Elevation Profile for the Snowshoe Grind (not including the Discovery Loop)

To start the Snowshoe Grind, you will find the trailhead just beside the skate pond (by going hard-left when you get off the gondola). There are poles marking the trail from the trailhead up to the summit of Dam Mountain, and they are all labeled “SSG”. The trail is well marked and easy to follow all the way up. You will initially walk north, parallel to the Paradise ski run and Greenway chair lift. This section is actually a part of the Blue Grouse Loop – a different snowshoe trail – but connects you to the Snowshoe Grind. After you’ve passed the grizzly bear pen, you’ll quickly zig-zag under the Peak chairlift and then be on a wide service road. This first kilometer or so of the hike is relatively flat and easy.

Before long the road funnels into a trail. There will be a few steep sections, that may prove difficult on the way back down for the novice snowshoer. Tip: It’s okay (and fun) to slide down on your butt! The trails are very well-worn and marked so you should have no trouble staying on track. Simply follow the orange poles up to the top.

If you’re lucky and have blue skies, you’ll have a remarkable view of Vancouver, the Pacific Ocean and Mount Baker down in the States. If its grey and the snow is falling, you won’t have the same panorama, but the falling snow provides its own spectacle.

The trail is a beauty with fresh snow

The trail was designed so that it would take a comparable time to complete as would your normal Grouse Grind time. I haven’t found this to be the case, however, as I have put on my MICROspikes and run the trail whenever I have done it. I can complete the trail to the top of Dam Mtn in about 20 minutes as opposed to my 45 minute Grouse Grind time. But, if you were casually walking then I think the times would be a lot closer. The difference with the Snowshoe Grind is that a lot of it is actually runnable, whereas the Grouse Grind for me is too steep to run at all.

And despite the name of the trail, you often don’t actually need snowshoes. The trail is so well used, unless it has just snowed a lot, the snow is usually quite compact. Wearing something like the Kahtoola MICROspikes or Yaktrax might be easier. Even some sturdy winter hiking boots might get the job done and save you the cost of rentals if there isn’t any fresh snow.

There are also many other great snowshoe trails up on Grouse Mountain including the Blue Grouse Loop and the Discovery Loop. The Discovery Loop is great to add-on to the end of the Snowshoe Grind if you want to extend your trip. I think the viewpoint at the end of the Discovery Loop is even better than from Dam Mountain. You can see the wind turbine, much of the Fraser Valley, and the other neighboring mountains like Crown Mountain and Coliseum Mountain. Adding the Discovery Loop brings the total trip to about 6.4km. There is a PDF map of the snowshoe park trails here.

Directions and Parking

From Downtown: Take Georgia Street through the Stanley Park causeway and over the Lion’s Gate Bridge. Take the North Vancouver exit to Marine Drive, then left up Capilano Road. Follow Capilano Road all the way to the Grouse parking lot at the top.

If you’re coming from Highway 1 heading west: Take the Ironworkers’ Memorial (Second Narrows) Bridge along Highway #1 westbound to Capilano Road and take the North exit. Follow Capilano Road all the way to the Grouse parking lot at the top.

Click here for Google Map Directions.

Outdoor Vancouver and Reader’s Hike Rating

Source: Outdoor Vancouver