Long before the Grouse Grind became known, the BCMC was the trail that took you to the top of Grouse Mountain. The BCMC trail is longer in distance than the Grind but is not as steep. However, it is still a challenging hike and provides a great workout.
The trail starts off at the same starting point as the Grouse Grind but Grinders head to the left and the BCMC trail veers to your right. The trail is entirely through wooded area and there are no scenic views or peek-a-boo views so you will have to wait until you get to the top. The entire trail is uphill with the odd short reprieve but the trail is in a more natural state. Unlike the Grouse Grind, which has an endless number of stairs, the BCMC trail is rugged with tree roots, rocks and rocky steps. Safety improvements have been made to the trails with added netting in areas that were fall hazards.
The trail itself is easy to follow and is marked very well into segments of 50. The closer you get to 50 the closer you are to finishing.
It was raining when we hiked today so I was not anticipating many people to be on the BCMC trail but was surprised at the number of hikers going up and the number of hikers coming down.
I took the gondola down as I have an annual pass but if you don’t have an annual pass the down ticket will cost you $20.00.