One of the most popular summer activities at Crystal Mountain is the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide.
What makes this ride such a great summer activity, is that it is suitable for almost everyone in the family. It is a ride that is definitely worth checking out!
If you’re interested in discovering more about this ride, you have come to the right place!
This guide features everything you need to know about the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide, including insider tips and advice, so keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
- Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide
- How Long is the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide?
- How Fast is the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide?
- Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide Cost
- Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide Video
- What is an Alpine Slide?
- Operating Hours
- Rider Requirements
- Directions and Contact Details
Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide
The Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide is one of the many summer activities on offer at Crystal Mountain and a great option for families.
You access the start of the alpine slide via the Loki Quad chairlift (map with directions below).
At the top, you’ll get into one of the specially designed alpine slide carts and start your journey down the mountain.
How Long Is the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide?
The Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide is 1,700 feet (518m) long and takes about 1:00 to complete.
The slides run parallel to each other so you can ride alongside family and friends.
As mentioned above, the right track is for first-timers and people who don’t want to go as fast as possible.
How Fast Is the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide?
Alpine slides can reach a speed of up to 25 mp/h (40 km/h).
The alpine slide carts are fitted with a manual brake which allows riders to adjust the speed of their descent.
This is a great feature of alpine slides as it gives you full control of your ride experience.
Alpine slides are also fitted with an automatic braking system or speed restrictor that prevents the cart from going above a maximum speed.
This is done to ensure the safety of the riders.
How Much Does the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide Cost?
Ticket prices for the summer 2023 season will be updated as soon as they are available.
The tickets are sold in one-hour blocks with unlimited rides during that hour.
Please note that advanced reservations are required for this alpine slide and this is something we recommend.
You can still be purchased tickets on-site but there is no guarantee they will be available.
More information about ticket prices and specials can be found on the official website here.
Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide Video
One of the great things about alpine slides is that a lot of people have filmed their experiences.
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 Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide.
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!
What Is An Alpine Slide?
One way to think of alpine slides is that they are a summer version of the bobsled.
But unlike the bobsleds, an alpine slide is a smooth continuous track made of fibreglass, concrete or stainless steel and does not need ice to operate.
Like alpine coasters, alpine slides are installed in mountainous areas and are a popular activity in ski resorts.
These are gravity-powered rides so they use the natural contours of these areas to operate.
How does an alpine slide work?
Riders are transported down the alpine slide track in one or two-person carts.
The carts are fitted with a manual brake, positioned between the rider’s legs, that give riders full control of their speed and experience.
The photo below is an example of an alpine slide cart. Riders sit in the cart with their legs facing forward.
The lever in the middle with the red grip is the brake. You pull back on this lever to engage the brake and push forward to release it.
Alpine Slide Saftey
Safety is an important feature of alpine slides and technology improvements over the years have certainly increased rider safety.
However, as with any thrill ride of this nature, there are always risks involved.
Alpine slides can reach a speed of up to 25 mp/h (40 km/h) and almost all alpine slide accidents happen because riders are going too fast.
So if it’s your first time riding an alpine slide it’s important to become familiar with the cart and the manual brake before flying down the mountain.
Overall, alpine slides are a thrilling experience that can be enjoyed by the whole family. They are not difficult to operate and no prior experience or training is necessary.
With some basic instructions, you can jump in and enjoy the ride!
Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide Operating Hours
The Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide only operates during the summer season.
The 2023 operating hours will be updated as soon as they are available.
For safety reasons, the alpine slide does not operate in the rain. Hours of operation are therefore subject to change and are weather permitting.
Rider Requirements
As with any ride of this nature, there are some rider requirements and restrictions that you need to be aware of.
- The minimum age to ride is 3 years old
- The minimum height to ride solo is 52″ (132 cm)
- Guests riding with children under 52″ (132 cm) tall must check in at the Mountain Adventure Zone for a wristband.
- Maximum weight 300 lbs (136 kg)
- Minimum weight 80 lbs (36 kg)
- All participants are required to sign a waiver. This can be done in advance online.
Directions and Contact Details
Mountain Adventure Zone: 231-378-2071
Where is the Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide?
The Crystal Mountain Alpine Slide is located at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan.
Directions to Crystal Mountain can be found on the map below:
