Grouse Mountain offering free admission for locals next week

The Blue Grouse Gondola is seen in this image handed out by Grouse Mountain.

Lower Mainland locals will get to have a peak experience for free on a North Shore mountain next week.

Grouse Mountain Resort is thanking locals with free admission tickets on Wednesday, Aug. 6 to enjoy everything the park has to offer for summer fun.

“The local community has always been the foundation of our success, so we’re thrilled to say thank you and provide the opportunity for first-timers and long-time friends to experience what’s new, and to uncover or rediscover what we do best — bring everyone together through meaningful experiences at The Peak of Vancouver,” said Michael Cameron, president of Grouse Mountain Resort in a press release.

Each admission will provide free access to the Blue Grouse Gondola and Red Skyride, the peak chairlift and peak lookout decks, hiking trails (including the new Peak Trail) and “signature mountain programming” like the World-Famous Lumberjack Show, Birds in Motion Demonstration as well as ranger and owl talks.

Ticket holders can also elevate their experience with a paid five-line Mountain Zipline Tour or the Mountain Ropes Adventure, a series of aerial rope courses with various difficulties where people will navigate plank bridges, rock climbing walls, nets and ziplines travelling across platforms.

Alongside experiencing mountain views and entertainment, people can also enjoy a BBQ in the plaza from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with live music on Altitudes Patio at 6 p.m.

Grouse Mountain welcomes more than 1.3 million guests a year, with “local residents forming the backbone of the mountain community,” the press release said.

To secure the free ticket (limited to six per person), locals can sign up on the Grouse Mountain website and show a valid government-issued photo ID with proof of address when arriving.

Residents in Vancouver, the North Shore, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster, Delta, Langley, White Rock, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Belcarra, Anmore, Bowen Island, Lions Bay, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Hope, Kent (includes Agassiz), Harrison Hot Springs and Squamish are able to grab a ticket.

As parking is limited, the resort strongly encourages guests to take advantage of the free shuttle service, which departs from Canada Place, ride public transit or carpool.

Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.