Grouse Mountain
86 hectares, 33 runs in North Vancouver. Celebrating 100 years in 2026, closest resort to downtown Vancouver.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
18 Dec 2026
Closes
18 Apr 2027
Days open
121
Annual snow
9.2m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Grouse Mountain's summit reaches 1,250 metres, dropping 369 vertical metres to a base at 881 metres across 33 runs spread over roughly 86 hectares in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Terrain splits 48 per cent intermediate, 30 per cent advanced, 12 per cent beginner and 10 per cent expert, with average annual snowfall of roughly 9.2 metres. Seven lifts, including one aerial tram, four quad chairs, one triple chair and one gondola, serve the mountain.
Grouse Mountain marks its 100th anniversary as a ski resort in 2026, having operated continuously since its inaugural season in 1926, and remains one of Vancouver's most visited natural attractions across all seasons. Its considerable proximity to downtown Vancouver has built Grouse's reputation as the city's most accessible mountain, drawing both dedicated skiers and casual day visitors.
The mountain was named in October 1894 by the first recorded hikers to reach its summit, who hunted a Blue Grouse along the way and honoured the bird in naming the peak. The Cromie family, then owners of the Vancouver Sun newspaper, purchased Grouse Mountain for 75,000 Canadian dollars in 1945, before Andrew Saxton Sr and a group of investors bought the mountain from the Cromies in 1964.
The McLaughlin family gained a controlling interest in 1974 and purchased the remaining shares in 1989 to achieve full private ownership. Grouse Mountain now operates as a Northland Properties company, remaining locally family owned. A new Grouse Gravity Coaster opened in spring 2026 as part of the resort's centennial celebrations. Adult daily tickets run from 89 to 109 Canadian dollars.
369m
Vertical
33
Runs
213 acres
Skiable
9.2m
Annual snow
The Terrain
33 runs across 213 acres skiable
Grouse Mountain is a compact city ski area above North Vancouver, with 33 runs over about 86 hectares and a 369-metre vertical between 881 and 1,250 metres. It skis steeper than the size suggests, with 48% intermediate, 30% advanced, 10% expert and 12% beginner. The Skyride aerial tram carries skiers up from the valley, and the mountain is built for short, efficient laps rather than long days of exploring. Around 9.2 metres of snow falls in a typical season, though a low base elevation means conditions can turn soft and wet.
The Cut is the signature run and is floodlit for night skiing, along with Peak, Heaven's Sake and several other favourites. Quad chairs such as the Olympic Express and Screaming Eagle move skiers around the upper mountain, and the Greenway chair serves beginner terrain. Grouse suits after-work skiers, intermediates polishing technique and beginners who want a short trip from the city. Experts and anyone wanting a full day of variety will tire of it quickly, so think of it as a local hill with a great view.
Terrain split
33
runs
33 runs across 4 grades
Beginner4 runs · 12%
Intermediate16 runs · 48%
Advanced10 runs · 30%
Expert3 runs · 10%
Time it right
When to visit Grouse Mountain
The 2025-26 season at Grouse Mountain ran from 22 November 2025 to 5 April 2026, a roughly nineteen-week season supported by average annual snowfall of around 9.2 metres. This season also marked Grouse's 100th anniversary as a ski resort, having first opened for skiing in 1926.
Midwinter, from December through February, typically brings the most consistent conditions to Grouse's intermediate-weighted terrain. Given its considerable proximity to Vancouver, Grouse draws a genuinely broad visitor base, from dedicated local skiers to casual visitors combining skiing with the mountain's other attractions.
Grouse's night-skiing programme continues to draw strong weekday evening visitation from Vancouver throughout the season. School holiday periods bring substantial family visitation given the resort's considerable proximity to the city and year-round attractions.
The resort's centennial celebrations, marketed as Grouse100, ran throughout the 2025-26 season alongside standard operations, including the spring 2026 opening of the new Grouse Gravity Coaster. Grouse Mountain continues to build on a full century of history since its 1926 founding under Northland Properties' family ownership. The resort's Vancouver proximity and centennial milestone remain central to its identity this season.
Season 2026 - 2027
18 Dec 2026
Opens
18 Apr 2027
Closes
121
Days open
9.2 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Grouse Mountain
Daily snow reports at Grouse Mountain go back to 2025, 3 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
41 cm
Snowiest day
7 Jan 2026
0 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
337 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Grouse Mountain, and where to stay
Grouse Mountain sits in North Vancouver, British Columbia, on the North Shore mountains, with a base elevation of 881 metres and a summit at 1,250 metres across a 369-metre vertical drop over roughly 86 hectares. This setting places Grouse within Metro Vancouver, closer to downtown than any other resort in the region.
North Vancouver and the broader Metro Vancouver region offer extensive lodging, dining and services within a short drive of the resort, given Grouse's position essentially within the city's boundaries.
Nancy Greene Way provides direct access to the resort's base, from where the Skyride aerial tram carries visitors up the mountain. Winter driving conditions on the approach road can include snow and ice at higher elevations.
Vancouver International Airport, roughly a 45-minute drive away, is the primary gateway for visitors flying into the region, with Grouse's considerable proximity to downtown Vancouver making it a genuinely convenient option for international visitors and local skiers alike.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Grouse Mountain, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Grouse Mountain's ski season?
Grouse Mountain's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from December 18 through April 18. That window is roughly 121 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in British Columbia, Canada often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Grouse Mountain have?
Grouse Mountain lists about 213 acres skiable of marked terrain spread across 33 named runs (86 hectares alongside 213 acres skiable). That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Grouse Mountain?
Trail grading at Grouse Mountain breaks down roughly as 12% beginner, 48% intermediate, 30% advanced, 10% expert. The advanced and expert share is substantial, so confident skiers and riders will find plenty of steeper fall-line options once they leave the nursery slopes.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Grouse Mountain have?
Grouse Mountain operates 7 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 4 quad chairs, 1 aerial tram, 1 gondola, and 1 triple chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Grouse Mountain?
Base elevation at Grouse Mountain is about 881 m (2,890 ft), with the summit around 1,250 m (4,101 ft), giving roughly 369 m (1,211 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Grouse Mountain get each season?
Grouse Mountain averages about 915 cm (360 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Grouse Mountain lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans CA$69 to CA$109, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Grouse Mountain before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 3 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Grouse Mountain so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Grouse Mountain have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Grouse Mountain. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Grouse Mountain located?
Grouse Mountain sits in British Columbia, Canada. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
Europe has had a quiet start to November, but our 10-day forecast has Serre Chevalier on 82 cm and Les 2 Alpes on 71 cm. Two pushes are lined up: a western Alps top-up from Friday, then a bigger, wider system on Thursday, November 12 and Friday, November 13 that reaches Italy and Switzerland. Full leaderboard inside.
4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
Mammoth just moved opening day forward to Thursday, November 5, eight days ahead of schedule. A snowy weekend and cold snowmaking nights did the work, and our forecast shows up to 33 inches more landing on November 13 and 14. Here is what opens, what the weather looks like and where Mammoth sits among the early Ikon Pass openers.
3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
Rain down low, snow up high, and a snow report full of zeros that mostly means ‘not updated yet’. Utah’s first proper storm of 2026-27 is rolling through the Wasatch, Snowbird’s snow stake is closing in on 10 inches, and Brian Head is five days from opening day. Early November snow rarely looks like much, but it is the layer every November opening date is built on. Here is where it stands.
1 Nov 2026
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026