Grouse Mountain: The Peak of Vancouver
The Grouse Mountain Skyride offers spectacular vistas as it transports you to a summit playground with year-round activities and dining.
Known as "The Peak of Vancouver," Grouse Mountain is a four-season destination offering a wealth of activities and some of the most stunning views of the city, sea, and surrounding mountains. Whether you ride the scenic Skyride gondola or conquer the infamous Grouse Grind trail, a day spent here is a quintessential Vancouver experience.
Why Visit Grouse Mountain?
- Unbeatable Views: From over 1,200 metres (4,000 ft) above the city, enjoy panoramic views that stretch to Vancouver Island and Mount Baker on clear days.
- Year-Round Activities: From skiing and snowshoeing in winter to grizzly bear viewing and lumberjack shows in summer, there's always something to do.
- Grizzly Bear Refuge: Visit Grinder and Coola, two resident grizzly bears, at their five-acre mountaintop habitat.
- The Grouse Grind: For the physically fit, "Mother Nature's Stairmaster" is a challenging but rewarding 2.9 km hike straight up the mountain.
What to See & Do (Summer)
- Ride the Skyride: Enjoy the breathtaking 8-minute gondola ride to the summit.
- Visit the Grizzly Bears: Learn about Grinder and Coola from park rangers.
- World-Famous Lumberjack Show: A fun and entertaining show featuring log rolling, axe throwing, and pole climbing.
- Birds in Motion Demonstration: See magnificent birds of prey in free flight.
- Peak Chairlift: Ride the scenic chairlift for even higher views.
What to See & Do (Winter)
- Skiing & Snowboarding: Enjoy night skiing with incredible views of the city lights.
- Peak of Christmas Festival: A magical holiday event with a skating pond, sleigh rides, and Santa's workshop.
- Snowshoeing: Explore a network of trails through a winter wonderland.
- Light Walk: Stroll through a beautiful tunnel of lights near the skating pond.
Food & Drink Options
- The Observatory: Fine dining with an award-winning menu and spectacular views (reservations recommended).
- Altitudes Bistro: A more casual spot with a large patio, perfect for a post-hike meal or drink.
- Lupins Cafe & Grizzly Lookout Cafe: Quick-service options for coffee, snacks, and casual meals.
Pro Tips & Local Insights
- Hike the Grind: If you're fit, hiking the Grouse Grind is a classic Vancouver challenge. You only need to pay for the download ticket on the Skyride. Be sure to bring water and wear proper hiking shoes.
- Stay for Sunset: The view as the sun sets and the city lights begin to twinkle is unforgettable.
- Book Dining in Advance: If you plan to eat at The Observatory, making a reservation is essential, especially on weekends. Your dinner reservation includes complimentary Skyride access.
Nearby Attractions (Transit-Friendly)
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: Located just down the road, accessible via the #236 bus.
- Cleveland Dam: A free attraction with stunning canyon views, also on the #236 bus route.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes.Grouse Mountain Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9, Canada
Phone: (604) 980-9311
Official Website: Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
We were visiting BC from the Prairies, so a gondola ride was a must! Picking one was tricky though — they all seemed a bit overpriced. We ended up choosing Grouse Mountain because of their discounted evening ticket, which felt like a good way to experience the views without breaking the bank.
As expected, most of the daytime activities were closed by then, but they looked fun and worth checking out if you come earlier in the day.
The ride up on the smaller gondola was smooth and enjoyable. The ride down on the larger Skyride, however, was a bit of a letdown — it was crowded, and we had to wait quite a while for it to fill before it departed.
That said, the evening walk around the top was beautiful. There was lots to see, and we were lucky enough to spot deer just roaming around — and the bears were super cool to see up close!
Even without all the attractions running, it was a great experience overall. Worth it for the views and wildlife alone.
Helena N - in the last week
Grouse Mountain was such a great experience! The Skyride up is amazing — the view of Vancouver and the ocean is unreal. There was also a really fun show that made the visit even better. I saw the grizzly bears, walked the trails, and just enjoyed the fresh air. Everything felt so peaceful and beautiful. Totally worth the trip, and I’d definitely go again!
Aref Emamian - in the last week
I visited Grouse Mountain National Park recently, and it turned into quite an unexpected adventure. The day started with an unplanned downpour, heavy rain combined with poor visibility and strong winds meant most of the attractions were closed. Honestly, they should have halted ticket sales on a day like this, because literally everything was shut except for a few core offerings.
When I arrived, only the gondola was operational, which thankfully gave some beautiful views despite the fog. The main restaurant was open, and I did get to see the bears in their enclosure, which was a highlight. The rest of the activities and shows — the lumberjack show stage, zipline, hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, wildlife talks, and chairlifts were closed due to weather conditions. Even the secondary eateries and shops were shuttered.
One important tip: check the weather forecast before visiting. Grouse Mountain offers a range of outdoor experiences, but rain and wind can shut down almost all of them. On a clear day, you can easily spend 3–4 hours exploring everything from hiking trails to ziplining, grizzly bear viewing, dining, and panoramic mountain scenery. I just wish they had been more upfront about the closures instead of charging full price.
Parking isn’t free, so plan for that in your budget. Even with the closures and weather challenges, riding the gondola up and seeing the bears made it a memorable trip. On a sunny day, I’m sure it would be absolutely spectacular.
** They have Starbucks on site
** During rain, Gondola glass gets foggy and drops don’t slide down - there’s literally no visibility to the scenery outside.
Vijay Thakkar - in the last week
Great (and challenging) hike up, but well worth the effort. Awesome views at the top. Check out the grizzly refuge, and if lucky see some colourful local birds. If you hike up the return gondola is only $25, compared to $87 for mountain admission (non resident)
Andre S - a week ago
Great moderate hike. It’s essentially a couple miles of stairs but that makes for a great workout. I drank a couple bottles of water (1.5 l). I saw a guy who looked in distress and gave him some water. There’s also a water station in the gondola center. Very nice views on top. It’s a one way hike. You have to take a different route down or the gondola down. You can get gondola tickets at a discount online. Nice views on top. There’s also a couple of bears you can check out and a zip line. Best to make an appointment for the zip line.
Max Soi - a week ago
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Directions
| Skytrain, SeaBus and Bus Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Expo or Canada Line | Waterfront Station | 1 Minute |
How to get to Grouse Mountain by Skytrain, SeaBus and Bus
Free Shuttle (Summer): The easiest way to get there. Grouse Mountain operates a free shuttle from Canada Place in downtown Vancouver during the summer months. Check the official website for the current schedule.
By Public Transit: From Waterfront Station, take the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay. At the Lonsdale Quay bus loop, find Bay 6 and catch the #236 Grouse Mountain bus. Take it to the last stop, which is the base of the Skyride gondola.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Grouse Mountain:
Photo Gallery
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Enjoying spectacular views of the city along with winter sports on top of Grouse Mountain cc licensed photo by Mafue -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Vince Alongi - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: hugh llewelyn - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Dennis S. Hurd - cc license via Flickr

