Grouse Mountain — Attraction in District of North Vancouver

We arrived here, having pre-booked well in advance, on a very wet cold day with 10 degrees Celsius temperatures and very foggy. Despite this, we decided to take advantage of everything and see as much as we could: the downside was that even on such a rainy day, there were still queues with school kids which delayed greatly our arrival at the summit you have to take your printed page to the reception area located near the many car parks they have here and exchange it for the tickets, which had another long queue. There is a Starbucks here besides toilet facilities at the summit there is a large cabana housing several eateries/toilets/shops etc besides several shows you have to check the timing in order to see as much as you can we took a map and noticed the school kids were ready for Zips and ropes circuit while we went to see the sleepy bears, then went to the Birds of prey talk, which was very informative, ending with the amazing Lumberjack show the Lumberjack show is truly entertaining and I applaud the 2 guys falling in the cold water, besides the narrator and the DJ: their effort was truly appreciated especially by the large group of screaming kids while bringing lots of smiles to the rest of the people. Personally I have never seen anything like that, with the earliest memory of anything related being a movie made in the 1950's I kept seeing over and over again as I was growing up: Seven brothers for seven sisters we decided to have our lunch at one of their restaurant, Altitude bistro, which is not a cafe but a proper restaurant where you wait to be seated, if you want, near the fire or elsewhere. I saw a terrace there which would be great when the weather is fine. Guess, what large families decided to ignore the 'wait to be seated' signs while positioning themselves at tables and starting to eat their food they brought from home, ordering only water from the restaurant? I guess the 'civilisation' is lost on this people, as I could see 2 such large families doing this while the staff did not say anything probably because led to terrible arguments in the past. Not good. Disgusted, we left the area trying to remember only positive things from here while thanking the...

Grouse Mountain Trail is truly one of the gems of British Columbia and an absolute must for anyone who loves hiking, nature, or simply breathtaking views. I’ve hiked this trail several times now, and each experience has been memorable in its own way. Whether you’re a local or visiting from out of town, this trail offers a great challenge with an incredible payoff at the top.

The trail itself — often referred to as the Grouse Grind — is known for being steep and demanding, but that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. It’s definitely not a casual stroll; it’s a workout and a test of endurance. You’ll be climbing nearly 2,800 steps over a relatively short distance, so be prepared to break a sweat. That said, the path is well-maintained and clearly marked, making it easy to follow even for first-timers. The signage along the way also lets you track your progress, which is a nice motivator as you ascend.

What sets this trail apart is the destination. Reaching the top of Grouse Mountain feels like a true accomplishment, and you’re greeted with absolutely stunning panoramic views of Vancouver, the Pacific Ocean, and beyond. On a clear day, it’s truly breathtaking. Once at the summit, there’s so much to do — from dining and enjoying a cold drink, to visiting the wildlife refuge, seeing the grizzly bears, or catching one of the lumberjack shows. There’s also a gondola ride available for the way back down, which is a relaxing and scenic way to end your hike.

Another bonus is that the trail is accessible most of the year, although it’s best hiked in the warmer months when conditions are dry. It can get crowded, especially on weekends, so going early in the morning or on weekdays is ideal for a more peaceful climb. Bring plenty of water, wear good shoes with grip, and pace yourself — it’s not a race unless you want it to be!

Overall, Grouse Mountain Trail is an iconic Vancouver experience. It’s tough, but it’s also incredibly satisfying. The combination of physical challenge, natural beauty, and the variety of activities at the top makes it well worth the effort. I’ll definitely keep coming back — five stars...

We visited the afternoon Saturday 13/9/25

THE POSITIVES Grouse Mountain itself is lovely. We enjoyed the owl presentation by Diego, it was quite entertaining.

THE NEGATIVES When the bear presentation was on, something we were especially looking forward to, it was very difficult to hear the presenter unless you were within a 10m range. There was loud music playing near the chairlift which was quite unnecessary. That left us feeling a little disappointed.

Ticketing -We had a voucher through a tour company which we then had to transfer to tickets on arrival. A queue of about 25-30 people took approx 20 minutes - a procedure that did not seem very efficient to just get a ticket to ride the gondola.

Bistro service was very ordinary. As international visitors we have loved the friendliness and service we have received during our trip. Unfortunately it was very lack lustre at the bistro, no smiles present from any staff.

Shuttle bus -on return was very ordinary. We waited from 5.15pm, the schedule said that there were meant to be buses at 5.40pm and 6.10pm. The bus turned up at 6.10pm, there was a large queue of people with no staff there to organise a queue. Once the bus parked there was a chaotic panic of people trying to get on the bus, with some people turned away. People that had been waiting the longest were pushed out of the way by people that were at the other end of our makeshift queue, it was a disgusting way to end our day.

I hope that management take all this feedback onboard to prevent future incidents...