The recently built Cliffside Mountain Coaster is an exciting addition to mountain coasters in the US.
Holding the title of the longest mountain coaster in the USA, this ride follows the same bobsled track used in the 1980 Winter Olympics.
If you’re interested in finding out more about this ride then you’ve come to the right place!
We provide everything you need to know so carry on reading to find out.
Contents
- How Long is the Cliffside Mountain Coaster?
- How Fast is the Cliffside Mountain Coaster?
- What are Mountain Coasters?
- Cliffside Mountain Coaster Video
- Cost
- Operating Hours
- Height, Age and Other Rider Requirements
- Directions and Other Information
How Long is the Cliffside Mountain Coaster?
The Cliffside Mountain Coaster is approximately 7,600 feet (2,316m) in length and offers riders an exhilarating ride with multiple 360-degree loops, twists and turns as it winds its way through the trees and down the mountain.
The total ride time (including a cable-pulled ascent) is approximately 7.5 minutes.
The Ride Experience
The entire Cliffside Mountain Coaster experience is made up of two parts.
Riders leave the loading station and enjoy a 4:30 cable-pulled ascent to the top of the mountain.
A cool feature of this ride, and something quite unique to mountain coasters, is that each cart is fitted with an exclusive onboard audio system.
The ride uphill includes audio about the Olympic history of the Lake Placid area. This, combined with the beautiful scenery, makes for a worthwhile experience.
As soon as the cart reaches the top of the mountain it is released from the cable system and gravity takes over.
This is when the fun begins!
For the next 3 minutes, the rider enjoys exhilarating speeds as the coaster turns, dips and corkscrews its way down the mountain following the original bobsled track.
As an added feature the time-censored onboard audio continues to announce different sections of the course.
The carts have been fitted with a front shield section to better match the look of an actual bobsled.
This is a nice added touch and shows great attention to detail when designing this ride.
It is worth noting that this mountain coaster operates all year round. Rain, snow and sunshine! Each season provides a completely different ride experience.
How Fast is the Cliffside Mountain Coaster?
The Cliffside Mountain Coaster can reach a maximum speed of 25 mp/h (40 km/h).
As a safety feature, there is an automatic braking system that prevents the carts from going over the maximum speed.
In addition, this alpine coaster is fitted with a manual brake that lets riders control the speed of their descent.
If 25 mp/h (40 km/h) is too fast for you, you can slow the ride down to a speed that feels more comfortable.
The brake levers are located on either side of the cart. You pull them back to engage the brakes.
It doesn’t take long to get the hang of it and before you know it you’ll be cruising down the mountain.
What are Mountain Coasters?
If you’re unfamiliar with alpine coasters (also known as mountain coasters), check out the post we wrote.
Mountain or alpine coasters are gravity-powered roller coasters that use the natural contours of a mountain to provide riders with a thrilling downhill ride experience.
Alpine coasters are a great activity that the whole family can enjoy. However, given the nature of this ride, there are some age and height restrictions that apply.
In addition, alpine coasters are equipped with a manual brake, enabling riders to adjust their descent speed.
This unique feature allows riders to have greater control of their experience.
If things get a bit too fast for your liking you can apply the brake, if you’re more of the daredevil type then you can leave the brake untouched for maximum speed.
And finally, no prior experience or training is necessary. You can just jump in and enjoy the ride.
Cliffside Mountain Coaster Video
One of the great things about mountain coasters is that many people have filmed their experiences.
We’ve selected two videos of the Cliffside Mountain Coaster for you to have a look at in advance.
These videos give you an opportunity to “experience” the ride before you go on it.
The video below gives you a first-person view of what you can expect from start to finish on the Cliffside Mountain Coaster.
One thing to be aware of though is that point-of-view videos can be a bit misleading.
The wide-angled lens makes the drops shallower and the ride seems way slower than it is in real life.
They provide a good idea of what the ride looks like but only real-world experience tells you how they feel. So get out there and try it for yourself.
Next up is a full video of the entire ride experience.
If you’re only interested in the downhill part then fast forward to 4:30 into the video.
How Much Does the Cliffside Mountain Coaster Cost?
At the time of writing, the cost to ride the Cliffside Mountain Coaster was as follows:
| Ride | Price |
|---|---|
| Ages 9+ (riding alone) | $55* |
| Ages 18+ (riding with a child passenger) | $55 |
| Child passengers (ages 3-12) | $10 |
*A military discount of $45 is available for a single-ride ticket.
Of all the mountain coasters we have included on this website, this is one of the more expensive rides.
However, the combination of the audio-guided tour and the fact that this is the longest coaster in the US make this a worthwhile experience.
Winter operations
Winter operations are subject to weather and track conditions.
If the coaster is operating during winter, an online reservation is required. This can be made on the day of arrival.
Tickets typically go on sale between 9.30 am and 10.00 am each day and can be purchased here.
Please note that tickets are date specific and have a limited capacity per time slot.
During winter, we always recommend visiting the Cliffside Coaster website to check if it is open.
Cliffside Mountain Coaster Operating Hours
The Cliffside Mountain Coaster is open all year round.
During the summer season (end May to early September) the Cliffside Mountain Coaster is open Friday to Tuesday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
You can find the latest operating hours and purchase your tickets online on the official website here.
Height, Age and Other Rider Requirements
The key height and age restrictions to ride the Cliffside Mountain Coaster are listed below:
- Children must be at least 3 years old and 36″ (92cm) tall.
- The minimum age for single riders is 9 years or older and the rider must be at least 52″ (132cm) tall.
- Children under 9 must be accompanied by someone 18 years or older.
- If there are two people riding together, the minimum height for the passenger is 36″ (92cm) and the person driving the cart must be at least 52″ (132cm) and 18 years or older.
- The maximum weight per cart is 300 lbs (136 kg).
- The ride is not safe for pregnant women.
Directions and Other Information
The Cliffside Mountain Coaster is located at Mt Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid, New York.
Address: 31 Van Hoevenberg Way Lake Placid, NY 12946
Directions to the Cliffside Mountain Coaster can be found on the map below:
Contact information: All the relevant contact information for this mountain coaster can be found here.