6400 Nancy Greene Way

A mutual friend living in Vancouver described this trail as "endless" and "disgusting". "You should go if you're into that sort of thing." With that glowing endorsement, this was by far top on my list which probably speaks volume. I had originally planned on going a day after arriving, though the weather was near perfect so that I couldn't resist going after checking into my room. I took the 236 bus up which conveniently stopped at the base of the mountain. Folks were performing deep stretches and breathing exercises at the trailhead in preparation, a sign of things to come. When I started, I paced a hiker in front of me for a while before overtaking her. Naturally, another hiker came up from behind and steadily passed me. Intense concentration from everyone made the hike a fairly quiet one with occasional nods of empathy from those taking an extended break. Markers along the way tell you when you are 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 of the way up along smaller fractional markers out of 40. Beyond the 1/4 marker, downhill hiking is no longer permitted, though I noticed a handful of hikers doing just that. In total, my time was 1:07. In between the sweating and the panting, lush forest trees and bright purple foxgloves made the experience a visual delight. Heading back down via gondola, I had a chance to talk with someone who has been doing the grind for years and still loves it. Next time I would try the BCMC to compare but consider me a fan.

THE BIG: Located in North Vancouver, past the capilano bridge. Plenty of parking in the paid lots and free street parking down the hill. THE BLACK AND WHITE: This is a grueling hike. Think stairmaster but for an hour. The first time my wife and I did it, we got 59 minutes. This second round, we beat our time. I channeled my inner billy goat and hiked it in 56 minutes. There is a scanner at the bottom of the hike and top of the hike that you can scan to get a more accurate reading of your hike. I recorded everything on my apple watch. The trail is beautiful, plenty of temperate rainforest to see and markers to show half way, 3/4 way and it gets brighter as you approach the top. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Overall, this is a very hard hike but the reward is worth it. Free to hike up and there is no way down except to buy a tram ticket that is around 20 CAD.

Sweat, Tears, Laughs, Grouse Grind is the best!! Grouse Grind is a 1.5ish mile hiking with about a 800m ascent to the heavens!! Photos don't do the hike justice as you climb through the clouds into Nirvana. Is this hike difficult? Yes Is the view worth it? Not really. Is the journey the best part? Yes. Do you grouse grind. You wont regret it... when youre at the top. As a disclaimer, make sure you are physically fit enough to handle the hike. I did the hike twice in one weekend and during both ascents, someone needed assistance to continue

HARDEST hike of my life! Online they say it's 1.55 miles (2.5 km)... Apple Watch determined that was a lie! A total of 1.9 miles straight UP :') elevation of 2500 ft (aka 2800 stairs/200 flights). Took me a total of 1 hr 13 mins. The site says average time is 2-2.5hr. But you can purchase an official timer to keep track of your time as well as compare yourself to others on the scoreboard. The fastest official times were about 30 mins. Savages. I'm so glad I bought the download sky ride trip down for C$20 pp! As you cannot hike down grouse grind! A sign of how difficult and dangerous this trail is. I didn't know there's an option to hike down another trail though (BCMC 3.1km less steep) for those of you who are inclined. My legs were shakey af halfway up! And I do not skip leg day. Sweating balls in 60*F. My bf had to take plenty of breaks! Super surprising since he runs a lot. Luckily there's cafes up top to replenish. Plenty of activities as well (grizzly bear exhibit, birds of prey talk, zip lining, disc golf, rope climbing). Even shops - one in particular w running gear and cute grouse grind swag. At the half mile mark (1/4 way marker) - there's a sign/warning that's the last place you're allowed to turn around. The hike gets steeper and narrower! Then some benches a little more up and at the 1/2 way marker (1 mile according to my watch). Cute sign at the top w the view .. slightly obscured by the sky ride. A good amount of ppl around noon on a weekday in June, but not overly crowded. But I unfortunately stood on the far side of the crowded sky ride and didn't get a good view on the way down :(. Overall a must do and wish I could do it more often as a super hard workout! Just be prepared! #12

This trail wise, it's very very intense workout. It's not normal hike. However I'm thanksful for this trail existence. I can come here by Transkink bus paying only $2.4 and do this hardcore exercise. I did alone because I wanted to keep my pace but please be aware that you need good preparation. I had thought the gondola charges only $10 but nowadays it's $20 and have to book by online. Show QR code at gondola gate and masks are mandatory.

Don't do it if you love your life. Do it if you hate your life and you want pain and misery and all that's unholy. Longest 2 hour hike of my life. They say it's like 2000+ steps up? It's a lie. Just take the gondola and go on a step machine where you can get off the ride anytime. You can't do that here. This hike is only for advance hikers.

It is a grind but totally worth it to join the club and get some bragging rights. it is vertical so be prepared. My daughter and I did it in 1:15. Not bad for an old clydesdale.

So much harder than I thought it was going to be. I was expecting more of a trail but this thing was like one giant stairmaster. You pretty much climb straight up the mountain side. I tried to capture how steep it is on my camera but it was pretty impossible to do. At a quarter of the way up, there's a sing telling you to do a gut check to see if you can continue. I thought it was for theatrics but it really did get much steeper past the sign. The climb itself is beautiful even with the manmade stairs and railings. Once you get to the top, you can walk around and enjoy the view. It was really foggy the day we went up so not much for us. Also, be prepared to buy a sky ride ticket to get back down.

They say every lower mainlander should try the grind. I disagree! If you have an active fitness level (or have the patience and time), proper footwear and cloths, and water, then I suggest you should. I'm a new person to hiking, fairly active, and wanted to challenge myself. I hated it but I felt so rewarded and proud of myself when I finally finished. But it was still hard. The stairway to hell and I could see no end in sight. Not a hike for the views, but I received some support encouragement along the way. When I finally got to the top (and had to take more stairs to get into the building), I nearly cried. I got passed by children and older people, but I made it! And I was hella proud. But that is the one and only time I need to do the grind! Haha!

Ready for an exercise to test all the days spent at the gym? Dubbed as Mother Nature's stairmaster - there is no turning back once you start your journey up 2.9 km! (+)- Great workout amongst nature. Though not a completely free workout since you will need to pay for the gondola (a minimal $15 for a one way trip) back down. (-)- No negatives. Enjoy Mother Nature and the grind! Tips- -Parking is metered ($8 for 3 hours at the time I went June 2019) although there seems to be some limited parking on the local streets. - The average time spent is about 1.5-2 hours. I had some stopping and finished in 1.75 hours. Daily records were in the 50 min range. -The website mentions to bring about 1 L of water. Most people brought a bottle or a hydration backpack. One older gentleman I saw (who seems to be very experienced) didn't bring water and only carried up some Tupperware of food/ snacks haha (wouldn't recommend this but I think it's because he's a veteran and knows what he is doing). I was able to get by with about 7 oz of water with some conservation on a cool morning. - there is a cafe if you choose to refuel - Need to have some level of fitness as the steps are not equal in height and some passages are narrow - need to have some practice in cardio + balance. Tourists-- if you are generally active on vacations, I would recommend this as a #2 spot to visit if you already visited Stanley Park for a run or a bike ride!

I weigh train twice a week and do intensive cardio 3-5 times a week (ie. HIIT, Crazy Asian Woman Dance Cardio, etc.) and the Grouse Grind was not as scary as the descript and some people have made it out to be. It's about 2 miles and 2800 feet, which is no small feat, but a well-marked and well-maintained trail. Steps ALL of the way, reinforced by logs, sometimes with helpful woooden hand rails or ropes. Steps may be very large (ie. I sometimes felt like a toddler trying to hoist myself up an adult-sized chair), but quite do-able. I went with a friend who hiked with the pace of a dead man walking to the electric chair. With a 30-minute break and constantly waiting up for her, we did the thing in 1 hour 44 minutes. We started mid-morning and there were a TON of people on the trail - mostly non-hikers ready for a challenge. Our hike up was like a tag team of going up, resting, letting the same group(s) of people pass us, then we pass them, etc. There is no GOING DOWN the trail, though we did see two sheepish-looking people do just that. It's not dangerous to go down per se, but with the number of people going up, it's better to keep the trail one way only. No bathroom facilities, though there were a few areas where you could get out of sight for a pee break. No rest areas (ie. Scenic picnic spots) anywhere along the trail, except for the base of a tree or a cut-down stump. It's not a pretty trail; the trail is all tree covered with exposure only at the top. The trail's sole purpose is to kick my flat Asian ass into oblivion. At the top, you must purchase a $15 gondola ride down to the parking lot (parking is about $6 or $8 for 3 hours paid at machines located in the lots). Flinging yourself off the mountain is also an option, though not recommended. There's also a cafe at the top which serves very healthy granola-y baked goods and drinks, most of which you will have no interest in, after coming within an inch of death hiking the Grouse Grind. The cafe has a nice outdoor patio from which you can take in the scenery before you, as you contemplate why you're still alive, when you cannot feel your extremities.

What a discovery! I appreciate the tremendous effort and engineering to build this trail. I love Grouse Grind Trail because it's steep enough one of the few steep enough trails to get my cardio up to maximum heart rate. To find your maximum heart rate subtract your age from 220 and that will be your maximum and to get cardio benefit try to get to at least 80% of your maximum. This is very easy to do on Grouse Grind Trail most Trails I hike I have to do Sprints up the Steep Parts just to get the cardio. Five stars for Grouse Grind Trail. I'll be back next time earlier to check out the exhibits up top.

Pretty much broke my hip climbing this damn mountain which is ever-so fondly described at 'nature's staircase'. Not sure how I climbed through Incan ruins, or maybe I'm just getting old. I had read that it would be hard on the knees, but I quickly discovered that it's just hard on the joints in general! So be wary and like stretch beforehand even if it's a short one. The ascent was suppose to be 1 mile, but my Garmin clocked this at 1.5 miles. It does make a difference because you climb 2500ft over the course of this hike. The journey involves walking up nearly vertical man-carved stone steps. Plenty of mosquitoes so wear lose-fitted clothing or just suck it up and apply that nasty bug spray. Hike is entirely shaded which is lovely especially since you'll be sweating your ass off. Cardio-wise I was fine, but my hip broke so that didn't help. I took 1.5 hours TOO long. It's a one-way journey up as no backward travel is permitted (or is frowned upon rather), so you have to pay $15 to take the gondola down. The view at the top was less than spectacular and obscured a little by trees, so that was sucky. But, we had just visited Joffre Lakes and traversed the Sea to Sky Highway the day before, so I mean... city views? Been there, done that. I think you can hike up a little more to find the true peak of Grouse, but I was not having any of that especially with the fluttering mosquitoes and broken hip. The building at the top not only ushers the gondolas through, but also has a restaurant, gift shop, and coffee. The 'Grouse Grind' coffee shop contained a *recovery smoothie* which really hit the spot. My hip joint appreciated that extra boost of vegan protein. So, I knocked that one off the list of iconic Vancouver 'things to do'. If I lived in the area, I wouldn't mind getting the annual pass despite breaking my hip. You could spot the regulars and man they had monster calves. Give me some of those! Guess I'll settle with the Stair Master. Parking-- lots are paid. $6 for 3 hours, I think. There are spots (no charge) along the side of the road though just before the 3-4 lots. The first set of spots are so close to the start of the hike that the small uphill walk should be cake.

Only two types of people come here: rude obnoxious jerks who will yell at you for hiking too slowly, and first-timers who saw it on a list of things to do in Vancouver. It's not even a hike. It's a giant staircase leading to a tourist trap. If you enjoy the peace and tranquility of actual hiking, go somewhere else.

Less than 2 miles? Psh. I've done ultramarathons before. No problem. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. Longest 2 miles of my life. SO.MANY.STAIRS. Views were really pretty, but THOSE STAIRS. Bring (lug) food and have a mini-celebratory picnic at the top (you laugh now, but that's actually what we did). There's also a surprising amount of stuff to do/see at the top, so pay your parking meter accordingly!! The gondola down is $10 and has amazinggggg views, but they pack people in like sardines, which kind of sucks (and is kind of scary. Are you sure this thing can hold that much weight?!). Slightly depressing what took you 2 hours to climb only takes 4 minutes on a gondola, though. I did this the day after the Lululemon Half, so it's definitely doable. The hike surprisingly didn't even leave me sore the next day! If you're not in shape, best of luck to you.

If all you're doing is walking around the block for your exercise, then shuffle on with ya bad self and keep a steppin'. This mountain will eat you up and spit you you out at the 10th step. Take heed to the tremendous effort that will be required when doing the Grind. If you have weak knees, don't do it! Now, if you're a cowboy or lassie, well giddy up and let's hit the rodeo! This is a bull of a mountain and totally worth the climb. The view from the 4,000ft summit is magnificent! The path is a mixture of rocks, tree trunks and mountainside rising like a ladder towards the sky. On a clear day you can see way down yonder into these United States! It's not that far really, but seriously the view of Vancouver Island, Washington State and the various surrounding provincial parks, truly show what affect the abundance of water has on this terrain. At under 2 miles the hike should take you approximately 2 hours. Depending on your health, endurance and speed of course. When you reach the 1st marker rejoice, but know that you're only 1/4 of the way there. HA! deadly. On your way up take time to see your ascent through the forest. Look behind you to see that you are nearly at the tree tips. Then in another moment you are above the trees, above the clouds and well above the city below. Listen to the water trickling beneath your feet, over the rocks and from the trees. See the moss, the ferns, the mushrooms, even the mist rolling through the forest like some scary scene in a movie. Once you see the chalet from the forest you have survived the rodeo! Take the ski lift down the mountain and look in awe at the mountain you just wrangled.

Amazing hike. Beautiful views going up, and especially at the top. It's HARD though. Even if you're in shape. So just know that going in. But it's worth it.

What an amazing journey. It's a quick hike that'll put you through just enough sweat inducing cardio work that it'd make an awesome substitute for anyone wishing to step out into nature instead of climbing the Stairmaster. I saw the times posted online and wanted a challenge, I finished in under 45 minutes. It felt amazing to be out in the woods climbing a nearly vertical stairway. The summit was well worth every drop of sweat and then we continued up to see the Grizzly Habitat and the totem poles. The snow pack was still heavy but the views were stunning. I would recommend that every able bodied person try this out. You can go at your own pace or you can buy a chip card and try for the leaderboard. Next visit out, I am going for the leaderboard!

Everybody knows, you ain't a Vancouverite unless you've done the world famous Grind. Parking is available in the various lots, but Lot D (on the R side as soon as you enter the park) is free. If you have never done this before, this is a must. With that said, come prepared. This is no leisurely walk. I cannot stress this enough, for the sake of safety. You can buy a pass that allows you to "beep in" at the beginning and end of the hike. Your name and time will then be displayed at the top of the screen. Besides the street cred gained, this is also a great time to see how many 60 year olds are faster than you. I'm serious. Nothing like realizing you're way slower than some who are twice your age. People are crazy here. As for the hike itself, here are some tips: 1) The hike is marked at the 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 marks, which is great for setting your pace. The 1st 1/4 is the longest, in terms of both horizontal distance and time required. There are many times when you may think you'll die before reaching here. The good news though is that each segment gets progressively "shorter". 2) Even during the summer, the trail gets quite wet and muddy after the 3/4 mark. 3) Bring some insect repellent if you don't like being swarmed by tiny flies. This happens after the 3/4 mark as well. 4) Bring water. You will need it, guaranteed. 5) Unfortunately, riding the gondola down after is not free. Yes, you have to pay $10 to come down. You could technically walk back down the GG (I didn't tell you this), but this can't be too healthy for your knees. If you can finish the hike within 90 minutes, that is considered good for a tourist/visitor. For the locals, everyone talks about breaking the 1h mark. And for those who are insane, it's 30 minutes. Yes, people actually pull this off. It's ridiculous. I didn't tell you this, but if the fence is closed, you can bypass the entrance fence by looking for the "path" to the R of it. Go far enough up and the fence ends. Oops, did I say this out loud? With that said, don't be stupid and trap yourself on the mountain, since there will obviously be nobody to save you. If you survive this walk, not only do you get bragging rights, but you are treated to what is probably the best view of Vancouver from anywhere short of a plane.

If you want to do this hike and never exercise, turnaround and buy a lift ticket up because you will not make it. For those that exercise regularly, this hike will be challenging. You will break a sweat but will be rewarded with a sweet view at the top. FYI: lift ticket up $40. Lift down $10. If you hike up, you can't hike back down so be prepared to spend $10 on a ride down. Level of difficulty: 8.5/10

This is literally "I want to go on a hike to get a workout." This is essentially an hour of stairmaster. There is essentially no flats. I'm a pretty fit guy, and I was exhausted. So here is how long it is going to take you. If you are fit and dont take stopping breaks: 50 minutes to 1 hour. If you are taking your time, a person who just works out some time, and take breaks along the way, it will take you about 90 minutes. If you take lots of breaks, don't really workout, just strolling along, it'll take you 2 hours to 2.5hours. I really loved this hike, it is such a good workout. It is literally 3 kilometers or 1.85 miles for you Americans, STRAIGHT UPHILL. But you kind of get that Rocky feeling when you made it to the top, it's incredibly rewarding. Also, there's lots to do at the top of the mountain. There is a bear exhibit where you can see real bears, thought that was super cool. Also, there's a cafe and stuff if you're starving. To get back down, you have to pay the gondala ride, which is very nice and scenic. It is $15 CAD. This is one of the best hikes you can do in Vanc, was awesome.

This review is based on people who do marathons & CrossFit for your well being! When locals tell you it's a strenuous hike, you better believe it! But is the view at the top all worth it? YES!! It will make you forget what you just climbed. Maybe not, but seriously I could not be anymore grateful to have done this on a perfect weather & day. * Parking: They have a parking lot for a few hours & all day. We were lucky to arrive while someone was leaving & they were kind enough to give us their parking stub for the rest of the day. We tried to do the same when we left, but we were being honked at from drivers without patience. * Experience: Keep in mind, I did this with 3 other friends which 2 of us did a CrossFit workout early in the morning & had the SeaWheeze Lululemon half marathon the following day. I had come out of packet pick up & one of the Lululemon workers asked me what I had planned for the rest of the day. I said, "Grouse Grind!" Their jaw dropped. Literally tried scarying me while telling me that they do not recommend doing Grouse Grind especially if I have a half marathon to do the following day & it's my first time. I kept my humble mouth shut & just agreed with them. Held my breath without saying that I've done a full marathon & beyond before. The only person that knows your body is yourself! I almost tried convincing my friends to not do it, but when you've never been to Canada & this is the first time? I said F it, let's do it! Now for the climb.... this was a REAL strenuous 2,000+ steps, 2 point something kilometer distance staircase with your legs bent almost 90 degrees for some steps. There are tree trunks that count how the number out of 40 until you reach the top. I apologize if this may gross you out, but I admit that 1/4th of the way, I vomited once. It was a good one though because after that, I felt 10x better & was able to climb the rest! Did it make me think twice about giving up? Definitely not! When you're already up there, why turn back? It's not a race. Give me credit for finishing this because we did come across some people who weren't even half way up & gave up by coming back down. We also came across locals who sped through us like nothing. Our overall time? 2 sum hours. - View at the top: BEAUTIFUL! Worth the climb! We were lucky the weather was completely clear. - What to wear: Hiking shoes, no heavy backpacks, workout clothes, sunglasses, & cap - What to bring: Energy snacks, water, sunscreen, ca$h (They have a snack bar, food, & drinks at the very top, so you pretty much have a good prize after that climb.), small face towel or wipes (Please wipe down or bring deodorant. We came across people with some serious B.O.) - What's at the top? Souvenir shop, dining area, balcony, bathrooms, water fountains, & we even witnessed a wedding ceremony happening as well. - Gondola: Rode it on the way down! $10 per person & a quick ride down. - What's at the bottom? Another souvenir shop, Starbucks - Can you time yourself? Yes! I noticed some people had a card that they scanned before the first step & scanned right at the top. aaaand the last question.... WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?! YES! North Vancouver, Canada, you are beautiful & worth every sight! ps - I was NOT sore the next day after doing this. Again, you are the only person that knows what your own body is capable of! If you're not tremendously active, be prepared to be sore the following day & stretch!

Fantastic hike with straightforward 2800+ stairs brings you to the top of goose mountain with amazing view. As a hike lover, I absolutely enjoyed the hike - it's fun and challenging. Great hiking trail with forest accompany the whole way. The trail is well-maintained and marked. You can track the progress easily by checking the numbers on the trees (1-40/40 trees and big marks every 25% along the trail). The challenging part - I had to keep push myself to keep the 1hr pace until finish line! Here are the stats: 1-2hrs, 4km distance, 850m elevation (2800+stairs non-stop). Hike up and ride the lift down (only $10 one-way down). I would def come back next time I visit Vancouver! If you are up for the challenge, you can also download the goose mountain hike app to get on the score board!

I had looked up this hike prior to coming to Vancouver and was real excited to check it out! During our stay in Vancouver there was a lot of rain but who cares....we were doing this hike rain or shine! We started on the right side at first and then realized we were on the wrong trail....got over to the Grouse Mountain trail and never looked back. This trail has ZERO flat spots and ZERO declines....it's all an uphill hike. Very intense and not recommended for the faint of heart! Make sure you are dressed appropriately to do this too. Even in the cold it's not recommended to wear layers....might need them when you reach the top and stop moving though but not for the hike. Good luck if you decide to take on the grind! It's quite fun and rewarding!!

Somehow I managed to do this in just under an hour and ten minutes without losing my will to live. But I was close. To say this is a strenuous hike is an understatement. Don't take that whole "2800 steps straight up" sentiment lightly. This is a staircase for all intents and purposes, but many steps are boulders and tree roots, and railings are hard to come by (but you cling to them like Grimm death when they do). It narrows in places, though there's plentiful many spots to pull off and stop to breathe/let the people (read: super humans) trail running this to pass. Was is strenuous? Holy heck. There were people I saw bail in the first 1/4 of the trail. Another, who passed me initially, was yacking close to the 1/2 way point. Others were in jeans and sandals. Word to the wise: don't take the Grind lightly. Just because some badass did it 16 times in a day doesn't mean it's going to be a cake walk. The whole trail wreaks of sweat and self doubt. You can see people in actual mental anguish throughout the hike. Another tip: Don't wear a full backpack! For one, you're only making it worse on yourself, and for two, it really hurts getting a backpack to the face when you decide to stop in the middle of the step and I've got forward momentum just behind you. I can imagine the view from the top would be epic, but it was foggy (and thus, comfortable temperature) on the morning I decided to make the climb. A masochist to the core, I was in this for the challenge, not the view. By the halfway mark, my internal Jimminy Cricket/therapist kept saying "Why do you keep punishing yourself?" Because, damn, did it feel good to get to the top. The gondola down (manditory) is $10, and parking was $6 for 3 hours (more than enough time for the average person to do the hike and get down, as the gondola ride is less than 5 minutes). There's a shop at the top with shirts emblazoned with "GRIND." to let outsiders know what a bad a-- you are, but with a minimum price tag of $25, I gave it a miss. I don't need a T-shirt to prove I got to the top. My knees will ache for days, and that's proof enough for me. Apologies for fuzzy pictures. I think my phone was covered in sweat by the first steep climb.

Thoroughly enjoyed the grind. As a visitor, I didn't exactly know what to do, so here's info if you're a tourist like me. Catch the shuttle from Canada place, it's a busy area but there are many buses to grouse and Capilano and there will be a sandwich sign and person in maroon to help you. If you don't fit on the next shuttle you'll get a card to be guaranteed on the next one. They don't advertise this shuttle card tho so make sure you grab one from the helper! For the grind, you can buy tickets at the top, so proceed a bit downhill past guest services and you'll see parking and a lot of ppl who look ready to hike. The stairs themselves aren't super hard, it's just a well, grind. Beautiful and green tho! At the top there is a cafe and several activities. Free ones include the grizzly habitat (saw both of the rescued bears out!) and bird show. Getting back down is $15 and a quick little ride. You can't walk back down but you definitely won't want to anyhow!

The BEST hike you will ever do in your entire life - not joking! This hike is super intense, it is at a constant steep incline for a solid one hour (if you are in extremly good shape you can maybe do it in 50 minutes?) It is a really well marked trail and you definitely wont be alone doing it. Bring some water, snacks and workout clothes, after all you will be climbing a little over 2,800 steep steps - excellent work out for your glutes. During the first 1/4 we felt good about ourselves but during the second 2/4 thoughts like "why in the world am i doing this?" kept popping into our heads. the last quarter of the climb was the steepest, or so it felt. Once we were up top all the hardwork was worth it. We sat at the restaurant at the top and enjoyed the view for a few minutes.To get down you need to take the gondola and it costs $10 per person. To get up is about $30 so you save yourself some money and get a good workout by climbing!

The ultimate stairmaster - THE GROUSE GRIND, omg seriously, you want a hike with a without get ready for essentially an hour of stairs. Besides all that, it's a wonderful amazing journey and hike up Vancouver's many mountains and peaks, stepping out into nature with an amazing view, amazing people just like you. you will have a blast. other than paying money to come back down I do the GRIND 2-3times a year, I prefer to hit the many other Nature workouts, the Chief, Garibaldi Park, St Marks that cost nothing. So my consensus, is the Grouse grind is good, you get what you need from it. Preferably for me, I rather spend $15 elsewhere. BULK BARN, MeEt, Yoga, STARBUCKS Triple shot latte Frappuccino :)

Oh my goodness my legs are tired and sore from the grind a few days ago. It is not easy! It's such a great workout and has amazing views when you're done. Up the mountain there are some shops, food and juice/drink bar. Definitely go up and see the bears and check out everything else they have to offer. Unfortunately by the time I was up there it was too chilly for me to venture out to see the other sights so I took the gondola down quite quickly. Definitely a favourite for me that I do every time I'm in Vancouver! I would recommend wearing shoes that have grip because sometimes the climb can be slippery.

I always go hiking when I travel, so I HAD to try Grouse Grind. My legs burned the entire time and everyone around me was out of breath. I was behind a guy who was wheezing heavily all the way up. I didn't really look back at the trail or pay attention to my surroundings a whole ton, but it was still beautiful from the glimpses I remember seeing. There were markers that went up to 40 (ex. 4/40 or 37/40) that indicated your progress on the trail, which was a huge motivator for me. There were also 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 signs marked along the trail. After the 1/4 mark, the trail does get increasingly more difficult and there is a sign that tells you to turn back around if you don't have enough water or are already out of breath. After you cross the 1/4 mark, you are not allowed to go back down the trail. Despite me being really out of breath by the 1/4 mark, I persevered and made it to the top after about 2 hours. The top is breathtaking and I felt accomplished. Definitely one of the hardest hikes I've ever been on, but definitely worth it in my opinion. :)

So you are wondering about the Grouse Grind*, how to improve your speed up the slope and maximise the experience. Well, here's a few tips now that I've conquered that little hill: 1. DON'T do the Grind hungover. Just don't do it. Don't! Take it from the man who did. It's super brutal. Worst. Decision. Ever! 2. DO take plenty of water. 2L and a Gatorade wasn't enough for me. 3. DON'T take a 20 pound backpack with you full of camera gear. 4. DO bring a couple of good friends, who will take turns with said backpack when it gets too heavy (just remember to buy them a beer at the top to say thanks!) 5. DON'T get the poutine at the top, it's probably worth another entire trip up the mountainside. 6. DO get a beer, you've earned it! (and beer doesn't contain calories --- not the kind you count anyways hehehe). 7. DON'T look at the orange markings on the rocks/trees indicating that you are a 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 mile up the slope. 8. DO read the official signs marking the milestones, you'll find them about 200 metres beyond the fake ones... I know, whoever did that is a totally sadistic shit! 9. DON'T take long breaks, you'll convince yourself to turn around and go back down! 10. DO take short breaks, often. Especially when your heart rate hits 200!!! 11. DON'T bother walking back down the mountain, get a skyride ticket and taken the gondola (let those muscles rest) 12. DO visit the Grizzly enclosure before you leave. It's the closest you are going to get to 2 magnificent looking beasts! 13. DON'T make stupid bets with people suggesting you are going to shit all over their time (also don't post on FB bragging you are going to hammer those times, especially when you've been drinking beer and whiskey shots the night before). 14. DO use those times as a motivator to help you climb the hill. Even if the bets are cashless, bragging rights do reign supreme! * I did this in late 2011 (I think I am still recovering), but wrote the above entry the next day. I did the grind hung-way-over thinking it'd be a piece of cake. Idiot! I had with me a Canon EOS 450d with a battery grip; Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens; Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens; plus snacks, a jumper and water/drinks --- The total pack weighed around 20 pounds. Super idiot! I was fit at the time, but that nearly did me in*

Grouse (verb): To grumble or complain. Grind (verb): To oppress, torment, or crush. Never has a mountain trail been so aptly named. A sign towards the beginning of this trail declares it "nature's stairmaster" and, like the name, no words could ring more true. I searched for another sign I imagined they had planted somewhere, "switchbacks are for pussies", but it was in vain. That sign existed only in my head. In its 1.8 mile vertical climb to the top, the Grouse Grind rises from an elevation of 1,083 feet to an elevation of 4,150 feet. That's a rise of 3,067 feet in the space of 1.8 miles. In comparison, I hiked Oahu's Kuliouou Ridge Trail back in February and I thought it was a beast yet it rises only 1,900 feet in elevation over a 2.5 mile stretch. Canadians don't mess around. Adding to the "grind" portion of your adventure are the signs, posted at 1/4 marks along your path. Though it's explained nowhere it's worth knowing that these markers refer to elevation, not distance. This accounts for the reason that certain segments feel so much more difficult than others: they cover the same elevation within a shorter distance. I'm talking to you, damned 4th quarter. It was on the 4th section of the Grind that I rhetorically declared "I don't think I can do it" knowing full well that I had to. The only thing worse than climbing the mountain would be climbing down it without having reached the pinnacle. Further, hiking down is prohibited. Never has the saying "the only way around a problem is through it" resonated more. I wanted to be through with this mountain. Aside from my first five minutes on the trail I passed nobody; I was the person to pass. But it's not a race. I reached the pinnacle and though my time (timing your climb is a Grouse thing) would impress no one I was both relieved and proud of my accomplishment. The hike should run you anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, give or take 15 minutes. When done, my hope was to never see this hike again in my lifetime. With time and distance though, I've become somewhat in awe of it (and me, for doing it) thus the 5-stars. If you want your ass kicked all the way to Sunday don't miss an opportunity to hike the Grouse Grind. You'll complain the entire way up and rejoice when it's over. Other stuff: * I hiked on a rainy summer weekday. The trail is supposedly wall to wall people on summer weekends. Less so on rainy weekdays. * If rain is predicted, go before it gets heavy. During heavy rain the trail is akin to hiking up a series of small waterfalls. * Wear close-toed shoes, bring a ton of water, and a change of shirts. I ignored the "change of shirts" and wound up having to buy one at the top. Sitting there in a wet shirt proved to be a freezing experience. * There's a whole lot of things to see and do at the top including a casual dining place and, upstairs from that, an actual restaurant/bar with a fireplace and beautiful views. Also, live bears, a lumberjack show, and who knows what else? I was so cold all I could do was eat and drink and leave. * The views from the top are supposedly spectacular. On this day, the mountain was completely fogged in. Zero views in any direction. If that matters to you, carefully choose your hike day. * You're required to take the gondola back down at a cost of $10 Canadian per person. This is no doubt one of the loveliest views ever but not when it's fogged in. Then it's just a transportation device. So, choose your hike day accordingly (you can also take the gondola up but c'mon now)... * Easy to get to via public transit from downtown Vancouver but made even easier via a summer perk: a free shuttle that leaves daily (during summer) from Canada Place (Downtown Vancouver). * 2 hours 15 minutes. I told you it'd impress no one.

I've been to Vancouver several times before and visited all the touristy attractions, so a local flavor activity was next on my bucket list. I read about the Grouse Grind in a magazine that mentioned finishing this challenging uphill hike within 90 minutes is decent for out-of-towners, and is evidence of being in good physical shape. I wanted to test my cardio endurance so I accepted the challenge. Grouse Grind ended up being the most memorable event during my recent Vancouver trip! This hike reminded me of being on Stair Masters except doing it in mother nature. The other difference is that each step in the Grouse Grind is not evenly spaced apart. There were frequent switchbacks and not many areas of flat terrain during the hike. The experience of endless climbing was comparable to hiking the Great Wall of China, except the path here consisted of a man-constructed wood staircase. Mental toughness was just as important as physical endurance to complete the Grouse Grind. I had to force myself to keep going, or else I wouldn't be able to finish within 90 minutes. I watched numerous hikers 2 or 3 times my age climb pass me without resting, and that motivated me to not quit and continue with fewer breaks. The first 1/4 of the hike was easy, and the second 1/4 was most tough due to the increased spacing between steps. Fortunately, there were markers along the trail (measuring elevation gain in 1/40 increments and is generally accurate) to let you know how far you are from the finish line. The reward of making it to the summit for a view of Vancouver (overlooking North Van and Stanley Park) was amazing. My time of 85 minutes (1:25) was not remarkable at all, in fact well below the average time for men aged 70+ (1:06)! But I know with some more cardio and endurance training, I can do a lot better. My next goal is to complete it within 60 minutes. :)

On a recent vacation to Vancouver, I decided that I wanted to do the Grouse Grind hike. My friend, who lives in Vancouver, had done it a few years ago, but couldn't really remember how easy(hard) the hike was. And the trail had apparently changed since then. So I kind of went into the hike only knowing that it was lots of steps. Sounds easy, right? We hiked the trail fairly early in the morning to avoid crowds. The trail is a mix of dirt, stones, and wooden stairs. Zigzagging up the mountain through the trees. Starting off I thought, I exercise regularly, this will be easy. After just a few minutes of hiking, my opinion quickly changed. By this point, after hardly any hiking, I was struggling to keep up with my friend. Curious about how far we had to go, we asked someone how close we were to the top. He smiled and said "you're not even half way there!" In fact we weren't even 1/4 of the way. Hearing that and being so tired was kind of demoralizing, but we just laughed and kept going. The trail has distance markers throughout, with big signs marking 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4s complete. As the trail went on, it seemed to get steeper and steeper, but that could have just been the effects of my tired legs on my mind. Step after step after step... this was much harder than I thought it would be. Near the top (3/4), the trail became wet and slippery. There was actually still snow at the top of the mountain, so maybe that's where the water was coming from. The trail also goes near a small waterfall. There were ropes along the path near the top to help with the climb. And maybe stop you from tumbling down the mountain. We finally reached the top, legs tired, sighs of relief, but with a feeling of accomplishment. It was definitely worth it for the view though. Although I guess if you just want the view, you can take the gondola up, but where is the fun in that? The trail is 1.8 miles long, starts at 900 feet, and reaches a height of 3700 feet. The trail's average time to complete is 1.5 hours. My friend and I did it in 1 hour and 11 minutes. Not a bad time (record time is 25 minutes!!?!!?), but I'm almost certain that we got beat by someone who couldn't have been more than 10 years old. The trail does seem to get crowded at times, but I really didn't have a problem with that. Some areas are really narrow so passing, or being passed, can be difficult. The only problem I had with Grouse Grind was that you have to pay to go back down. Hiking the trail down is not allowed, so you must take the Grouse Mountain Skyride (gondola). A ticket for the gondola is $10 dollars. Even though the hike was not easy, I'd definitely want to do it again to try and beat my time.

I've been running a hiking club for 10 years and the grind is not the back-country. In this arena, I'm a snob. It is important to qualify that because you need to know what you want before knowing if my review means much to you. I dislike the grind for many reasons. 1 is that it gives people a skewed view of BC "hiking". Because it is so popular (and some say a "rite of passage") people tend to think of it as typical. It is not. I know of no other hike where you have annoying people with a predominantly non-community attitude hiking up a groomed staircase,. and then someone charges you $10 to descend by a gondola. They also encourage people to time themselves and push their limits - and then complain about how many rescue calls occur. I do not relax on the grind. The type A urban-folk that I hike to escape have found this place, and they prance around like peacocks on a catwalk hell bent on draining your water, warm clothing and first aid supplies (ie, they expect other people to save their asses when they go out unprepared). Yes, I've had to provide all 3. The vibe on the Grind is steeped with a competitive, crowded attitude, which kind of flies in the face of the typical hiking community ethos. That being said, the many weaknesses of the Grind could also be considered a list of strengths. Because it attracts the back country ignorant like a moth to a flame,.. it keeps these people out of the many other places the lower mainland has to offer. I like that. The Grind also is tough! For veteran hikers, and newbies alike. Super un-enjoyable, but an awesome workout if that is all you are looking for. If you have out of town guests that actually like hiking already,.. don't take them here and turn them off of Vancouver. Try it once, vomit, and then buy a copy of 103 hikes and do some real hiking. and the BCMC next to it,.. stay away, I think it is haunted (don't go there! agh, who am I fooling, its where you should go instead but don't tell too many people).

Having just moved to Canada, we were told climbing the Grind would be the determining factor whether we were truly Vancouverites. The initiation process began on a Saturday mourning* in September. On the sea bus over, our friends warned it would be no cake walk getting up the Grind. They said some people train weekly and that even star athletes and avid runners are challenged with the incline. That there's even a gigantic warning sign to ward off amateur hikers looking for a pleasant stroll through the trees. The Grind is not for the faint. About ten minutes in, after commenting how beautiful the forest trees and how cute the squirrels, we noticed our legs start to buckle underneath our bodies. I turned around and asked, "Does this ever stop?" An hour later I was drenched in sweat, my legs jello, and my water all gone. And I still had a 1/4 more to go! All in all, great feeling after your workout and definitely worth the trip. If you choose to take the Grind just keep remembering there is a wonderful beer and meal waiting for you at the top! *pun intended

What a tough climb!! I would say that the biggest hurdle is mental, as with any challenging physical feat. You really have to push yourself and/or go with someone who is positive and supportive. It is step after step after step, with some monkeying over rocks for a little ways as well. I found it to be quite crowded...and that was the most difficult part for me. I felt nervous as people approached me aggressively and wanted to pass without saying a word. Because the path is narrow, there isn't always a convenient place to stop on the side. The view at the top is magnificent and breath taking, which makes the challenging work out truly worth it for me. I also enjoyed the entertainment of the lumber jack show, bird show, grizzly bear habitat, riding the gondola, and of course, eating my first beaver tail. I would most definitely return...whether I will climb it again is to be determined! ;) I will leave with some humble words of advice: 1. Remember your manners--let people know when you would like to pass instead of hovering over them. The paths are narrow and Grouse Grind is only as dangerous as its guests' behavior. 2. Go at your own pace. 3. Revel in the feeling of accomplishment and pride when you reach the top!

I was in Vancouver for the past few days and I decided to take on the epic Grouse Grind hike my first day there. People say it's one of the most challenging hikes out there, so of course, I had to see for myself. There's a free public shuttle that runs from downtown to the base of Grouse Mountain, but the first bus comes at 9am, so I decided to just take the local buses so I could get a head start. I got to the base of the mountain at around 7am and there were already quite a few people hiking! You can definitely tell who the regulars are. They blew past the endless steps so effortlessly. Meanwhile, I was panting, sweating like a pig, and stopping for a break every 5 min (maybe even less). This is definitely a hike that you need to be in decent shape for. For me, this 2 hour stair master workout was the hardest hike I've ever experienced. I heard the record for getting the the top was 23 minutes. Whoever that guy was, he's crazy. I probably won't be hiking this trail again for a while, but it's nice to say that I survived the Grouse Grind! Once you get to the top, the views are phenomenal. On the day that I went, the sun broke through the clouds right as I was near the top. It was so beautiful! The last set of steps really looks like a staircase to heaven, with the light shining perfectly between the trees (or maybe just cause I was about to pass out). There are lots of activities on top of the mountain. I went to see the bear exhibit, and I did the zipline tour as well. I had a blast! It does cost $10 to take the SkyTrain back down to the base of the mountain, though, since they don't allow you to hike back down for safety reasons. If you buy a zipline tour, the SkyTrain ride is included. So basically, be prepared to spend a minimum of $10 for this hike, unless you want to be a rebel and hike back down the mountain at your own risk. If you're in Vancouver and are up for a hard but rewarding challenge, hike up Grouse! I assure you it will be an experience to remember.

This is definitely an experience..... My advice for people doing it for the first time: 1. Bring a small backpack or a drawstring pouch for WATER, SMALL TOWEL, and a SNACK. (lol this sounds dumb but it might help give you a small energy boost on the way up) 2. Don't wear heavy clothing like sweaters, zip ups, baggy pants - I recently went on a cool day with light rain when I got to the top and I wore a tank and shorts and survived. It does get kind of cold at the top but your body will be sweating so much from the whole trek that you should be ok. Basically the less you carry the better. I sugges bringing a 500 mL water bottle but not your own HUGE plastic/aluminum water bottles - it's not worth carrying something heavy or bulky up the hike. Take small steps throughout the whole hike and you'll find it helps. Make sure you take mini breaks to give yourself and your legs time to get over the lactic acid build up. I definitely prefer to do the grind in colder/cloudy weather versus sunny. It's so much more difficult when you have the sun shining down on you and the heat adding to the exhaustion. If you do go in the cold and don't want your hands to freeze then gloves are a good option. The gondola ride down is $10 a person so make sure you bring cash/credit so you can get down. In my opinion a little pricey for a 5 minute ride down but it's a lot cheaper than a gym membership!

Potential hikers READ: yes the hike is grueling, no it is not as bad as some reviews say IF YOU ARE REGULARLY EXERCISING. I saw many hikers of same stature and build hiking but it was evident their exercising tolerance. Suggestions: --Bring 1-2 liters of water, and some hiking snacks, preferably in a camelback so you can be hands free. --It will take 1-2 hours depending on your strength and then burn in your thighs ;) --the stairs are very uneven, so joke hands free --Dress in light layers, even a 50'F day demands short sleeves by the top. I saw a man in jeans looking so uncomfortable, wear workout attire. --there are makers like "1/40" along the way! These are MORE accurate than the 4 big white markers that say "1/4 done". --as for bears, I have only done this once. A fellow hiker has done this 50 times and he says the most he has seen was a squirrel :D --You cannot hike down so buy a $10 one way tram ticket down!

If you're in the mood to quite possibly kick your own ass (and who isn't really?) THIS is the place to go. It's the perfect place to 'get your fitness on'. Basically, you climb a whole schwack-load of stairs to the top of a mountain. The pay off? Burning muscles, a racing heartbeat, an amazing view, and a genuine sense of... 'I DID IT!!! HECK YEAH!!!!'. Here are a few tips for ya: * DO NOT let the fitness nerds make you feel bad when they run past you, or loudly announce how long it takes them to climb to the top of Grouse. Just do your thing :) * DO NOT throw your garbage on the side of the trail (for the love of GAD!!!). *DO NOT spit directly on the trail. There's nothing more disgusting than stomping over and over on other people's loogies. I mean, C'MON!!! * Try parking on the sides of the streets, just outside the paid parking lot. It's free and spots are constantly opening up, so you just need a bit of patience. * Bring lot's of water with you. Seriously. LOT'S. * Have $10 on hand to take the gondola back down the mountain ($10 is a tad bit steep if you ask me. No pun intended). And here's the one I learned the hard way... * DO NOT bring your dog with you. Turns out, dogs are not allowed on the trail, on the top of the mountain, and nope, not even on the gondola. I'm lucky the gondola attendant let me bring my little guy down with me. My bad. So be prepared to sweat my friend. As I like to say, 'You'll be sweating like a hooker in church'. Classy.

Today was a day full of physical activity, Got on Bicycle near City Hall and rode to the Grouse Grid Parking lot. Before I knew it I was at the trail head stretching my legs on the advice of bike group member. The Hike starts I try to keep a steady pace but all my bike group members have all done this before and I'm the rookie looking at tail lights. Well as I slowly and deliberately chose my route up the trail, I look up and realized the place was busy as Midway of the P&E with every type of person under the sun making the trek up this hill one step at a time. Retied people hauling ass, Yong woman in the most chic of yoga wear with matching trail running shoes with individual spaces for their toes. A great variety of languages where spoken on the trail. I enjoyed the hearing determined Russian phases, mixes of Tagalog and English. The Communication I noticed most where people many who did know each other smile with encouragement and We Can Do This. After about 45 minutes I made I to the halfway point although my hiking was slow I sucked on my water bottle and held the hand ropes and kept climbing. I head young boys make primal screams as the parents kept climbing. Toward the last quarter of the climb I started to look back and enjoy peaks of the view behind me. I started to know yes I going to make to the top and relaxed and climbed the trail. Today when I reached the top there was a small misting shower set up by a bottled water company which I walked thought. I rejoined my group eat the Sandwich I packed for the trip and filled my water bottle in the washroom. Sadly there is no clean place to fill a water bottle at the Grouse Mountain Guess Centre. I paid my 10 bucks and rode the Gondola Down unlocked my bicycle and rode it to Vancouver. That was 5 hours of jam packed of activity and I hope to do again. Maybe not tomorrow but before the end of this Grind season. I enjoyed the climb.

They don't call it the "Grind" for nothing When I first moved to the lower mainland everyone kept on sayin "have you done the grouse grind?" "have you done the grind" "have you gone up the grind". Because you're not a local till you've done it. At first I think, is this some kind of dance move or a local strip bar or sex position I never heard of. But quickly I realize its "Mother natures stairmaster" hike up Grouse mountain. One day I went up with some college friends, and like everyone else when you saw the 1/4 mark you said to yourself WTF?????? Really???? Are you kidding me???? lol Maybe its not to late to go back down? maybe? but you decided to be brave and kept on going and because you didn't want to be the one to say lets go back down! Depending on time and day this place gets busy with locals and tourist. I know the word "tourist" locals don't like to hear but we need to share our beautiful home with others, we need to play nice! I usually come early during the week when really fit senior citizens pass by me and zoom up that mountain. Once you've braved it out and reach the top, it's worth it just for the view of beautiful downtown Vancouver and the ocean. And you thought you couldn't do it! Now you're planning on the next time you'll be up again. With the increase of the gondola ride down to 10$ more and more people are trying to walk down ignoring the big sign warning you not to do it, which also sucks for people trying to get up with the increase traffic. Throughout the years I've notice some improvement with the trails, more ropes, new steps, so on. I have a love hate relationship with the grouse grind (more love). I try to hike up 2-4 times a year. Warning its not open all year round depending on weather and snow, usually opens in April(Late Spring) Happy grinding!!

My ass never spoke to me...until today. It spoke of horrors and pulled muscles and mumblings under it's breath about that last 15lbs it wish it didn't have to carry up hill. Let me start by saying that I have a very big fondness for bears. So much so, my fondness runs into my frugality and overrides any capacity for rational thought. On vacation in Vancouver, I had made up my mind to see bears, as conveniently as I could. Well, that really didn't work out according to plan. I had no idea what was in store for me. Instead of paying $35 to take a leisurely 8 minute gondola ride to see the Grizzly Bear habitat at Grouse Mountain, I chose the exact opposite. I chose, the Grouse Grind. The bf and I decided on a last minute whim to climb the steep (read: intense vertical incline) hike up Grouse mountain on foot. And it's no small feat. Try it in $8 flats from Target and a pair of shorts that won't let you spread your gate more than a catholic school nun is comfortable with. Yeah, it was that bad. Better yet, try hiking that after you've walked to Kitsilano and back from downtown Vancouver via the bridge earlier in the day. Try going up that sucker on a 1.8 mile hike unprepared, in the wrong shoes and with only bears on your mind. I think it took us about an hour...but I did it. I narrowly escaped death several times, saw amazing views, and found lung capacity I never knew I had. This hike makes you realize no matter how much in shape you are, the mountain will ALWAYS beat you. I was almost in tears at the half way point. I've run a half marathon in my time, but a woman who was trailing behind me said she believed this hike was worse than childbirth--if that puts things into perspective. Bottom line: you'll be damn proud when you finish, the views are utterly breathtaking from the top and yes, I did see some grizzly bears. And I survived to tell the tale. Grouse Mountain, good game, my friend. Good game.

If you haven't done it before or haven't done it for a long time, you will hate yourself or your friends who drag you or trick you do do the hike during first 1/4 section of the hike. It is close to 45 degrees for most of the way up but the first 1/4 way up (the quarter marks are by altitude) is the steepest. I did the hike this morning with 2 friends and it was my first time in over 10 years. One of my friends who bikes to work everyday from Kerridsale to Great Northern Way began trotting up right away and it took her just less than an hour to finish the grind. Another friend and I are little out of shape and took us just under 2 hours with ample rest along the way. Even though there were some regretful moments at the beginning, it got easier after the half way mark because my body got conditioned to the climb. I would definitely do it again because there is no way out compared to going to the gym where you can leave any time you want. Once on the grind, going down on foot is technically prohibited even though some people do it. I think it's harder to go down since the trail is steep. It forces you to complete your work out. There is no way out except up. Another advantage of doing the Grind is you save almost $40 for an adult gondola ticket for going up the mountain. To my personal experience, I think it's a rip off. One way ticket down the mountain is only $5. Once you're up, whether you hike up or take the gondola up, you can enjoy all the summer activities up there ... the bear habitat, the logging show and the zip-lining ... It may feel very challenging during the first 1/4 way up but as long as you stop whenever you need to and drink a lot of water, most people can do it. I see 5-year old kids zipping by me. It was rather embarrassing :)

I use to love coming to the Grind, excessive love where for two years I bought a season pass for the gondola as I frequented this trail 3 times a week during the summer months. Times go by, things change, and sometimes not for the better. The popularity of the Grouse Grind and the amount of people who have flocked here is good for tourism, but because of the amount of amateurs who come unprepared, the city deemed it necessary to 'un-nature' this trail where now it really is just a glorified stairmaster to the top of the mountain. On any given sunny, warm summer day... or really once the gates are open to the public and we don't get the Vancouver gloomy rain, this pathway to the top of the peak is filled with regulars, first-timers, tourist, and anyone who just wants to do this trek. Before you decide that you even want to do this a new challenge has presented itself, and that is parking... or more so not wanting to pay for parking. Back, just a year ago the dirt lot (the non paved car parking) was free, zero, nil, nothing, park thy car, leave it there and go up... but just like everything... nothing last forever. I did not check the rates, but this was a shocking surprise this year. The street going up to the entrance to the grind is still free, but good luck finding parking, and if you find it... it's a mini upward hike to get to the start line. Pay to play starts early at the grind now, and even if your not paying money to park the car.. your paying in time wasted to walk from car to starting area! When you finally get to the starting area it's time to people watch to see how unprepared so many who attempt this trek really are. You have the pro's, who will be doing this and are fully prepared, from the clothing to the shoes, then you have the rest who have no clue as to what they are partaking in. Only when you walk about 5 minutes into this thing is when you see the warning/liability sign advising of all the risk you are putting yourself into, and practically silent signing this by passing this sign. If you decide to go up this, and are willing to not listen to your music/ipod, the normal chatter you may hear are lines like... "are we there yet", "how far do we have left", "this is never going to end", "I'm tired... can we go back down"... etc... etc... etc... whining seems to be the norm anytime I am on this.. not from my mouth.. but from everyone else who is not familiar with the road ahead. Sometimes I wonder if they should have moved the warning sign right near the entrance gates to scare off the people before they get in to deep for their own good. As a person who has gone up so many times this years path has changed so much.. not the way up.. but the terrain. Gone are the rocks, dirt, uneven land of many of the upward hikes, replaced by big wooden man-made staircases to solidify the status of nature's 'stairmaster'. I'm scared by next year the replace all the rocks and have a staircase like it is going to heaven, some things should not be tampered with, I understand the safety issue, but much of the natural beauty of this hike has been taken away from adding these man-made structures, making this path suitable for all, when really you can't satisfy the masses on anything (like a person who doesn't want fast-food, but you take him to McDonald's...it's not going to work) but they are trying to create a medium. By the end of your crazy trek up the mountain you are treated to the main building that houses a diner, a restaurant, a coffee shop, a clothing shop, a partial display museum, a patio bar, and washrooms for you to relieve and clean yourself up. Whether you take the gondola up, or decided to walk up... this is the main stop. When you leave the building to see what else is up here, you are treated to looking at the bears in a resting area, a bird show and a lumberjack show that happen at certain intervals. What they have added.. in forms of putting their hands in your pocket is charging for the ski-lift up to the next peak... this used to be free if you got up to this point.. but just another way of nickel and diming you... may as well charge you for these shows now... soon enough. Luckily for you, from my last review, it's still $10 to come down, just waiting for the next hike up in price for this.. oh how I miss the days of $5 and no real waits for the gondola down. Yes, that seems to be a new problem in the last few years, especially during sunny days, you may have to wait a gondola or two to come down due to all the extra people knowing about this nature walk, and waiting in a long line up that extends out of the gondola arrival and departure building. Just pray that one of the gondola's does not break down... or the wait continues. Not as fun as it used to be, but still something you should do if you are visiting Vancouver!

NEVER AGAIN. NEVER AGAIN, I said, as I was climbing over countless rocks and wooden boards to get to the top of Grouse mountain. I cursed this trail as I nearly lost my balance when I tired towards the end of the hike. I must have had to stop a dozen times, and I embarrassingly let old ladies with canes pass me by, as I heaved for air. (Just kidding they weren't canes, maybe they were walking sticks.) One athletic local who passed me up stopped to pity me and converse a bit; she said that during the weekends, Grouse Grind is packed. WHY oh WHY do you torture yourselves, oh citizens of Vancouver? This truly was a difficult workout for me, as I am accustomed more to running on flat surfaces than climbing steep inclines...for more than an hour. It is definitely a challenge, but the reward of getting to the top and feeling accomplished outweighs the pain and hatred for life that you'll have while ascending to the peak. A must visit, because, when in Rome, do as Romans do!

Excellent hiking trail that took about 75 minutes to climb up, medium degree difficulty and yet comfortable as the trail is deep inside trees. The animals on the top are worth watching.

Probably the most convenient and best place to get a good natural workout to prep you for more hiking. The Grouse Grind can be pretty strenuous, especially if you're not in the best of shape. What makes it so fun is that practically everyone has tried it or does it on a regular basis. It's always fun to have a little friendly competition to see who can make it to the top in the shortest time. It is essentially a crazy stairmaster in the wilderness. The record time right now is just over 26 minutes. To give you an idea...I'm not in the best of shape so I'm happy if I can do it in around an hour or under. This is certainly NOT a leisurely trail you want to be bringing mom and pops on. Unless they're fit and in shape without any health problems. It's a work out.