, wander over to see a birds of prey demonstration or perhaps take in the lumberjack show. There are also more trails off of the top of the mountain but come prepared if you want to go further.

There are hikers that become obsessed with this mountain – hiking it everyday to the exclusion of anything else, probably for the reward at the top of a fantastic view mixed with a full dose of happy hormones. It’s really not a visually interesting hike until you finish but there is lots to be said for enjoying the mix of cultures and languages evidenced in the cross section of hikers, the testosterone at work as people race by (that rarely lasts for even a quarter of the way) and the friendliness and camraderie which is much in evidence on the trail.

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