Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
In winter, Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain and Mt Seymour are the
three favorite winter destinations for Vancouverites. You can be on the
slopes within 30 minutes of downtown. In summer, hiking and mountain
biking lures locals to the North Shore, with the latter especially taking off
in the past decade. Check in with the North Shore Mountain Bike Associ-
ation (
www.nsmba.ca
) for a handle on the local scene.
GROUSE MOUNTAIN
SKIING
OFFLINE MAP
(
www.grousemountain.com
;
6400 Nancy Greene Way, North Vancouver; adult/youth/child $58/
45/25, reduced in summer; 9am-10pm mid-Nov-mid-Apr; 236 from Lonsdale Quay)
Van-
couver's favorite winter hangout, family-friendly Grouse offers 26 ski and snowboard
runs (including 14 night runs). There are classes and lessons available for beginners
and beyond, and the area's forested snowshoe trails are magical. There are also a couple
of dining options if you just want to relax and watch the snow with hot chocolate in
hand.
If you're here in December, this is a great place to soak up some Christmas spirit; if
you're looking for Santa in Vancouver, this is where you'll find him, along with a
reindeer or two.
CYPRESS MOUNTAIN
SKIING
OFFLINE MAP
(
www.cypressmountain.com
;
Cypress Bowl Rd, West Vancouver; adult/youth/child $60/46/26;
9am-4pm Dec, to 10pm Jan-Mar, 10am-5pm Apr-season end)
Around 8km north of West Van
via Hwy 99, Cypress Provincial Park transforms into Cypress Mountain resort in
winter, attracting well-insulated locals with its 53 runs, snowshoe trails and snowtubing
course. Upgraded for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the resort's new facilities include an
expanded lodge and improvements to several runs, including Lower Panorama, where
Canada won its first Olympic gold on home soil.
If you don't want to drive, consider taking the seasonal Cypress Coach Lines bus
($23 return), which can pick you up from the city or Lonsdale Quay.
