Hikers planning on heading up Grouse Mountain over the next few months should be aware of several incoming closures.
Starting Sept. 6 and continuing to late November, the BCMC Route (or BCMC Trail) will be closed Monday to Friday for trail upgrades, which include improving parts of the trail that have been eroded by weather and use.
“Hikers should use the Grouse Grind Trail or the detour on the Larsen Trail during this time,” reads a statement from Metro Vancouver. The upgrades are part of the three-year Grouse Mountain Regional Park trail and site improvements project, funded by the federal and B.C. governments.
These improvements are being made alongside work by Grouse Mountain Resort related to installation of a new gondola in the nearby easement area. Trail users should be aware of the following closures:
- Sept. 9 to Oct. 7: The Grouse Grind Trail – otherwise known as “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster” – will be closed periodically so hazard trees can be removed. On days when the trail is open, there may be delays of up to 15 minutes where hikers will be asked to wait. Metro Vancouver says to check the Grouse Grind website for closures as the information becomes available.
- Oct. 11-31: Due to potential hazards caused by helicopter operations, Grouse Mountain Regional Park will be closed Monday to Friday, but open on weekends “as weather conditions allow.” On weekends, the BCMC Route will be the only way down, with the Skyride tram closed for annual maintenance.
In August, Grouse Mountain Resort said work was starting on a new $35-million gondola, which will take riders up the slope quicker and double the number of passengers able to travel up the mountain at a given time.
Metro Vancouver notes that Grouse Mountain Regional Park is one of the most popular in the region, with 484,300 visitors last year. Metro Vancouver manages the park and its three well-used trails: Grouse Grind Trail, BCMC Route and a portion of the Baden Powell Trail.
