Dam Mountain Trail, Vancouver
Dam Mountain is one of the most popular Grouse Mountain trails.
Not only is it accessible during winter via the Dam Mountain snowshoe route, but it’s equally as good in summer too.
Dam Mountain serves as a gateway trail to other awesome hikes near Vancouver such as Thunderbird Ridge, Crown Mountain, and Goat Moutain (the latter are closed during winter due to the seasonal backcountry Lynn Headwaters closures).
If you’re looking to hike the Dam Mountain trail on Grouse Mountain, here’s your Vancouver hiking guide!
Looking for more things to do in Vancouver and nearby? Check out my Vancouver travel guides which are full of information on the best things to do in Vancouver, the best Vancouver restaurants, and detailed guides for each of the main neighborhoods.
The Dam Mountain Hike
Dam Mountain is one of the smaller peaks that’s easily accessible from Grouse Mountain.
You get good views from the top and it can be hiked both in winter and summer (and the shoulder seasons too!).
In the winter, Dam Mountain is known as the Snowshoe Grind (think Grouse Grind, only snowy).
Hiking Dam Mountain Vancouver
Arriving at the top of the Grouse Skyride, walk towards the grizzly bear area (wave to Grinder and Coola!) and then pass it, taking the gravel road (or signs if everywhere is covered in snow!) to the left of The Peak ski run and chairlift.
Follow the gravel road as it wraps around the mountain.
The trail comes to a bit of a sudden end and continues uphill on loose gravel to your left. This trail gets narrow quickly and you’ll reach a sign and a junction.
At the sign, head left to follow the Ridge Trail as you begin to climb steeply towards Dam Mountain. Alternatively, you can take the trail pointing towards the Alpine Trail.
If taking the Ridge Trail, things get steep pretty quickly. You’ll then pass a wooden helicopter pad on your right. And, depending on the time of year, you may hear screams from people ziplining through the forest!
Follow the trail to the left again and back into the trees. You’ll come out to a sign and a few more steps onto a rocky outcrop that marks the summit of Dam Mountain.
A lot of the views are obscured by trees, but if you’re hiking in summer and can safely climb up on the rocks, you’ll get a few views still!
If you want to hike Dam Mountain as a loop trail, you can take the other trail you didn’t hike on the way up. From the Ridge Trail, you’ll need to look for trail markers on the opposite side of the rocky outcrop.
You can also just follow the trail you took to return back to the ski area.
Extending the hike to Dam Mountain
Once you’ve reached Dam Mountain, you can extend your hike to one of the other great Grouse Mountain and Lynn Headwaters backcountry trails.
- Thunderbird Ridge
- Crown Mountain
- Goat Mountain
- Little Goat Mountain
- Grouse Mountain (where the wind turbine is)
I hiked on to Thunderbird Ridge and then summited Grouse Mountain too. Three peaks on an after-work hike aren’t bad!
Dam Mountain hike stats
- Distance: 5km
- Duration: 1.5-3 hours
- Difficulty: Easy-Moderate
- Total Elevation Gain: 260m (from Grouse ski area)
- Grouse Mountain trail maps: winter | summer
AllTrails is my go-to hiking app for finding, planning, and navigating while I’m out on the trails. With offline maps on AllTrails+ you can be confident you’re still on the right track, even without mobile signal.
How to get to the Dam Mountain trailhead
If you’re hiking Dam Mountain in the winter, your best option is to take the Grouse gondola up to the ski area and then hike from there (following the guide below). Alternatively, and if you’re looking for an even longer workout, then you can take the BCMC or one of the other similar trails (like Flint and Feather) to the ski area rather than the gondola.
The Grouse Grind closes over winter, but you can hike up the Grind in the summer before doing Dam Mountain if you wish.
You can get to the bottom of the Grouse gondola using public transit since this is one of the best Vancouver hikes on transit.
Check the latest information for the Grouse Skyride gondola, including booking, prices, and opening hours.
What to know before you go
- Best time for Dam Mountain: Good all year round. Snowshoes/spikes used in the winter
- Snow: Snow sticks around up here for a while. I hiked in mid-June and there was still a lot of snow! Beware of post-holing (legs punching through the snow).
- Be adventure smart: Remember to respect the terrain, environment, and other users while you are enjoying the trails. Follow the three Ts—trip planning, training, and taking the essentials AdventureSmart is a great resource to help you get informed before heading outdoors
- Take bear spray, you’re hiking in bear country! And remember your bear safety tips.
- Remember to leave no trace.
What to pack for hiking Dam Mountain
Below is an overview of the things you should pack for hiking near Vancouver British Columbia. For more information on exactly what I pack, be sure to check out my day hike packing list. I’ve also got guides to what to wear in hot weather, or cute hiking outfits for hiking dates!
- Clothing: Merino wool or synthetic base layers, insulating mid-layers, and breathable outer layers. Waterproof Jackets and Pants are important since rain is common.
- Navigation: A trail map and a fully charged phone (with battery pack) and AllTrails+ is a good idea.
- Bear Spray: kept in an easily accessible location.
- Hydration: Water Bottle or Hydration Bladder: Minimum 2 liters for a full day’s hike as well as a water filter (I love the Swayer Squeeze) and Water Purification tablets.
- Footwear and Support: Hiking Boots or trail running shoes, with some good socks to prevent blisters and keep your feet dry.
- First Aid Kit: With essentials like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and blister treatment.
- Headlamp: With extra batteries, especially if you risk getting caught out after dark.
- High-Energy Snacks: Nuts, energy bars, trail mix, and dried fruits.
- Lunch: Preferably something that doesn’t require refrigeration or heating.
- Sunscreen and Sunglasses: UV protection, even on cloudy days.
- Insect Repellent: Especially in the late spring and summer months.
This list is based on the typical conditions and challenges of hiking in the Vancouver area. However, always do specific research based on your chosen trail, duration, and the current weather forecast.
FAQs about the Vancouver Dam Mountain trail
How far is Grouse Mountain from Vancouver?
How to get to Grouse Mountain from Vancouver?
Final thoughts on this Grouse Mountain hike
Dam Mountain is one of the best Grouse Mountain hikes in North Vancouver and one of my favorites for an after work hike (especially if you have the Grouse Mountain annual pass and can skip the Grouse Grind by getting the Gondola).
This Grouse Mountain hike is also one of the best hikes in Vancouver on public transit so you don’t need a car to be able to get to the trailhead which is always a bonus!
If you’re looking for more awesome hikes in Vancouver, be sure to check out the Capilano Dam area; probably the most famous Vancouver Dam, or head over to Mount Seymour, or check out Eagle Bluffs and Hollyburn Mountain over towards Cypress. Mount Fromme is another great hike nearby, though it’s longer and a bit harder!
I’ve also got hikes for every season such as these awesome winter hikes near Vancouver, the best hikes in Spring in Vancouver, and where to hike in Vancouver in the fall.
Last Updated on December 29, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
