Vancouver Excursions

Grouse Mountain

On Vancouver’s north shore, just a 15-minute drive from the downtown area across the Lions Gate Bridge, is the year-round mountaintop playground of Grouse Mountain. Ascending the mountain is part of the adventure in the Super Skyride, a 100-passenger tram that glides up the steep mountain slopes carrying visitors up 3,700ft (1,100m) above sea level in just eight minutes. At the top, apart from magical views of the city below, is the 'Theatre in the Sky', which offers a high-tech presentation about Vancouver. There is also a cedar longhouse called the Hiwus Feasthouse that offers the chance to experience native West Coast culture with displays of dancing, storytelling, chanting and native cuisine. There are hiking trails up the side of Grouse Mountain and on the east side one of them features the Grouse Grind, which is billed as the world’s biggest stair-climb.  Mountain biking is also a popular pursuit on the mountainside, as is, of course, skiing and snowboarding in the winter months.

Address: 6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver; E-mail: info@grousemountain.com; Website: www.grousemountain.com; Telephone: (604) 984 0661 or (604) 980 9311; Opening time: Daily 9am to 10pm; Admission: C$37.95 (adult), C$22.95 (youth), C$13.95 (child); other concessions available