Grouse Grind set to finally open this Saturday

Steps on the Grouse Grind trail in North Vancouver. (The West End / Flickr)

After an extended, snowy spring that saw the Grouse Grind covered in snow well into June, the North Shore’s natural stairmaster is finally set to open for the 2017 summer hiking season.

Metro Vancouver Regional District announced this afternoon that the trail will be open starting on Saturday, June 17.

Opening times for the trail will be from 6:15 am to 7:30 pm, but this will change as the season progresses to adjust to daylight hours.

This is the Grouse Grind’s latest opening in recent memory:

2016 – May 2
2015 – May 8
2014 – May 17
2013 – May 11
2012 – May 19
2011 – June 11

The Grouse Grind is a 2.9 km trail up the face of Grouse Mountain and hikers are reminded that the trail is only to be used for ascents.

Descents are prohibited for safety reasons, due to the high number of hikers ascending the trail and the impact on the trail’s conditions, and can only be made using the Grouse Mountain aerial tram for $10.

About 150,000 people use the trail every year; most hikers take an average of 90 minutes to complete the gruelling workout.

Although the Grouse Grind ends at Grouse Mountain Resort, the trail is maintained and operated by the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

New this year, the Grouse Grind is part of a newly created Metro Vancouver Park, that also includes a portion of the Baden-Powell trails within its boundary.

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