livelifewildher Follow
Taking it offline and connecting with nature. Let the adventures begin and livelifewildher.
Interests: backpackingcanoeinghikingkayakingmountaineeringphotographysnowshoeingweekendsdogsglacier-crossingglacier-viewinglakepeakscramblingsteep-trailsroutefindingpopular-trailswater-fallwild-flowers
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■karma:80
■distance:100km
■elevation:3779m
■posts:10
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■following:2
Grouse Snowshoe Grind
Dec 22, 2019
The Snowshoe Grind (SSG) is a challenging snowy trail on Grouse Mountain that starts at the skate pond and ends at the top of Dam Mountain. According to my GPS watch, it is 4.3 kms in length (out and back) with an elevation gain of 272m. The highest point is 1345m.
On a clear day, you will be rewarded with fantastic views of Vancouver, Howe Sound and the Strait of Georgia. But be prepared for an intense snowshoe as this trail is no walk in the park. It is meant to replicate the intensity and challenge of the popular summer trail, the Grouse Grind. If someone is reasonably fit, the SSG has an average finishing time of about one hour.
The trail starts off on a wide, road like section before it starts to wind its way through snowy trees, steep climbs and narrow ridges. To make it a little bit easier, there is the option of veering off onto Fritz’s Trail for part of the climb. Fritz’s trail takes you past the Mountain Ziplines and then connects back onto the SSG.
When you arrive at the peak of Dam Mountain, this is the end of the SSG and you can either turn back the same way you came or you can complete the Dam Mountain Loop. The loop is 1km and will take you back onto the SSG. For more adventure, I suggest you take the Dam Mountain Loop and then veer onto the Thunderbird Ridge Trail, a 1.5 km (out and back) trail that takes you to a look out directly across from the windmill.
The trails are marked well and are well-worn so you should not have any issues staying on track. The SSG has orange poles; Fritz’s Trail has blue poles and Dam Mountain and Thunderbird Ridge have black poles.
Grouse Mountain states that you must wear snowshoes to be on the SSG. But unless there is fresh snow, you can get away with a good pair of micro-spikes. Due to the volume of people that use the trail, the snow becomes quite packed and micro-spikes seem to work just fine. If you want to run the trail, then micro-spikes make more sense than snowshoes.
If you don’t own a pair snowshoes, you can rent a pair from Grouse Mountain or from MEC. Although there is no cost to use the SSG, there is the cost of the gondola to consider.
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