As I am living in Vancouver for a few months, I try to see as much of this beautiful city as possible. One of the most beautiful views over Vancouver you get by visiting the peak of Grouse Mountain, which is why a friend and I decided to hike up there and enjoy the well-deserved view at the end. Another fact that made me go there is that two Grizzly Bears are living in a wilderness sanctuary up on Grouse Mountain. I love spotting wild animals but prefer to watch them in safety. So, if you think the same, get your hiking boots and let’s go!
I went there in early October, taking a free Shuttle bus from Canada Place which was super easy. While looking at the map that shows the different trails you can take, we met two other Germans on the same mission and we ended up spending the day together. You can usually decide if you want to take the Gondola up or hike, but in winter the trails are closed due to weather conditions. Because the four of us were there in late summer, we decided to hike up the Grouse Grind Trail, which is 2.9 km (1.8 miles) long. It took us about 1h 40 min. I know it’s a long time for 2.9 km, but you must consider that the trail is steep, and you have to climb 2,830 stairs. We took some breaks in between and chatted with other people or staff members, which was when we met one of the supervisors Phillip who motivated us to keep going by promising to show us a secret lookout on top of the mountain. People were all focused on reaching the peak, and most of us were totally out of breath, but everyone was still friendly and happy to share the “pain.”
With shaky legs and a big smile on our faces, we finally made it to the top of the mountain. Phillip kept his promise and was waiting for us to show us his secret spot. Though we had to hike for another 15 min to get there, it is worth it! We came out of the forest and were stunned by the view over whole Vancouver. It was a bit cloudy at first, but when we sat down to have lunch, it cleared up. Just sitting there and watching the sea and the city I felt like being on top of the whole world. We spent at least an hour there, eating, taking pictures and exploring the area a bit. We then decided to hike back to have a look at the restaurant to warm up. We got a well-deserved beer and enjoyed the sun. They put up a show with stuntmen, and many people went to see it. We thought it would be a great time to see the Grizzlies as it couldn’t be that busy there during the show. Seeing a Grizzly for the first time in my life was very impressive, and I didn’t expect them to be that big. Besides all the free things you can see and do there, you can also go ziplining, go on the Eye of the Wind turbine to have a 360-degree view and much more. In Winter they also offer different activities. You can get more information about prices, transport, and events on the website.
But even if you don’t do anything of that, the view is worth it, and we had a great day.
We took the Gondola down and had a great view again, though it is very crowded. So try to get a place at the window! Back on ground level, we took the free shuttle bus back to Canada place and proudly watched Grouse Mountain from a distance.
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