Hiking the Grouse Grind in North Vancouver
Contents
Grouse Grind Hike Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Distance: 2.30Km
Elevation Gain: 780m
Highest Elevation: 1,095m
Average Gradient: 33.90%
Effort/Reward Ratio: High / Low
Time Needed:
– Slow: 1.75 – 2.50 Hours
– Moderate: 1.25 – 1.75 Hours
– Fast: 0.75 – 1.25 Hours
Dogs Permitted?: No
Season: ~May to November
4×4 / High Clearance Required? No
Scrambling / Exposure: None
Grouse Grind Trail
Trailhead Coordinates: 49°22’16.7″N 123°05’54.3″W
Grouse Grind Overview
The Grouse Grind, locally known as simply “the Grind”, is a famous hike in North Vancouver beginning at the base of Grouse Mountain and leading up to the Grouse Mountain Resort. With over 2,800 stairs throughout the hike, the Grouse Grind is Vancouver’s most popular hike, renowned for testing your fitness level, with most people tracking how long it takes for them to complete the hike. For many, completing the hike at all is a badge of honour, but for others the allure is constantly trying to improve their time over a series of ascents.
Indeed, the Grind nowadays is more of a physical test of fitness than it is a hike. There is little to see along the route as it is entirely in the forest, and even the top doesn’t offer much in terms of views when compared to many other, far more scenic hikes in the area. Thankfully Grouse Mountain Resort at the top does offer some entertainment and a nice spot to relax with some food and drinks while enjoying the views.
The Grouse Grind is a one-way trip, you cannot hike back down the trail. In order to descend, hikers will either need to follow the BCMC trail down, or they can pay for a download ticket on the gondola. Once at the top there are a number of other options should hikers want to reach an actual summit, such as Crown Mountain, Goat Mountain, Dam Mountain or Thunderbird Ridge, to name some.
The Grind is only open seasonally once the snowline has receded to a level deemed safe, usually at the end of May. In the winter the Grind is closed as the trail is so steep and icy that it’s not safe for hiking. A winter alternative is the BCMC trail which usually remains open.
The fastest Grouse Grind record at the time of writing is 23:48 set by Sebastian Salas, while the fastest female time is 29:10 by Madison Sands. The most Grinds in one day stands at an incredible 19, set by Wilfrid LeBlanc. The most Grinds of all time is also tracked, with many people having completed it thousands of times over their lifetime.
Dogs are not permitted on the Grouse Grind or at the Grouse Mountain Resort at the top.
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Is the Grouse Grind worthwhile?
As a hike there isn’t a lot to like about the Grouse Grind. The entire hike is in the forest with no views whatsoever. Even once you reach the top the views are pretty modest, and hikers would need to continue to more interesting objectives for it to be worthwhile, such as Crown or Goat Mountain. This is more of a fitness test than an enjoyable hike, so don’t expect to enjoy it for its reward at the top.
How difficult is the Grouse Grind?
With over 30% average gradient the Grouse Grind is a steep, relentless and physically demanding hike. There are no flat sections anywhere along the trail, you are climbing steeply the entire time. That being said, it’s also a short hike at just 2.30km, so while it is certainly difficult, it will usually be over quickly.
Technically the hike is very straightforward as it has received a lot of maintenance over the years due to its popularity. Much of the trail has in-built steps, whether wooden or rock, and any sections that don’t are still straightforward enough so as not to cause any issues. There are some sections where the steps are quite tall, which can prove challenging for shorter people. This trail is hiked by all age ranges, whether young children or (fit) seniors over the age of 80.
How long does the Grouse Grind take?
Fit hikers will typically finish the Grind somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour, with lesser experienced hikers likely finishing somewhere between 1 – 1.5 hours. Unfit parties can feasibly take over 2 hours. While you may see times in the 30 minute range, these are typically from elite level athletes and trail runners.
Grouse Grind Route Information
The Grouse Grind trail begins at the very end of Nancy Greene Way in North Vancouver. There is a lot of paid parking here thanks to the gondola, and also a small amount of free street parking along the road. The free parking usually fills up very early due to the popularity of the trail. Many parties will begin their hike at the crack of dawn as a way to start the day and avoid the heat in the summer.
The trailhead is before the gondola itself on the right side of the road (if you’re walking uphill). If you reach the gondola you’ve gone beyond it. There will be plenty of signage at the trailhead with information about the hike, you will also likely see people hanging around for other members of their party, or perhaps stretching before the climb begins.
After you pass through the gate the hike begins in earnest, and you’ll want to take a left turn at the junction that you immediately reach (right will lead to the BCMC trail). The first couple of hundred meters warm you up a little as the gradient is fairly mellow, and you’ll soon pass by a connecting trail that leads back to the BCMC trail, just ignore this.
After this junction there is only one way to go, up. The trail is predominantly made up of wooden steps, rocks, roots and dirt throughout. After around 1 km of hiking you’ll reach the ¼ mark.
Each quarter of the hike is clearly signposted to allow hikers to know how far they’ve come (and how far they’ve got left), however the first ¼ seems to be the longest. In reality this is more like the ⅓ mark, so don’t be too discouraged if you felt like it took a long time to get here as the next sections should be a little quicker. Take heed of the warnings though, if you are really feeling beyond your limit at this stage, or you’ve already ran out of water, consider turning back as it only gets harder up ahead.
The remainder of the hike is largely the same as the first ¼, it’s merely a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. There is the odd small bench here and there for hikers to take a break if needed, but if you’re aiming for a fast time you’ll want to keep breaks to a minimum.
As you near the end of the hike you’ll reach some rockier sections and larger steps. Once at the top you can walk towards the chalet, up a set of wooden stairs and into the entrance. Inside you can purchase a download ticket for the gondola if needed, or grab some food/drink and enjoy the resort’s activities.
If you are continuing to hike beyond the Grouse Grind you’ll exit the main entrance of the chalet and continue along the maintained trails. Otherwise you can exit via the gondola or by hiking down the BCMC trail.
When should I hike Grouse Grind?
The Grouse Grind is generally closed during most of winter and spring due to snow at higher elevations making the trail hazardous. Opening dates vary, but typically the trail will be opened once the snowline has receded to a level deemed safe. Historically this has usually been the end of May, with the trail closing again once the snow returns, typically in November.
Top Tips
Keep moving! If you want to set your best time I would suggest taking as few breaks as possible, even if that means moving at a snail’s pace.
Step aside! If you are moving slowly and people are taking over you, step to one side and let them pass. Most people here are trying to set their best time, they do not want to be stuck behind someone slowing them down.
Start early! In the middle of summer it can be hot in the city. While the Grouse Grind benefits from being shaded the entire time, it’s still much easier to complete this hike in the early morning than the late afternoon.
Be prepared! Conditions at the bottom can be very different to the top, especially in the shoulder seasons. Pack layers & bring plenty of water and snacks to keep you going.
If you want an easier route up to the top, consider taking the BCMC trail, which begins and ends in the same place but is less steep.
