Just a short drive north from Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in Vancouver is the adventure hub of Grouse Mountain.
Although a visit to Grouse Mountain came highly recommended by our friends, their descriptions were not very clear about what it was or what we would be doing when we got there. Once we arrived, however, we immediately knew why it had rave reviews – it was an outdoor playground full of wild animals, shows, good food, hiking trails, and a ropes course, all with killer mountain views and mountain vibes.
Here’s why you should add Grouse Mountain to your North Vancouver visit:
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Gondola Ride
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Grizzly Bears
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Adventure Tree Canopy
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Lumberjack show and animal encounters
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Dining options
Grouse Mountain is located on unceded traditional territory of the Skwxwú7mesh Nation and Tslei-Waututh Nation.
Trip Purpose
Spend a day at Grouse Mountain during a trip to Vancouver, Canada
DESTINATION: Vancouver, Canada
AGE OF OUR KIDS: 2 years; 5 years
LENGTH OF STAY: One day
TIME OF YEAR: October
Before you go
- Tickets: You can purchase tickets online or at the entrance to the gondola. A mountain admission ticket is free for kids ages 0-4, CAN $39 for children ages 5-12, CAN $55 for youth ages 13-18, and CAN $75 for adults ages 19+. A family ticket is CAN $189 for two adults and two children.
- Parking: There is a small parking lot at the entrance to the gondola. Arrive early to get a parking spot. In the summer, Grouse Mountain offers a free shuttle from downtown Vancouver.
- Schedule of events: Grouse Mountain hosts a variety of activities during the day, such as ranger talks and a lumberjack show. Make sure you time your day around which activities you would like to participate in by viewing the schedule in advance.
Why you should go to Grouse Mountain with your Family
The Gondola Ride is a lot of Fun
There are two ways to reach the top of Grouse Mountain – by hiking straight up the mountain via the 1.5 mile Grouse Grind trail, or by riding a gondola.
Tickets to ride the gondola are included with the mountain admission ticket, so I advise you take the free ride unless your kids are up for a challenging hike.
The gondolas are large enough to fit a big group of people, and lined with windows so everyone has an epic view as you scale the mountainside.
Our kiddos watched as we whooshed into the air on our one-mile journey, flying above our cars, above the trees, until suddenly we could see the ocean and downtown Vancouver. The views were incredible, and the ride was fast.
2. There are grizzly bears
Two rescued grizzly bears live at Grouse Mountain in a safe enclosure with plenty of viewing opportunities for visitors.
Follow the painted bear tracks from the gondola to find the bear enclosure and see who in your family can spot the bears first.
We planned to arrive at the bear encounter around the time that a ranger would be speaking so we could learn some bear facts too.
My kids loved watching the bears take a dip in the “dirty water pool” as my toddler called it. She was so concerned that the bear was drinking dirty water, which wasn’t really dirty for a bear, that she offered it some water from her water bottle. So generous.
3. You can Swing from the Tree Canopy with your Kids
The Kids Tree Canopy Adventure is included in the price of admission and takes littles and their caregivers along fully contained cargo net bridges from treehouse to treehouse.
It is safe, fun, wobbly, and open to all ages.
4. Tickets include free shows and presentations throughout the park
Check the schedule before you go. There are multiple shows and presentations throughout the day.
We attended an owl encounter, met an owl, and learned some interesting owl facts from an experienced ranger.
We also saw the lumberjack show which was intended to be kid friendly but ended up being a little too intense for our preschooler.
Not sure if the script will change, but the storyline was full of slapstick humor about a competition between two lumberjacks who sometimes intentionally thwarted each other’s efforts, got into a bit of a fight, almost blew each other up, and ended with a surprise guest intentionally falling off a very high tree.
My toddler was enthralled, but my preschooler was so concerned about why they would try to hurt each other, why they were fighting, and really believed they got blown up or almost fell to their death.
This was not a show I would recommend for all kids. You know your kids best.
5. There are many dining options
Grouse Mountain has dining options for all types of visitors, from café fare to barbeque to fancy three-course menus.
We opted for a nice sit-down lunch after a morning full of hiking, animals, shows, and tree fun.
The Altitudes Bistro had sweeping views of Vancouver and the mountains below right from our seats. Watch the gondola go up and down from your window while you wait for your food with a drink from the bar. Our kids were provided crayons and coloring pages, too.
The kids’ meals were served in an adorable paper gondola that delighted my children. The grown-up meals were not as festive but were very tasty. Try the Mountain Nachos (CAN $25) and a salad.
Grouse Mountain ended up being a surprisingly fun place to visit with two little kids. I wasn’t sure what I was getting my family into when we booked our tickets online, but I am glad we did.
We saw many other families of color and international families there, enjoying the outdoors with their kids.
Because of the size of the park, even though there were many visitors at the time of our visit, it never felt crowded. Also, the hiking trails were flat and easy enough for a family with a preschooler or a young baby in a carrier or stroller.
What’s your favorite summer or fall activity at Grouse Mountain? Share in the comments below.
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Vancouver, Canada with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Take your Kids to the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver
Why Lonsdale District is the Best Place to Stay in Vancouver BC with Kids
