Guess what, health nuts! The iconic Grouse Grind in North Vancouver has officially opened for the season! Grouse Mountain, the main operator of the trail, made the announcement on Monday. So, let’s see what the deal is this year, shall we?

The Grouse Grind will be open from 7 AM to 6:30 PM daily. However, it is recommended that you buy a download ticket on Grouse Mountain’s SkyRide ($20) for the trek down, instead of trying to time what will be ongoing maintenance on the nearby BCMC Trail.

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And, since the SkyRide is only booked online in advance, it’s also important to know what you’re going up against. The steep trail is roughly 2.9km, climbing over 800 metres nonstop on your way up. According to official guidelines, those with a ‘good’ level of fitness should take around 2 to 2.5 hours complete the trail.

That said, Grouse Mountain claims more like 1.5 hours to reach the top, and the official record is under 24 minutes (which is insane). But, we think it’s smart to err on the side of caution when you’re climbing over 2,800 stairs.

So, with that in mind, we think it’s time to start planning! For more info on the Grouse Grind, and to book your ride down, just head to the Grouse Mountain website.