Grouse Grind near Vancouver (24.10.2019)

© Helwig Hauser

© Helwig Hauser

Note that this track has been created from memory, i.e., it was not recorded automatically.

Trip Summary

Being in Vancouver, Canada, one certainly feels invited to do at least one hike and a good start is to do the Grouse Grind Trail, which leads steeply upwards from the parking lot at the lower station of the cable car "Grouse Mountain Skyride", not far from Capilano Lake. The Grouse Grind web page mentions that you make approximately 850 height-meters (in less than 3 kilometers of length) and that this is done over more than 2800 stairs! Clearly, if you push than this ascent is a good exercise (and many do that, according to the web page). The trail is well marked and in a regular spacing, the hiker/runner is informed about the progress managed so far. Once at the upper end of the Ground Grind Trail, one reaches the upper station of the cable car. Since it is not allowed to go the Grouse Grind Trail down, most hikers/runners take the cable car down from here. Instead of doing this at once, however, we first included a little detour to the actual top of Grouse Mountain, not far from the cable car. While walking there, we came by the Grizzly Habitat and indeed saw two majestic bears (behind the fence)! Very, very impressive! We then ascended to Grouse Mountain over one of the downhill slopes up there (Grouse Mountain is a skiing resort in winter!). Our way back brought us then by the Eye of the Wind, a large wind mill with a viewing platform high up on it (the platform was closed, though). We then walked back to the cable car and took it down, as intended.

Photos

Selected photos are available as Google photo album.

Useful Resources

See also the related FB-page Hiking around Bergen, Norway and the web page of the Grouse Grind Trail.
Web page Vancouver Hiking Trail Guides offers rich information about hiking opportunities near Vancouver.