Vancouver is a great place to ski or snowboard in the winter with all the mountains near us. While snowshoeing may not come to mind at first when thinking of the North Shore mountains, it is a pretty popular activity and the fastest growing outdoor sport!
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| Grouse Mountain Skyride |
You can't drive up to Grouse, so you'll have to take the skyride up there. There's often lineups so you'll have to wait a while, but you can buy passes to skip ahead of some people in the line and reduce a lot of wait time. The view along the way is impressive, with Capilano Lake at the bottom and The Lions in the distance. The ride from the base to the the chalet at the top takes about 5 minutes.
Once you're up there, you'll have to walk a bit to the rental building. It isn't too far though, and the signs should point you in the right direction. You could also bring your own snowshoes if you want.
I started with the easiest trail, the Blue Grouse Loop, which is 1km long. Didn't seem that easy to me though...
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| Entrance to the Trail |
I had trouble going downhill while snowshoeing in fear of slipping, but it was fun. Snowshoeing can be for anyone and doesn't really need a required amount of skill level (unless you're going on the tougher trails). It's also great exercise :)
One of the most well-known trails on Grouse Mountain is the 4.3km Snowshoe Grind, which starts at the chalet and ends on the summit of Dam Mountain, behind Grouse Mountain. This trail is for people who want more of a challenge. The view at the summit should be pretty nice, so I'm planning to do the Snowshoe Grind someday too.
My day at Grouse ended with some poutine at Lupins Cafe and a nice dessert trio at Altitudes Bistro, on the 2nd floor of the chalet. If you want something more fancy than casual dining, then there's also The Observatory, an award winning restaurant with amazing views of the Vancouver skyline. It's only open for dinner, however.
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| Dessert Trio! |
Grouse Mountain isn't just a place for skiing and snowboarding as many of us might think. It's a great place to spend the day for all winter enthusiasts. Snowshoeing, ice skating, and sleigh rides are just some of the activities you can also do up there. Grouse Mountain is also a great place to visit in the summer, with The Eye Of The Wind, the world's only wind turbine that allows you to stand in a glass observatory at the top of the tower, as well as ziplining. There are lots of attractions and things to do on Grouse, and it's a fun place to visit for anyone.
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| Ice Skating |
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| Sunset from the Chalet |
