Trail: Abby Grind
Date completed: Early August
Distance: 3.4km
Elevation: 424 metres
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Distance from Vancouver: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Directions: Click here for Google maps
Adults: 1
Ages of Children: 3, 5, 5,11
Stroller friendly: No
Dog friendly: Yes, on leash
Bathrooms: No
Cell Service: Yes
Time to complete: 1 hour 30 minutes
Jellybean rating: 5
The Abby Grind is the Lower Mainland’s mini grind (compared to Grouse Mountain)! It’s a very well-travelled trail and you’re likely to see loads of trail runners and die-hard enthusiasts doing the grind for the 3rd or 4th time that day!
This has been on our bucket list with the kids for quite some time now, and in early August we decided to go for it!
The Abby Grind is just past the Abbotsford Fish and Game Club. You’ll likely see a bunch of cars lined up in the parking lot, so you can park where all the cars are and head onto the trail.
There’s recently been a bunch of compost laid down so you’ll have to cross that to get to the trailhead. Don’t worry-it’s not too stinky!
Pretty quickly on the trail you’ll understand why it’s called a “grind”. The majority of this trail is UP but there are definitely points of plateau that you can look forward to.
This hike has 4 distance markers, which is bittersweet. On one hand it’s nice to know how far you’ve come, on the other hand it’s a reminder of how much you have left!!
It was about this point that my 3 year old decided to hitch a ride. Quite frankly, I can’t say that I blame her!
At almost the halfway point there’s a bit of a view! The girls saw this and were inspired to keep going, which is perfect timing because around the halfway point is a bit of a doozie! It’s quite steep and is certainly the most challenging part of the hike.
As you get closer to the viewpoint at the top you’ll encounter one more part that’s a bit challenging, but it’s kind of fun, too! There are some big ol’ roots that you have to climb up, which thoroughly impressed my 5 year old.
Nearing the top, you’ll see a sign that tells you the way to the lookout. Taggart Peak is accessible from here, but we have yet to do that!
Just minutes after this sign you’ll come to the viewpoint. It was pretty awesome to hear my kids excitement when they realized that they made it to the top (and that they were going to get the Booster Juice that I bribed them with if they got to the top.)
I would have been able to capture that excitement in all of them if I didn’t have a miserable 3-year-old with me (who, by the way, hitched a ride the entire way up…), but the other three were pretty stoked!
The way down for the kids was way more exciting to them than the way to the top. They basically ran down the entire mountain-which could have been them wanting to run or them wanting that Booster Juice?! Who knows!
It took us a fraction of the time to get down, thankfully, because it was a super hot day! We went and got our Booster Juice, went home, and stayed in the cool shade of our backyard tree while our muscles slowly began to ache:)
Jellybean Rating Summary for Abby Grind
This is a challenge! It’s definitely one to put on your bucket list and work your way up to!
Some things to remember:
-in warmer weather the trail can get quite dry and dusty. Be mindful of your footing.
-bring a lot of water. There is no water on the trail and you’ll be exerting yourself a lot.
-this is a trail that is used for training quite often. If you see a trail runner coming down the mountain please give them the right of way.
Have fun!