Seek the Peak

One of the toughest challenges the Lower Mainland has to offer, Seek the Peak at Grouse Mountain takes runners on a 16 km course up to the mountain’s summit.

Last year the event happened on June 8th. That was the same day as the Rotary Ride For Rescue which is a fundraising cycling event up Cypress Mountain. Seek the Peak will happen on Saturday, June 8th in 2025. Further details are to be confirmed as of late February.

Grouse Mountain’s Seek the Peak Race

The Grouse Grind is one of the most popular hikes in Metro Vancouver. Participants take an exhausting, nearly 3 km long staircase up Grouse Mountain, one of the three prominent North Shore mountains.

Seek the Peak takes the Grouse Grind and makes it an even bigger challenge. The annual race takes place each June and turns the Grind into just one of four legs of a 16 km course that winds through the North Shore.

The event is also a fundraiser. Seek the Peak 2024 raised money for the Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation. That year’s edition of the race took place on Saturday, June 8th.

Seek the Peak Registration

An important note for those who want to participate in Seek the Peak is that there is no day-of registration. All participants must register in advance online. Registrations for the 2024 event closed before the end of May!

Those who want to take part can sign up as either an individual or as part of a team. Those who are in teams run the course as a relay. If you don’t want to run the entire 16 km but still want to take part, sign up in a team of two to four people and each of you can run part of the race!

Prices go up over the course of the registration period. For the cheapest rate in 2024, participants needed to sign up in March. Below were the prices for the “event launch”, “early bird” and “regular” rates last year. Registration fees in 2025 will likely be similar, although possibly slightly more.

Solo Adult (19+): $55, $70, $85
Solo Youth (19 and under): $50, $65, $80
Relay Team (per person): $50, $65, $80

The Course and Schedule of Events

Seek the Peak begins at Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. Last year the race began at 8:15. Much of the first two legs of the course take place on the Capilano Pacific Trail, winding through North Vancouver up to the base of Grouse Mountain.

The third leg of the course is the Grouse Grind. The over 2,800 steps are hard enough when it’s the beginning of a journey, but even harder when it’s partway through such a grueling race!

The Grind isn’t the only ascent either. Once runners make it to the top of the stairs, they then run to the base of what’s known as The Peak of Vancouver and make their way up to the very top of the mountain. Then they run back down that last leg to the finish line at Mountaintop Plaza.

An awards ceremony usually takes place at around 11:15 am, so three hours after the race begins. Participants have a little under five hours to complete the entire course. There is an after-party with BBQ, a DJ and some fun activities at Mountaintop Plaza until 1:30 pm or so. Exact details for 2025, however, are to be confirmed.

More Grouse Mountain Challenges

For those who love Seek the Peak, Grouse Mountain offers a couple other special fitness challenges during the summer.

Multi Grouse Grind Challenge

Less than two weeks after Seek the Peak this year is the Multi Grouse Grind Challenge. Taking place on Thursday, June 20th, last year, participants had from sunrise to sundown to complete as many runs of the Grouse Grind as they could.

The cost to register last year was $60. Participants also had to raise an additional $100 for North Shore Rescue before June 13th in order to be allowed to compete. The current record is held by a 57-year-old named Wilfrid Leblanc. He completed the Grouse Grind 19 times in one day back in 2019!

To learn more click Multi Grouse Grind Challenge.

Grouse Grind Mountain Run

Finally, there’s also the Grouse Grind Mountain Run. It took place on Saturday, August 24th, last year. Like the Multi Grouse Grind Challenge the Mountain Run also raises funds for North Shore Rescue.

This event is a much more traditional Grouse Grind run, with participants doing the run as they would on a normal day. The difference is that this day is all about raising money for a good cause. Runners can also see how fast they can get up to the top by the end of the summer season!

For more details, check out the Grouse Grind Mountain Run webpage.