24 Hours of Winter was when North Vancouver‘s Grouse Mountain stayed open all day and night from a Saturday morning until a Sunday night in February.
In 2020 it took place from February 22nd, until Sunday, February 23rd. That was the last time it has taken place. Hopefully it will happen again one day in the future.
24 Hours of Winter at Grouse Mountain
In years when it does take place, for two full days and all night long, Grouse Mountain is the place to be for non-stop skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and all kinds of wonderful winter activities.
When and Where
In 2020 the 24 Hours of Winter event ran from just after sunrise on Saturday, February 22nd, until 10 pm on Sunday, February 23rd. It was cancelled due to the pandemic last year. Hopefully the event can happen again around the same time in 2025, or some other future year.
In years when the event does take place, the festivities happen at Grouse Mountain at 6400 Nancy Greene Way which is at the very top of Capilano Road in North Vancouver.
See below for transportation details (which include a free shuttle service).
24 Hours of Winter Activities
In addition to regular Grouse Mountain winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, skating and snowshoeing, during the 2-day non-stop event there is also dancing to DJ music, special evening snowshoeing tours and other fun activities.
2020 Event Schedule
Below was the event schedule and list of activities for the 24 Hours of Winter event in 2020. (Note: Details were subject to change. Schedules in future years will likely be similar.)
24-Hour Activities
The following activities are usually on-going throughout most of the 24-hour event (subject to occasional breaks for venue maintenance and scheduled programs):
- Skiing & Snowboarding – from 9:00 on Saturday until 10 pm on Sunday.
- Snowshoeing – from 9 am until dusk on Saturday and Sunday, plus additional special guided night tours.
- Skating – all weekend.
All Day or Night Activities
24 Hours of Winter activities that take place for extended periods of the event but during specific times include the following (with some being free and others not).
- Sliding Zone – from noon until 8:00 pm on both days.
- Theatre in the Sky – films show from 9:30 in the morning until 9:30 at night on the Saturday and Sunday. (Temporarily closed.)
- Light Walk – from dusk until 10:00 pm on both the Saturday and Sunday.
- Lupins Cafe – open as an alcohol-free zone from 10 pm on the Saturday until 11:00 am on the Sunday. Also open for breakfast between 7:00 and 10:00 on the Sunday morning.
- Winter Mingler – DJ music, food and drinks at Altitudes Bistro for folk ages 19+ (from 10:00 pm Saturday until 3:00 am on the Sunday).
Scheduled Events
24 Hours of Winter events taking place at specific times most years include the following activities (some of which are ticketed and need to be reserved in advance). Below was the schedule for 2020.
On the Saturday (February 22, 2020) …
- Snowshoe S’mores Tours – a 1-km tour along forested trails, through Grouse Mountain’s Light Walk and to a campfire where participants can enjoy complimentary S’mores. Tours depart at 6:00, 7:30, 8:00 and 9:30 pm.
- Night Owl Ranger Talks – a talk featuring Grouse Mountain’s resident Barn Owl Cleo near the fire pit in front of the Chalet. Sessions take place at 5:00, 6:00, 7:00 and 8:00 pm.
- Torch Parade – a spectacle that proceeds down under the Peak Chair and is pretty to watch. Starts at 9:00 pm.
- GLOWshoe Tour – a 2-km snowshoe tour along forested trails, through Grouse Mountain’s Light Walk and to a snow cave where participants can enjoy a chocolate fondue and hot drinks. Starts at 10:00 pm.
- Fireworks – starts at 10:00 pm.
On the Sunday (February 23, 2020) …
- Sunrise Snowshoe Tour – a 1-hour guided trek starting at 6:30 am. Again, there is no charge to participate, but you need your own equipment.
On Both Days …
- Wake N’ Shake Yoga – takes place from 10:00 to 11:00 am on both the Saturday and the Sunday. Free with advance registration!
Event Transportation
Parking is available at the bottom of Grouse Mountain during the 24 Hours of Winter event, but spaces are limited and there will be lots of people!
TIP: Have a friend or family member drop you off, or take public transit. Better yet, if you live along the route or know someone who can take you there, use the event’s free shuttle service. See below for details.
Complimentary Shuttle
A complimentary shuttle service is available most years from midnight until 7:00 am on the Sunday between the ski hill and key North Shore locations with departures leaving from the base of Grouse Mountain by the Red Skyride west ramp on the hour.
In years when it is offered, the route for the complimentary shuttle service usually goes from the parking lot at Grouse Mountain down Nancy Greene Way to Canyon Heights (via Montroyal and Highlands), through Edgemont Village (via Edgemont and Queens), down Lonsdale Avenue to Lonsdale Quay, along Esplanade to 3rd Street and then Marine Drive, and then finally up Capilano Road back to the ski hill.
Folks using the shuttle service are welcome to ask the driver to stop anywhere along the route, which makes it wonderfully convenient. Designated hop-on points include Edgemont Village in front of Delaney’s Coffee, at Lonsdale Quay in Chadwick Court, and on Capilano Road in front of what used to be the Comfort Inn as well as across from the Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Other Information
The 24 Hours of Winter event is a fabulous event and highly recommended (for people who love winter sports and staying up late at night)!
For details about the ski hill in general, click Grouse Mountain.
For information about the 2-day event, see the Grouse Mountain website’s Events Page (where you may or may not find information, depending on whether the event is happening or not).
And for more ideas on things to do check out Vancouver’s March Calendar.
