We can’t think of a better way to spend a summer’s day than cruising down Winter Park Alpine Slide.
Located at the Winter Park Resort, this is the longest alpine slide in Colorado, a fantastic summer activity for the whole family, and a ride that is definitely worth checking out.
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 the Winter Park Alpine Slide, including insider tips and advice, so keep reading to find out more.
Contents
- How Long is the Winter Park Alpine Slide?
- Cost
- What is An Alpine Slide?
- Video
- Rider Requirements
- Operating Hours
- FAQs
How Long Is The Winter Park Alpine Slide?
The Winter Park Alpine Slide is 3,000 ft (914m) long, has a vertical drop of 600 ft (183m), and takes about 1:45 to complete.
This makes it the longest alpine slide in Colorado!
It’s worth noting that the speed of your descent is completely under your control.
Alpine slides are fitted with a manual brake, located between your legs, which you can use to adjust your speed as you make your way down the mountain.
How Much Does the Winter Park Alpine Slide Cost?
If you’re visiting the Winter Park Resort in summer and you’re interested in riding the Winter Park Alpine Slide then you’ll need to purchase Unlimited Activities Day Pass.
Single-ride tickets for the Winter Park Alpine slide are not available.
This pass gives you unlimited all-day access to the Winter Park Alpine Slide, the Gondola, the Putting Course, the Climbing Wall, and 2 Ropes Courses for the day!
At the time of writing, the cost to purchase the Unlimited Activities Day Pass was as follows:
| Age | Advance Purchase Price* | Walk Up Price |
|---|---|---|
| All ages | $49 | $59 |
*Tickets must be purchased online at least 48 hours in advance to receive advance purchase prices.
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!
Winter Park 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 Winter Park 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!
Rider Requirements – Height, Age, and Other Restrictions
As with all rides of this nature, there are a few age, height, and other restrictions to comply with.
We have summarized these below:
- No children under 2 years of age are allowed on the alpine slide
- Ages 5 & under are encouraged to ride with an adult in the same cart.
Winter Park Alpine Slide Operating Hours
The Winter Park Alpine Slide operate daily during the summer months from June to September.
Operating hours are from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Important: The Winter Park Alpine Slide will be closing early this summer on September 4, 2023, for an update. A new and improved alpine slide will be available in summer 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Winter Park Alpine Slide open?
Unfortunately, the Winter Park Alpine Slide only operates during the summer season. This is because the alpine slide is covered in snow during winter.
The summer season starts in mid-June and ends in September.
Where is the Winter Park Alpine Slide?
The Winter Park Alpine Slide is located at the Winter Park Mountain Resort in Colorado.
Address: 85 Parsenn Rd, Winter Park, CO 80482
Directions to the alpine slide can be found below:
To access the ride you need to take a scenic ride up the Arrow Chairlift.
This is a six-minute ride with views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown Winter Park.
From here you jump on the alpine slide and ride it back down to the village.
Before You Go..
The Winter Park Alpine Slide is just one of four alpine slides in the state of Colorado.
If you want to experience the thrill of a different alpine slide, then check out our guide to Colorado’s Alpine Slides.
We also wrote a comprehensive guide to Colorado’s Alpine and Mountain Coasters, so make sure you take a look at that if you’re looking for additional family-friendly activities.
