Six hikers were airlifted to safety after they took a wrong turn en route to Grouse Mountain on Tuesday.

The hikers, all in their early 20s, left Lynn Headwaters shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday and traveled along the Hanes Valley route to Grouse Mountain, said Doug Pope, spokesman for North Shore Rescue.

The Hanes Valley route is closed during the winter, and signs along the trail indicate this.

Pope said the hikers, who were wearing running shoes and did not have any winter gear with them, took a wrong turn and ended up stranded in Crown Creek.

Overwhelmed by the snow and ice, the hikers were forced to call 911 at around 5 p.m.

Within hours North Shore Rescue was able to pull the hikers to safety with a helicopter "long line."

Pope said the hikers are cold, wet and tired, but safe.