As I step about the gondola at Grouse Mountain and the cabin begins its long rise, Vancouver slowly unfolds beneath me. The inlet sparkles in the distance while the mountains and forests below glow in vivid greens and blues on a crisp late-May afternoon. For a few quiet moments, the ride upward feels calm, almost meditative.
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At the top of the mountain, though, a very different experience awaits. Grouse’s newest attraction—the Grouse Gravity Coaster, unveiled just in time for the resort’s centennial anniversary—is already sending riders twisting through the alpine forest below. Watching carts disappear into the trees one by one, I begin to wonder whether I’m truly a thrill-seeker or simply someone who likes the idea of being one.
A staff member settles me into a blue cart and walks me through the self-paced acceleration system, which lets riders control their own speed up to 45 km/h. He also mentions the ride’s anti-collision techno, a detail I find deeply comforting after hearing that track sections are named things like “Nose Dive” and “Tailspin.”
Then I’m off.
Over the next six minutes, I wind through towering evergreens, sharp turns and sudden descents before climbing again into sweeping views of the city below. At times, I catch myself gripping the handles and holding my breath through tighter curves; in other moments, I’m too distracted by the scenery to remember to be nervous.
Somewhere between the adrenaline and the mountain air, fear gives way to fun. By the time I coast into the base station—hair windswept, heart racing and ego thoroughly humbled—I’m reminded that Vancouver never fails to offer up new vantage points and experiences from which to appreciate its extraordinary beauty.
Single tickets from $29 with valid resort admission.
