Summer on Grouse Mountain
“Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.” -Henry David Thoreau
Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain is a four season tourist destination located 15 minutes from Vancouver. It is one of the North Shore Mountains in North Vancouver and is Vancouver’s most popular attraction receiving more than 1.2 million visitors each year. Grouse Mountain is open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM 365 days a year.
In October 1894, Grouse Mountain was named by the first recorded hiking party after they hunted blue grouse on its alpine slopes. At that time, climbing Grouse Mountain was a three or four day journey, as there was no bridge across Burrard Inlet and no road to the base. Hikers had to trek over rocks and through dense forest to ascend the summit. Word of the first ascent spread and Grouse Mountain attracted hundreds of hikers. Among them were Don and Phyllis Munday who built the first log cabin on the mountain. The Munday Alpine Snowpark is named in their honour.
In the summer, the mountain features the Birds in Motion and Lumberjack shows, heli and hiking tours, paragliding, ziplines, summer camps, the Theatre in the Sky, wildlife refuge and a 2.9 kilometre hiking trail known as the Grouse Grind.
Birds in Motion
The Birds in Motion demonstration features two Great Horned Owls, Toba and baby Mortimer, and Barn Owls, Sylvan and Tyto. Birds in Motion also features a Lanner Falcon, a Red-Tailed Hawk, a Harris Hawk, a Turkey Vulture and Bald Eagle.
Demonstrations are given daily at 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM from late May to mid September. Birds in Motion is included in the price of an Alpine Experience ticket.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see these magnificent birds up close!
Bald Eagle
Great Horned Owl
Turkey Vulture
Eye of the Wind
The Eye of the Wind is the world’s first wind turbine with a glass viewPOD™ at the top of the tower. This vantage point gives visitors a 360-degree view of Metro Vancouver and the North Shore Mountains.
Grouse Mountain Skyride
The Grouse Mountain Skyride is North America’s largest aerial tram system. The Swiss Garaventa tram takes visitors on a one-mile aerial journey to the Alpine Station, 1,127 metres (3,700 feet) above sea level where stunning views of the city, sea and surrounding mountains can be seen.
Paragliding
Grouse Mountain offers tandem paragliding flights from late June to early September. Flights launch from the peak of Grouse Mountain and land in Cleveland Park for an elevation drop of 1,005 metres (3,300 feet).
Peak Chairlift
The Peak Chairlift soars to 1,249 metres (4,100 feet) above sea level transporting riders to the summit and a spectacular view of Metro Vancouver and the Pacific Ocean. The mountain has four chairlifts and 26 runs, including 13 night runs.
Ziplines
The mountain’s dual-line, five-line circuit reaches speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour. This thrilling tour with lines that are up to 70 metres high offers a breathtaking view of Grouse and Dam Mountains. The tour lasts approximately two hours and can be booked as an individual or as a group. Visit Grouse Mountain’s website for hours of operation, rates and additional tour details.
Getting There
Grouse Mountain provides a free shuttle service to the mountain with the purchase of an admission ticket. The shuttle departs daily from Canada Place in downtown Vancouver in the summer.
BC Transit provides regular bus service to and from the base of Grouse Mountain every half hour. In North Vancouver, take Bus 232 at Phibbs Exchange or Bus 236 at Lonsdale Quay to Grouse Mountain.
For travel from Vancouver, take the SeaBus from Waterfront Station SeaBus Terminal to the Charles A Spratt SeaBus Terminal at Lonsdale Quay and then take Bus 236 to Grouse Mountain. For more information, visit translink.ca.
For travel by car from Vancouver, follow Georgia Street through Stanley Park and across the Lion’s Gate Bridge, then take the North Vancouver exit to Marine Drive and turn left on Capilano Road. Proceed north on Capilano Road for five kilometres (three miles).
That is such a outdoor fun place to visit! Great post, Patricia!
Thanks Amy, Grouse Mountain is a fantastic place. It definitely is a favourite!
You must have so much fun doing all these things in such a wonderfully active place!
I do Annie, it’s great being a tourist in your own backyard. The beautiful west coast has so much to offer. This summer is going to be such fun!