The Grouse Grind Just Reopened For Spring 2025

by Amy Huang | Apr 15, 2025

The Grind, aka “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster,” is a 2.5-kilometre hike that rises 800 metres in elevation across 2,830 stairs. If your legs don’t burn, you’re probably part mountain goat.

This year, the trailhead upgrades introduced last season are still in play, so hikers can enjoy better accessibility, new seating areas, a water station, stretching bars, and improved first responder access. Oh, and no, you still can’t hike back down.

What to Know Before You Go

The Grouse Grind Trail is part of Grouse Mountain Regional Park, which spans 75 hectares of forest on the southern slope of the mountain. It’s one of three main trails in the park, alongside the BCMC Trail and a portion of the Baden-Powell Trail.

The trail is rated difficult, and we mean it. There are no flat sections. It’s straight up, with average completion times of 2 to 2.5 hours if you’re reasonably fit. The trail is one-way only, and downhill hiking is prohibited to prevent accidents and damage. That means your options are:

The Skyride gondola ($20 for adults, $10 for kids)
The BCMC Trail, which takes about 2 hours to descend

Hiking Tips & Safety Reminders

Dress in layers—it’s often way colder at the top
Bring water and a snack (trail mix gang rise up)
No dogs—sorry, this isn’t the Seawall
No bathrooms on the trail—only at the base and summit
Bring a flashlight if you’re going late—it gets dark fast
Don’t litter—your banana peel isn’t “natural compost”

The Grind typically stays open through late fall, but weather can cause temporary closures. Pro tip: check the latest trail updates on Metro Vancouver’s official site before heading out.

For more info, visit the Grouse Mountain Regional Park page.