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Grouse Mountain
Category: Hotels & Travel Ski Resorts Ski Resorts [Edit]
6400 Nancy Greene WayNorth Vancouver, BC V7R 4K9
(604) 980-9311
63 reviews for Grouse Mountain
63 reviews in English
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Review from Deanna S.
4/24/2012 1 photo
I moved to downtown Vancouver from Edmonton, Alberta. For that reason, I may be extremely biased when it comes to Grouse Mountain...
Where I come from, the best local ski hill (Rabbit Hill) is actually just a hill. A run doesn't last more than like 15 seconds. With that said, I was SO STOKED to move to Vancouver where a legitimate mountain is only a bus ride away.
From my apartment, I can take the Skytrain, transfer to the SeaBus, and then take a bus to Grouse Mountain all in under an hour.
What makes Grouse so great, is that it has a fantastic view overlooking the city, and more to do here than just ski/snowboard (check out their website!).
The downside? Price. It cost me about $60 for the gondola ride and lift ticket. While this is definitely less than Whistler or Banff... it's kind of pricey considering how small Grouse is. I only found one good run to go on over and over again (which gets pretty boring after about 5x). As a snowboarder, I can't do moguls which pretty much eliminates anything other than the green and blue runs. I don't do park either... so that was out of the question for me also.
This is a great resort considering that it is right in our backyard. But seeing how close we are to Whistler, it might be worth it to take a day trip out there for a few extra dollars than to do Grouse. -
Review from John J.
Vancouver, BC
4/13/2012
Whether it was enjoying a homemade sandwich behind the terminal building in the sunshine;
watching the wonderful view on the cable car ride up the mount,
or taking in the wonderful panoramic vista of Vancouver City, from above.
This was a captivating experience and thoroughly enjoyable day's outing. -
Review from Laura P.
3/5/2012
Yes, the tram is expensive. Better plan on spending a good part of the day to get your money's worth! Of course the cafeteria at the top of the tram was packed. At 2:30 pm on a Saturday there were 30 people in line for hot food. Seriously?! $5 for a slice of pizza, $10 for a small bowl of pesto pasta. Bah. I did like my spinach salad with Asian noodles that I got from the cold case, thus bypassing the horrible line. They even had only one poor cashier at the time, meanwhile there were 5 idle people at the nearby guest services desk. Nice management.
Loved the snow cat sled ride to the magic carpet. The little bug had a great time ice skating as well. The rink was not well utilized, which made it feel super spacious! A great winter experience for her, with snowshoers trudging by and a fire pit going.
A tip is to follow the pushy employees on the tram. Spot them by their Grouse gear or badges. They will walk right by you and cut you off in the line because they probably can't deal with the masses. However, if you follow where they are placed on the tram platform, you stand a good chance of getting a better position when the door opens. The little kids with season passes will just plow over you to get the few bench seats. I haven't seen such a clamor for seats since our days on the East Coast! -
Review from Ayaka H.
3/13/2012
If you are in Vancouver, I highly recommend skiing on Grouse Mountain. If not you are really missing out. Coming here for the stunning view is worth it. However the cafeteria is absolutely terrible! I advise eating at the restaurant instead.
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Review from Stephene C.
Vancouver, BC
2/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
So lucky to have this mountain as our backdrop here in Vancouver! It may not be the best mountain, the biggest or have the most runs, but that fact that it's right in our backyard is great! Even the infamous grouse grind is awesome (I cringe slightly when I say that). The wild life sanctuaries for the bears and the wolves is cool too, not to mention grouse mountains natural beauty.
I recently went snowboarding here, which I haven't done at grouse mountain in over 5 years probably. It was insanely busy, but still fun as heck. I'll definitely come again before the seasons comes to an end.
Wow I feel like I wrote a tourism ad for grouse mountain.
I do think they should consider adding more eco tourism type facilities to it.
St3Fin -
Review from Hilda L.
10/25/2011
I never did meet that boy who would take me to the Gallery Café at VAG (http://www.yelp.ca/biz... /end shameless plug) but Grouse Mountain might be a close second on the romantic scale.
I love the gondola ride up. Ascending the mountain as you catch a breathtaking view of the city behind you is something Vancouverites take for granted. Not many metropolitan cities have mountains, lucious forests and water so close by. Too bad this ride is shared with many others...some are pushy as they try to snag a good spot by the windows.
When there's no snow, there's not much to do once you get up here. Still, this is the first time I caught the Lumberjack show. I honestly would never even consider watching it if not for the rave review given by my escort. Even with high expectations I was impressed. Yes it was cheesy (don't forget they're targeting family tourists, often with young kids) but I enjoyed myself nonetheless.
The chairlifts to the higher peak is free. Much slower pace than the gondola and shared with another couple only if they're busy, this ride is magical. I'm not afraid of heights but it still makes my heart skip a beat sometimes.
Why isn't there a pub up here?? We wanted to grab some beers to wait out the long gondola line to descend* but we had to settle for bottle beers at the cafe for $6 a pop. Lots of people were ordering the poutine; tried it, wasn't impressed.
I can't wait to come back when there's snow for some skating & snow-shoeing :]
*pro-tip: time your departure just before or wait 45min after the end of the last lumberjack show -
Review from Ira J.
9/16/2011 9 photos
I'm like Lewis and Clark; or like Lewis or Clark; or maybe like Lewis and/or Clark... damn! This is awkward. Let me start over:
I'm like Henry Hudson. I like to explore. I want to see what's over the next hill, or what's at the end of the road. Usually, it's more than a want. I NEED to see what's at the end of the road. More often than not when I get there, it's a disappointment. Sometimes it's trouble. But occasionally (this is what makes it worth it) it's astounding!
That's how we found Grouse Mountain, and it was astounding! As we departed Capilano Suspension Bridge, I turned right out of the parking lot instead of left and said, "I wonder what's at the end of the road?"
At the end of the road, we found a gondola and it was going up. So now, my inner Henry Hudson was asking, "What's at the top of the gondola?" For $40 each, we were about to find out.
The price of admission includes more than just a ride up and down the mountain. There is a whole collection of included attractions at the top including grizzly bears, birds of prey, a lumber jack show, and most importantly, a chair lift to take you even farther up the mountain! At this point, my wife, had her nose buried in the guide we were given. She was figuring out how we could catch all the shows and see everything else. I'm thinking, "Whatever... as long as I get to see what's at the top of that chair lift."
I did, and it too was astounding. The views were unbelievable! You couldn't see the whole World from up there, but I believe you could see all of the picturesque parts.
We didn't catch all the shows, but we did catch their spectacular birds of prey show called 'Birds in Motion.' We got to get up close and personal with some remarkable birds. So close that an owl with a 6' wingspan whacked me in the head with his wing as he flew over! That was a pretty cool experience!
At the end of the day, both my inner Henry Hudson and I were satisfied with Grouse Mountain.Listed in: Pacific NW Road Trip 2011
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Review from Sean L.
12/29/2011
Great place! I learned to ski here, and the instructor was very friendly, helpful, and efficient. I learned in no time.
I advise this place for more intermediate riders, because there is only one truly novice run ("The Cut"), which is by far the most populated run on the mountain. Not to worry, though - the trail is very, very large.
However, this place is a heaven for intermediate & advanced riders. There are various blue-level trails on the backside, as well as the famous "Peak" run. Black diamond runs are aplenty too. They are not as crowded, and the lifts have very little (if any) wait time.
I like here because it provides night time riding. You can get some beautiful, breathtaking views of Vancouver at night as you ride down the Cut. The metropolitan panorama at its finest...
There are excellent food available in the lodge!
You can also visit here in the summertime for the view as well.
Recommend +1! -
Review from Mike S.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011
I'm from the east coast in the states so for me, the scenery here is incredible! The zip line was truly amazing - an overused word definitely, but really amazing nonetheless.
I would have given it a 5 star but evidently this is the end of the season so the larger gondola's were not in use which resulted standing in line for a long, long 2.5 hrs! SUCKED!!
I digress... Excluding the lift wait it was a great experience and would strongly recommend... -
Review from S C.
9/14/2011 4 photos
Wow what an experience....my boyfriend and I got to the mountain in the afternoon just in time to see the activities and the wonderful sunset....can't wait to go back and actually have the opportunity to ski.
Great place......!!! -
Review from Allan-ester D.
Vancouver, BC
4/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
getting pumped for the grind to open...my heart has the most amazing work out climbing the grind :)
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Review from Peter S.
8/9/2011 1 photo
Spent a day last month up on grouse with the Variety Kids crew.
We all enjoyed the peak chair ride up to the incredible view.
However, the $16.72 price tag for the windmill is just nuts. We charmed our way up, and the view was sweet. But not $17 sweet. You get the same view from atop the peak chair. So hang onto your 2nies kids.
The lumber jack show was good fun, and the grizzlies made an appearance for a morning carrot snack. All in all a good day in the sun.
Heard they jacked up the price for the one way down post Grind gondola to $10. Boooo -
Review from Eva Z.
9/14/2011
What a fantastic way to spend the afternoon. If you're taking the gondola up it's quite pricey at $39 per adult. MAKE SURE to redeem your money in full at the OBSERVATORY fine dining restaurant (no dress code necessary) Their entrees are $39. You MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS. But it's worth the while, the view especially at night is lovely. (Make sure you get your food cooked to your liking, NOT the chefs recommendation, otherwise it will be served raw whether it's fish or meat).
Don't miss the wolf exhibit by the parking lot, nor the grizzly exhibit up on top of the mountain. -
Review from Larry L.
7/28/2011
Great views where you can see all of Vancouver and
Relax with friends at the top or after you have enjoyed
Outstanding hiking from the Grouse Grind which
Ultimately gets you thinking about winter and getting in some great
Skiing / Snow boarding during the winter seasons in the day and the night!
Enchanting is what it is, Grouse Mountain. -
Review from Tabatha Anne Y.
Richmond, BC
7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great view and great staff.
On my recent visit we had pre-paid tickets to see the eye of the wind observation deck. It was a miserable day and we couldn't see an inch in front of our noses once we were up the turbine, so we were offered free admission to the windmill the next time we came back. The only thing that sucks about that is that it's very expensive to take the gondola to even get up there. Guess I'll have to try the grind? Ugh!
The only few downsides are how pricey the admission and food and drinks are. Also, once you've been a couple of times you've seen it all. They rarely change the films and the lumberjack and bird shows remain the same year after year. I've never been in the winter though, only late spring and summer so maybe it's a totally different vibe! -
Review from reyz a.
3/5/2011
If you've lived in Vancouver, then you take the wall of mountains to the north for granted. On clear winter nights, you see the patch of white snow lit up like Christmas tree lights on Grouse Mountains facing you-- that's "the Cut", an intermediate-beginner run. When I visit "home" from California, I can't help but stare at that. When you're skiing on the Cut at night, you see the opposite--on clear nights, you see Vancouver at your feet sparkle as you ski. Words can't really describe it.
Grouse Mountain is very iconic. It's a bit touristy and can get very crowded on the weekend-days skiing because it is in the city. Picture San Francisco with 4000ft ski-able mountains where Marin is ala Lake Tahoe-- that's what Vancouver is like in the winter. Mind you, most of the time, Grouse has very very wet snow, but I've experienced night skiing on very cold nights on the traverse between "the Cut" and "Blueberry" when you're stopped by the absolute awe of how the terrain of white snow lit up by flood lights through the trees look like it ought to be on a Christmas card.
It's about $55CDN for a day pass, but I like to ski (old habits from my UBC days when I would ski at night between studies) between 4pm-10pm.
It's a Gondola ride from below. In the summer time, the 2.9km run underneath (the Grouse Grind) can be the absolute StairMaster. If you don't ski, take the ride up and have dinner. -
Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
1/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
The following is only for Grouse Mountain as a ski resort, not for any of the other activities they provide.
While I love the gondola ride and appreciate that it's included in the price of my ski ticket, $55 to ski Grouse is a ripoff. There is very little to choose from in the green and blue range. There was one green run, which was so overcrowded with people learning to ski/snowboard that it actually became rather dangerous to ski down it. Avoiding fallen snowboarders was a bit of an obstacle course. The blue run we took to get to the other chairlift from the main lodge was in terrible condition on the top half; ungroomed, chunks of hard snow scattered around, and random deep holes in the snow. The second half of the run was groomed, so it's puzzling why they left the top half as is.
Several signs on the mountain point in the wrong direction, when there is a proper sign at all. I feel Grouse would really benefit from some usability testing regarding its maps and signs.
There is very little seating in the lodge, and it is not able to cope with high weekend volumes of people. My friend and I (along with at least a few dozen others) had to eat our lunch on the cold cement floor today because there was absolutely nowhere to sit; every chair and bench were taken.
Also, none of the chairlifts I took had foot support bars attached to the safety bars to rest your skis/snowboards on. Dangling a snowboard from one leg can get very tiring after awhile, and those support bars also prevent the snowboards from knocking the skis of anyone sitting next to them.
The Lower Mainland has better hills on offer, so I would recommend skipping Grouse and hitting up Seymour or Cypress. The only good thing about Grouse is that it is accessible via public transit, which the other two are not (although there are shuttle buses).
If you want Grouse to be worth your while, come on a weekday to avoid the crowds, or after 4pm so you get the reduced night skiing rate. There are simply too many people on the weekend to enjoy yourself. -
Review from .Nette T.
Updated - 10/22/2010
I've already reviewed the mountain itself but this is a review for the ziplining they offer: http://www.grousemount... We paid $105/pp + tax which includes Skyride & dual-track, five-line Zip circuit.
It was a cold. windy and wet day, the rainiest day of the year. We were given harnesses and helmets and a quick lesson on how to stop properly (arms out straight, bend and tuck legs in) because the landing can be harsh. We took the requisite jump pictures with our group and we were also took pictures ziplining on the first track.
Since the weather was rainy and cold, all you could experience ziplining down the track was speeding into a white abyss. I think Cin T captured the moment perfectly; http://www.yelp.ca/biz...
The first track was easy to get you used to ziplining, the landing was easy and everything was a-ok. As the day went on, the ziplines got higher, longer and harder because we had to walk up the mountain, walk up 5 flights of stairs to a track and take a chair lift. The chair lift part was the most uncomfortable part of the trip because it was the windiest, coldest and wettest I've ever been. Thank goodness for goretex parkas and shoes. The only good moment on the lift was seeing the two resident grizzlies in their enclosures below us. Even they thought it was too windy and retreated into their bear den.
I wanted to enjoy my ziplining experience more but I was too cold to do so. Hurtling into a white oblivion whilst getting pelted by rain and frozen to the core wasn't what I anticipated. However, I'll not be discouraged from ziplining again, this time I'm going in the summer where I could actually enjoy the sun and the beautiful views the mountain has to offer.Listed in: Vancouver
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/29/2008
This is also another reason why I love Vancouver. For a person who hates travelling 3-4 hours to… Read more »
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Review from honky t.
Vancouver, BC
8/14/2011
We have skiied here most seasons...but I'm finding their prices going up and up..I feel embarrased for the tourists, now. But taking the Grouse Grind...getting to the top and finding out that they upped their rates again...now I understand why so many are climbing down the Grind, now. This is interruptive and I think Grouse Mountain have pushed up their prices one step too far. I think it's time ski at the other mountains now.
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Review from Raza M.
4/19/2011
In winter, the good is, it's an easy commute from downtown, you can even take bus here. The runs are good for entry level to intermediate skier or boarders, you have night skiing till 10 pm in season. The bad is there isn't a lot of choices from, there are very few runs, it gets really busy in peak reason and can at times get really icy. But a good mountain to learn on.
In summer, you have tons of activities, once you pay to reach the top, grind is always an option, but you need to pay to go back down. There are free chairlifts, the lumber jack show and some other shows that I don't remember. You can catch a glimpse of bears and their cubs. You can always pay extra for paragliding, and zip-lines.
The view from the top a absolutely amazing on a clear day. A bit pricey to be regular unless you buy a pass. -
Review from Bill B.
7/6/2009
Yes, Grouse Mountain is a must see for anyone who visits Vancouver. The fee for the Sky tram to get there is high, although it includes everything that is at the top. But if you also value fine dining, there is a way to avoid the fee for the tram. Book dinner at Observation restaurant at the top. When you arrive at the tram, just tell them you have reservations at Observation, and you will be provided free tram tickets for everyone in your party, so long as you do not arrive more than four hours before your dinner reservation. For the best deal, make your dinner reservation for between 5 and 6 pm, so you can order the fixed price three course dinner, which is offered only during that hour. If you only can get reservations after 6 pm, order only an entree. If you order wine, order by the glass. The prices by the bottle are out of proportion to the prices by the glass.
Most tourists go there on tour buses (not the best move), but it is easily reached by taxi. If you play your cards right, you can have a fantastic afternoon and evening at Grouse Mountain at a price that is well worth it. -
Review from Rebecca S.
8/10/2010 2 photos
No doubt this place has breath taking views of the mountains and the city of Vancouver, but I honestly don't think its worth the price. The tram is pretty cool and somewhat of a thrill, but once you get up there, its really just so-so. Theres a cafe, gift shop, bird show, bears, a lumberjack show, (and other activities such as paragliding and helicopter tour that you have to pay extra for - kind of a rip off considering you've already spent $40 or $50 getting up there in the first place.
I wasnt too impressed. The lumberjack show was literally the EXACT same one we saw in Juneau, Alaska...same script and everything. We were like, wtf...buzz kill. Who would have thought there would be a pacific northwest lumberjack script. lame. The one in Alaska was far better.
One thing I will give this place is that the hiking here looks phenomenal. I would have loved to have hiked to the top (in lieu of the pricey tram), but that just wouldnt have worked for the group i was with. Needless to say, my experience was a little shoddy because I was with my bf's mom, who is waaay more like a mother in law than i'd like. oi. -
Review from Joe B.
9/1/2008
One word - BEARS! There are ziplines, and tandem paragliding, (be sure to instruct your paragliding pilot not to land inside the bear habitat, k?) and in the summer, a lumberjack. (I was hoping he would open a beer bottle with a chainsaw - the teeth catch the bottle top - but we didn't stick around to see if he did) But come on, TWO BIG GRIZZLY BEARS! That's what you really want to see up here. :-)
I put the price as inexpensive, because if you Grouse Grinded it up like we did, the ride down is only $10 - just under moderate. At a difference of $25 from taking the gondola both ways, it's like you're paying yourself $15 an hour if you're pretty fit. That beats gym rates hands down. :-D
I have to mention the sweet local late '20s Asian woman who took our picture at the top. She was born in BC and is just the kind of person we all should be with (polite) tourists - she offered to take our photo while we were taking our own of each other. Thank you!Listed in: Vancouver for Yankees, or…
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Review from Eros A.
8/3/2010
I felt like being on that movie "planes, trains and automobile" to get to Grouse Mountain. We took a train, the SeaBus, a Bus and then the Scale ting Gondola to go to the top... although it may sound a lot, it wasn't that difficult; rides on each were short and got there pretty quickly; on our way back it was a whole different story.
Grouse Mountain it supposed to be a major attraction and even thought we went on summer (dried-no ice) it felt that not much different from other places I've been. The Gondola ride up was overpriced; I'm sure they are making tones of money on that; I mean, who would want to climb that mountain? maybe a small percentage of all the visitors that visit this attraction daily - in other words, cheap people!!!
I'm a bit afraid of heights so on my way up I didn't have much fun; but once on top; it's kind of nice, beautiful view of the whole downtown Vancouver. I wouldn't say breathtaking, but definitely nice!
It is an adventure, and a day trip. They have some great restaurants there, some shows; and probably the best part is the "Eye of the Wind"
I might have to come back on winter; when it's covered in snow!Listed in: iLike it
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Review from Roanna Z.
2/15/2010
Grouse Mountain has so much to offer for everyone.
We hiked up along the Baden Powell trail to Mosquito Creek and back.
Beginning from the Grouse Mtn parking lot, walking East following the lower power line road passed the entrance to the Grouse "Grind" gate. (which we would later return through).
This is where our hike began, slowly and leisurely until after the McKay creek tributary. At this point the Baden Powel shows it's true colours. Narrowing and with dangerous drop offs and loose gravel you navigate turn after narrow turn, through rushing creeks, some with no bridge or logs.
There were a couple of harrowing points and long narrow, winding climbs over slippery tree roots, and sharp edged escarpments. Large stones littering the trail keep you on your toes at all times. Safety depends on full respect of the trail.
This was over all a challenging hike noted as "Moderate" in "Best Hikes and Walks of Southwestern BC." by Lone Pine publishing and author Dawn Hanna.
The descriptions are alluring but the directions are less than accurate at times.
I for one found myself out of my element at certain points, especially when you consider the false sense of security you feel at the beginning of the hike.
I would rate it as 50/50 being 50% easy to 50% moderate.
This is not a terribly long hike in terms of time. A few hours is adequate.Listed in: Mountain hikes and easy…
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Review from Helen W.
8/17/2009
We were in Vancouver for the weekend and thought that Grouse Mountain would be a good idea. It's a short drive from downtown Vancouver and the views promised by various tourist magazines were hard to turn down.
On the way up the mountain we saw a billboard that said "We're waiting for you" with two grizzly bears behind it. Sweet!! We managed to find a parking and proceeded to the ticket line for the Skyride. Are you kidding? $39.85 apiece for round trip tickets, this better be worth it.
The view was spectacular and we were also able to catch some of the Birds in Motion show. Although disappointment set in when the said bears were not waiting for me in their habitat.
We spent a little over an hour at the summit, with the bears no show, the long line back down the mountain and the high price for the tram, I would give this experience a 3.5 stars. -
Review from james p.
7/27/2011
Waste of time. this place is a tourist trap. the gondola ride pales to the one in palm springs, ca. bascially you pay to go up the mtn then look around a lame mountain top setup and then wait in long ass line to get back down the mtn. waste of money and time ;(
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Review from Bill H.
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a two mile walk at a thirty percent grade. This walk is gonna hurt, but it's a load of fun if you're into punishing yourself. I walked during a rainy, foggy day. The beautiful view was 100% obscured -- but the walk was still worth it. I went up as a part of a ~ 20 person wedding party. I think most people enjoyed the hike. I'd say about 3-4 people hated it. So, take a call before the walk begins on whether or not you can stand the climb. If not, there's always the gondola.
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Review from Cin T.
6/8/2009 4 photos
Great place to visit while in Vancouver! It was the high lite of our trip.
1. Sky tram - Awesome views of the city, lake, and mountain. Really high up. Going down had 2 little dips so it felt like an amusement park ride!
2. Zip lining - I was scared at first since I have never been. The you-tube videos look really scary. They start you off with a safe/easy line to get you use to the straps. It felt like you were on a secure swing..not so bad..no "free fall dropping feeling"..no heart going up your throat feeling...The other lines are AMAZING - going over a lake, crossing over mountains, flying through the fog, then hiking to the top of the mtn to zip line back. There were 5-lines total. While zip lining you hike some beautiful trails and go on ski lifts with awesome views. The mountain was still covered with some snow in June...so COOL!.
3. The young staff and zip lining guides were super friendly and nice. Thanks Evan and Poland-girl (sorry your name is unusual and I don't know how to spell).
4. Bird show, lumberjack show, grizzly habitat, and cool log statues were extra bonus.
We will be back!!! -
Review from Simon K.
It's a 30 minute drive if you live in Vancouver, as we are lucky we have a real mountain so close to us, where other cities would dream of such a proximity. I can see the main ski patch of Grouse from the back deck of my house. For some they come up to ski in the winter, for me I come up to do the Grouse Grind hike in the summer.
If your looking for a beautiful view of the downtown core, just come up here, either by walking, or taking the gondola, and take another ski lift to a higher peak, and you will be amazed by the spectacular view.
There's some entertainment up here as well, with a lumberjack show, real bears, a bird show, a theatre, zip lining, and a restaurant to name a few. They really know how to rack your money up here, just with the food, but it's all about the experience of being up here. -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
9/29/2008
The trip up was brutal. It was hot, there were too many people and I was dehydrated. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating. I often segue into hyperbolical whinges. The walk up wasn't so bad. It was a cool late summer evening and all the other walkers were very friendly. Any form of mild agony you may experience on the walk up is nothing once you reap the rewards of getting to the top. The view really does make everything worthwhile.
One last complaint: where were the bears? I was promised bears! -
Review from Patricia L.
9/15/2010
We spent the day at Grouse Mountain and it was a good choice. The day we went it was raining as we drove there but we were lucky that it didn't really rain while we were up on the mountain. The tram ride up was kind of scary because I'm a bit scared of heights but it did offer great views of Vancouver. I really enjoyed the lumberjack show, grizzly bear habitat, and birds in motion show. We were also lucky enough to see a wild black bear and her two cubs from a distance. We also took the chairlift up to the peak and that also offered great views.
There is also a discount if you are a AAA member! -
Review from Kim N.
12/22/2009
The skytram ride up was quite beautiful, but you're so packed in there that if you're not near a window, it might be tough to appreciate the view.
Came here for the skiing and the ziplining. By the time I realized that I needed lessons, I had just missed the group lessons. The next one would have put me at about the time I was supposed to go ziplining. Oh well, I was winging it and had a good time relearning how to ski.
The mountain itself is so pretty and with great views of the city.
Ziplining was AWESOME! Derek and Erica were great. Very friendly, easy going, definitely putting me at ease. We started off with a fairly easy, short zipline. There were 5 in total, the last 2 being the longest stretches, best views and highest in terms of altitude. I was even able to take a video clip of the experience.
Overall, I had a great time at Grouse and only wished that I remembered how to ski (or perhaps more accurately, remembered how to slow down/stop!) -
Review from Rachael M.
10/21/2010
I'm with Rebecca S. on this one - It's nice & all, but I'm not sure the price is justified, even with my AAA discount.
Don't get me wrong, there's plenty to do & see here, but a lot of activities require extra spending, which I just wasn't feeling that day. I might have sprung for the zip line excursion, but the Eye of the Wind didn't look like it was worth it. There was no lumberjack show the day we went, or at least it didn't start around the time listed in the brochure & we weren't going to hang around for 3 more hours to see if it started up at the next time. We did get to see both of the grizzly bears in their habitat, though the big guy was sleeping the whole time. We didn't get to stop by the cafe or restaurant, but I could see that being a romantic outing for couples, whether you do the other activites or not.
The tram provided some great views of the mountain & Vancouver, just as the chairlifts to the very top did as well. As expected, the views were amazing & we got lucky with some clear weather. I'm a bit bummed I didn't have time or the right group of folks to hike with while I was there. I would have loved to do the grind, but it wasn't in the cards this go 'round. I hear its a killer & it would have been a good way to bypass the ticket prices.
Parking was a bit hectic, though we found a free spot after a few minutes. We arrived fairly early in the day, so I can't imagine fighting for parking later. And we were definitely glad we went in the morning, because the place was packed by the time we were finished. In fact, our tram ride down the mountain was the closest thing to a real life sardine can I've ever experienced. Sure, it's pretty up there & there's stuff to do, but aside from wanting to try the hiking, I don't know that I'll return. At least it's checked off the list, though. -
Review from Laura R.
North Vancouver, BC
12/6/2011
Great views! Be prepared to be ripped off, receive poor service, and wait in line to be crammed into a packed gondola to get back down the mountain. Oh and when you're in the gondola you get to over hear the gripings of what sounded like the poorly managed staff who don't want to be there either! At least the view is pretty.....
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Review from Nandan F.
Ottawa, ON
10/21/2010
Like a few others have mentioned, I just don't think it's worth the money spent. The ticket of the gondola includes a bunch of entertainment once you are up there but for $44...seriously!
It's about an 8 minute ride up. Be sure to check all available shows as they change all the time depending on the month. Last night, all that was available was a short movie/documentary, 2 bears in a relatively small natural enclosure along with the ride up and down. If its shoulder season, how about charging lower prices?! Eye of the wind, ziplining etc end much earlier in the day as well. The lumber jack show, the chair lift etc are available only during the summer.
The views are obviously good but think about how much you paid for the ticket and you'd reconsider it. A better way to do this if you are up for hiking is to do the grind and take the gondola down for $10. The grind is not for the weak hearted though. Another option is to make a reservation at the Observatory for a fine dining experience which includes a free
ride/ticket. See my review for the Observatory.
That being said, it is cool to get a drink in the bistro or enjoy a coffee on the deck with a great view. There is not much to do when there is no snow. You can spend a couple of hours at the most. I wouldn't do this again and there are many other mountains in the area with better or similar views at a fraction of the cost. But like Rachael said, Grouse Mountain: Check. -
Review from Tay D.
7/15/2011
I purchased left tickets for the gondola ride up Grouse Mountain only and didn't go skiing since there wasn't any snow in the summer. I found the ride up/down pretty crowded and not really ideal for taking pictures. It's okay because you'll see an awesome view of Vancouver once you exit the gondola at the top. The view in itself was worth the ticket price since I was a tourist and not a local. I sort of appreciated the view so much more !!
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Review from Eric B.
9/4/2008
One of the amazing things about Vancouver (besides stunning scenery and all the cosmopolitan options) is how short a trip it takes to be in the "wilderness".
So, I took a short drive to North Vancouver one day and took the gondola ride up Grouse Mountain. Cost of the Gondola Ride - $$$. The resulting view and experience - Priceless.
When I come back the next time, I'll try out the ski area there and maybe even walk up or down the Grouse Grind. However, at the time I was there, they were doing a search and rescue operation on the mountain for a missing hiker. Sadly for him, he took a wrong turn and didn't return home. Even so close to civilization, the Grouse Grind requires some hiking skill and caution.
But on this trip, I walked around, marveled at the City, hiked around the top of the mountain, and hung out a little bit at the "Lodge". -
Review from Nadine N.
Vancouver, BC
9/20/2008 1 photo
I love Grouse Mountain because it's the one local mountain that is accessible by public transportation! That gets 5 stars, right there. In the winter, the mountain is open at night, so a lot of locals head up after work to get in an evening of skiing, snowboarding, snow shoeing or ice skating.
Make sure to check out the Munday Alpine Snowshoe Park at Grouse. Grouse offers free snow shoe drop ins on Monday evenings (training) and Wednesday evenings (hiking). Snow shoe rentals are just $5. I tried this last year and had a lot of fun. -
Review from Irena L.
Grouse Grind, Snowshoe Grind = awesomeness! I love it! Altitudes bistro is also pretty good. Nice to sit on the patio on a sunny day:)
