Vail Resorts is home to the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, a gravity-powered mountain coaster that the whole family can enjoy.
If you’re interested in finding out more about this ride then you have come to the right place!
This guide features everything you need to know about riding the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster, including insider tips and advice. Keep reading to find out more!
Contents
- Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster
- How Long is the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster?
- How Fast is the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster?
- What are Mountain Coasters?
- Video
- Cost
- Operating Hours
- Rider Requirements
- Location and How to Get There
- Frequently Asked Questions
Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster
The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster for part of Vail’s Epic Discovery and is, without doubt, one of the most popular summer activities for visitors.
The coaster makes use of the mountain’s natural contours to provide a thrilling downhill ride experience for all participants.
The entire experience is made up of two parts.
The cart leaves the loading station and immediately begins its descent down the mountain.
It takes a little while for the momentum to build up but once it gets going you’re in for an exciting ride.
The first section has some incredible views of the rocky mountains. Make sure you don’t forget to look and take it all in.
From there it enters a forested section where you fly between the trees, enjoying sweeping left and right turns and a few 360-degree loops.
After about 2 minutes of downhill ride time (depending on your speed) you reach the end of the downhill section.
From here, the cart and riders are taken back to the starting point via a cable-pulled ascent.
This really is a fantastic family-friendly ride and one that we highly recommend if you’re visiting.
However, the ride is popular so if you’re planning on riding the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster consider going early in the day to avoid long queues.
The popularity of the ride combined with the low capacity can often result in long waiting times.
How Long is the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster?
Reaching speeds of up to 25mp/h (40km/h), the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster is approximately 3,400 feet (1,036m) 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 at the end) is about 7 minutes.
The downhill section is about 2 minutes depending on your speed.
How Fast is the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster?
The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster can reach a maximum speed of 25 mp/h (40 km/h).
The mountain coaster rides on a dual track that is elevated slightly above the ground. Because of this close proximity, you’ll feel like you’re going much faster!
But fear not, as a safety feature, mountain coasters are fitted with an automatic braking system that prevents the carts from going over the maximum speed.
In addition, this mountain coaster is fitted with a manual brake that lets riders control the speed of their descent.
The manual brake is a handle located on either side of the driver. You pull back on it to engage the brake and push it forward to accelerate.
If 40 km/h (25 mp/h) is too fast for you, you can slow the ride down to a speed that feels more comfortable.
What are Mountain Coasters?
f you’re unfamiliar with mountain coasters (also known as alpine 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.
Mountain 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, mountain 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.
Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster Video
One of the great things about mountain coasters is that many 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 Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster.
This is a video of the complete ride, including the cable-pulled ascent at the end.
How Much Does the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster Cost?
At the time of writing, the cost to ride the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster was as follows:
| Ticket | Price (Online) |
|---|---|
| Single rider (54″+) – 1 Ride | $35 |
| Single (54″+) – 2 Rides | $53 |
| Driver (age 16+) & Passenger (under 54″) – 1 Ride | $52 |
| Driver (age 16+) & Passenger (under 54″) – 2 Rides | $70 |
Tickets can be purchased online and redeemed at the Lionshead or Vail Village ticket office.
Tickets are also available for purchase directly from the Lionshead or Vail Village ticket office.
One important thing to note is that the mountain coaster is located at Vail’s Epic Discovery.
This means that if you’re not an Epic Pass holder you will also need to purchase a Scenic Gondola Ticket for the Eagle Bahn Gondola to get to the starting point of the ride.
You can find more information and pricing in our guide to the Scenic Gondola Ride.
Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster Operating Hours
The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster only operates during the summer season and forms part of Vail’s Epic Discovery.
The mountain coaster will open for the summer 2023 season on June 16th.
The operating hours for the 2023 summer season are as follows:
| Date | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| June 16 – September 4 | Daily | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
| September 8 – October 1 | Friday, Saturday & Sunday | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm |
Forest Flyer Rider Requirements
As with any ride of this nature, there are some rider and passenger requirements that are put in place for your safety.
The key height and age restrictions to ride the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster are listed below:
- The minimum age to ride as a passenger is 3 years old
- The minimum height for a passenger is 38″ (97cm)
- The minimum height for a driver is 54″ (137cm)
- Passengers must be accompanied by someone 16+ years old
- The maximum combined weight per cart (passenger + driver) is 330 lbs (150kg)
- This ride is not suitable for pregnant women
- Riders must wear securely enclosed footwear
- No loose clothes or personal items
Location and How To Get There
The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster is located at the Vail Mountain Resort in Vail, Colorado.
The mountain coaster itself is located at the top of the mountain at Vail’s Epic Discovery so if you’re not an Epic Pass holder you’ll need to purchase a separate Scenic Gondola Ticket to get there.
Directions to the Vail Mountain Resort can be found on the map below:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vail have an alpine coaster?
Yes – Vail has an alpine coaster known as the Forest Flyer.
Reaching speeds of up to 35mp/h (40km/h), this coaster is approximately 3,400 feet (1,036m) in length and offers an exhilarating ride for the whole family.
This is a ride not to be missed!
Where is the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster?
The mountain coaster is located at the Vail Mountain Resort in Colorado.
Does Vail have an alpine slide?
Unfortunately, Vail does not have an alpine slide.
However, it does have an even better alternative in the form of an alpine coaster known as the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster.
Is the Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster open?
The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster opens on June 16. Operating hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm daily.
Before You Go..
The Forest Flyer Mountain Coaster is just one of 7 mountain coasters in Colorado.
If you’re looking for another Colorado mountain coaster to ride then make sure you check out the following article we wrote: Colorado Mountain Coasters You Must Try
