Sight guide · Vancouver · Canada
Visiting Grouse Mountain
The Skyride gondola climbs to about 1,100 metres for views over the city, the Strait of Georgia and, on clear days, Mount Baker.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pburka at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
Grouse Mountain is a viewpoint in North Vancouver, Vancouver. Allow half a day; it is expensive. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Viewpoint
- Area
- North Vancouver
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- views, outdoors, kids and active
- Best months
- July–September
About Grouse Mountain
The Skyride gondola climbs to about 1,100 metres for views over the city, the Strait of Georgia and, on clear days, Mount Baker. In summer there are grizzly bears in a wildlife refuge, lumberjack shows and hiking; in winter, skiing and snowshoeing. Fit hikers climb the Grouse Grind, a 2.9 km staircase-like trail with about 850 metres of ascent.
Tip: If you hike the Grind, buy a one-way gondola ticket down; the trail is uphill-only and closes in winter.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: Half a day.
- Cost: Expensive.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: North Vancouver, seaBus terminal, market hall and the Shipyards waterfront in North Vancouver.
Best time to visit Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- July: 22°C (72°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- August: 22°C (72°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, very busy crowds.
- September: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-July the sun sets at about 21:14 local time (calculated for Vancouver).
When to visit Vancouver has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vancouver itinerary visits Grouse Mountain on day 2, together with Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Lynn Canyon Park and Richmond Night Market.
- No. 8 of the 20 sights in our Vancouver things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 3 of the 7-day plan.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Vancouver.
- A family favourite in Vancouver with kids.
Near Grouse Mountain
Also in North Vancouver, so you can walk between them:
- Lynn Canyon Park — 1.5–2 hours, free
- Capilano Suspension Bridge Park — 2 hours, expensive
- Deep Cove and Quarry Rock — half a day, free
If you like Grouse Mountain
- Stanley Park and the seawall — Stanley Park, Half a day
- Vancouver Aquarium — Stanley Park, 2–3 hours
- Queen Elizabeth Park and Bloedel Conservatory — Little Mountain, 1.5 hours
- VanDusen Botanical Garden — Shaughnessy, 2 hours
Staying near Grouse Mountain
Stay in Lower Lonsdale ($$) to walk here: seaBus terminal, market hall and the Shipyards waterfront in North Vancouver. All areas to stay in Vancouver.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Grouse Mountain?
Plan half a day. With Lynn Canyon Park nearby, it fits a half-day in North Vancouver.
+Is Grouse Mountain free?
No, it is expensive. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Grouse Mountain?
July–September for the most comfortable weather. If you hike the Grind, buy a one-way gondola ticket down; the trail is uphill-only and closes in winter.
+Do I need to book Grouse Mountain in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Grouse Mountain good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Vancouver. Vancouver works well for families: beaches, Stanley Park, the aquarium and Science World are close together, the North Shore adds suspension bridges and mountain gondolas, and indoor options cover rainy days.