Vancouver's most popular trail, the Grouse Grind is just that, a grind! Boasting nearly 3,000 feet of elevation gain in only 1.8 miles, this trail shows no mercy. The trail climbs it's way up through the old-growth forest so steeply that most of it has been reinforced with timber and stone stairs.
Once you reach the top, the Grouse Mountain Village and Chalet come into view and are a welcome site. A great place to fuel up and get some water, the village hosts a number of activities including educational wildlife shows, zip lines, and helicopter tours, just to name a few.
Continuing up the hill, you will pass behind the resort and into the wilderness. A fork in the trail offers two routes. The Ridge Trail is a little more advanced but has great viewpoints along the way. The trails between Dam and Goat Mountain are fairly flat in the middle but are very steep at each end.
Just past Goat Mountain is the Goat Ridge Trail that takes you out to a panoramic viewpoint. This overlook is worth it all. The clearing at the top of the ridge is the perfect place for a snack and to snap some amazing photos.
Heading back the way you came, you will connect with the Alpine Trail that winds around the peaks (instead of over them) and leads you back to the Grouse Mountain Village and Chalet. From here you can pay $10 dollars to finish the day off with a ride down in the gondola or hike down the Baden Powell Trail to the original trailhead and parking lot.
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