Grouse Mountain
Mountain Recreational mountain near Vancouver with ski slopes, views
Above Vancouver, Grouse Mountain offers a gondola, year‑round hiking and winter skiing; visitors come for city and ocean views, wildlife programs and seasonal outdoor activities.
Grouse Mountain is an alpine recreation area on the North Shore above Vancouver, British Columbia, known for its summit viewpoints and year-round outdoor activities.
The mountain has been used for recreation across the 20th and 21st centuries with progressively developed visitor infrastructure including lift access and summit amenities. Conservation and wildlife education have become part of the site’s public offer.
Located on the North Shore of Vancouver above Burrard Inlet, the mountain overlooks the city and is directly accessible from North Vancouver.
- Principal access: The Skyride is the principal public access and delivers most visitors to the summit for sightseeing, dining and activities year-round.
- Best times and seasons: Evening and clear-weather visits provide wide views of the city lights and surrounding coastline; winter offers alpine activities while summer emphasizes hiking and forestry-themed attractions.
What to See #
- Skyride aerial tram: The aerial tram connects the base area in North Vancouver to the mountain summit and is the main public access route for year-round visitors.
- Steep hiking route (Grouse Grind): A well-known steep hiking route climbs from the base to the summit and is used by fitness hikers; it gains substantial elevation over a short distance and is locally popular for its challenge.
- Summit facilities and viewpoints: Summit facilities include dining and lookout areas that offer panoramic views over Vancouver, Burrard Inlet and the surrounding mountains; visitor services vary seasonally.
- Wildlife and conservation facility: A wildlife and conservation facility on the mountain exhibits birds of prey and other local species and provides educational programming.
How to Get to Grouse Mountain #
From downtown Vancouver, take the SeaBus to Lonsdale Quay (North Vancouver) and then a 15-20 minute bus or taxi to the base of Grouse Mountain (routes 236/239 connect Lonsdale Quay to the mountain). Driving: follow Lions Gate Bridge to Highway 1 and exit toward Capilano Road/North Vancouver, then follow signage to Grouse Mountain.
Tips for Visiting Grouse Mountain #
- Buy early-morning Skyride tickets to catch the bear-feedings and to avoid the afternoon surge; first Skyride often has the clearest air.
- Hike up the Grouse Grind (the 'Grouse Grind' is a steep 2.9 km trail) then reward the legs with the Skyride down - the Grind is closed in poor weather.
- If visiting in winter, check avalanche and lift-status updates online; summer and winter activities sometimes run on different schedules.
Best Time to Visit Grouse Mountain #
Open year-round but activities differ: summer for hiking and wildlife encounters, winter for snow sports; check the website for seasonal hours.
Weather & Climate near Grouse Mountain #
Grouse Mountain's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 18°C. Abundant rainfall (1896 mm/year), wettest in November.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 1°C and lows of -4°C. Heavy rain (263 mm).
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February
February is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -3°C. Significant rainfall (179 mm).
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March
March is cold with highs of 3°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (173 mm).
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April
April is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (136 mm).
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May
May is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (106 mm).
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June
June is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm).
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July
July is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm).
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August
August is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 10°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm).
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September
September is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm).
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October
October is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (200 mm).
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November
November is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of -1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (298 mm).
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December
December is the coldest month with highs of 0°C and lows of -4°C. Heavy rain (246 mm).