Grouse Mountain: The Peak of Vancouver

If you want solid snowboarding without driving hours out of the city, Grouse is clutch. It’s literally 20–25 minutes from downtown Vancouver, so you can finish work or class and still squeeze in a few laps. Terrain: It’s not massive like Whistler, but it’s perfect for quick sessions. Good mix of green and blue runs, and enough blacks to keep things interesting. The terrain park is decent too, fun features to mess around on without feeling overwhelming. Night riding: Lowkey the best part. Night snowboarding here hits different. The lights, the city view in the background, that cold crisp air, it’s a whole vibe. Snow conditions: Since it’s local, conditions can vary. After a fresh dump? Unreal. If it’s been warm or rainy, you’ll feel it. That’s just coastal BC life. Crowds: Weekends get busy, especially when it snows. Weekday evenings are way more chill if you can make that work. Overall: Grouse isn’t about huge alpine bowls or insane backcountry lines. It’s about convenience, quick progression, and riding with one of the best city views in the world. For Vancouver locals, it’s honestly a no-brainer season pass. If you’re leveling up your riding and just want consistent laps without the road trip, Grouse gets the job done.
Srijan Karki - a month ago

We love the pacific sunset up in the Grouse woods. Our first time going up is the grouse grind then next was New Year’s Eve. We think their winter annual pass is a great deal. Haven’t tried the food in the restaurants yet because it’s the fun outdoors in the snow is our goal. The totems artistic carvings are my favourite. We had fun goofing around making fun when we got tired of our summer hike, it’s worth the grind! We’re going up there all year round when the weather is nice 🥰 kudos to all the hardworking staffs specially those who maintain the washrooms, you’re the best!
Maria Janaica De las Alas - 2 months ago

Completing the Grouse Grind at Grouse Mountain is such a satisfying and memorable experience! The trail is in excellent condition, with plenty of grooming and well-built stairs that make the ascent challenging but manageable. It has changed so much since I was a kid—back then it felt like a rugged forest trail, but now it’s clearly maintained with hikers in mind while still preserving the natural beauty. I hadn’t planned on timing myself, but it quickly turned into a friendly race within our group, which made the climb even more fun and motivating. The trail itself is gorgeous, surrounded by lush forest and the feeling of being tucked right into the mountains. Nothing beats the moment you finally spot the chalet at the top—it’s the ultimate reward after such a tough climb! And knowing that you get to take the gondola down instead of hiking back is the perfect ending to the experience. Overall, the Grouse Grind is a must-do for anyone visiting Vancouver or looking for a challenging outdoor adventure. It’s tough, beautiful, and incredibly rewarding. I’ll definitely be back!
TCD - 4 months ago

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 - 6 months ago

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 - 6 months ago