Grouse Grind is open, but why stop at the top?

Good news for those of you craving a trip up nature's StairMaster.

The Grouse Grind officially opened late last week for the 2011 summer hiking season.

Due to trail work, the Grind now has 60 fewer stairs and is 21 metres longer.

Of course, if you're a hard-core Grinder, you've probably been going around the fence and hiking the steep trail for weeks.

But why stop at the ski resort?

During the summer (when the snow's largely gone), the Grind is most rewarding as the prelude to a day hike to the peaks beyond Grouse Mountain.

Hiking a few hours further to Goat Mountain and Dam Mountain, you'll leave the spandex crowd behind for great summit vistas and charming whiskey jacks.

The trailhead is found by walking up the road to the left of the Lower Peak run.

The hike takes you into Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, which is also home to Lynn Peak, a decent alternative to the popular Grind.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.