Before anyone asks, I saw the one at Mountain Creek Park, but did not get on it. I planned to ride it after the water park closed (since the coaster stays open later than the slides), but they closed it early due to an approaching thunderstorm.
I have many of these from New England planned for August, so it was great to hear about them. Rail Runner is easily my favorite. I can't believe that one exists. Anakeesta's brand new one is quite a bit more tame, more of a middle of the road alpine coaster. The new Lost Mine one in Pigeon Forge felt a lot like Rocky Top with the multiple lift hills, but Lost Mine seemed a little better with variety in the sections and theming on the course.
My favorite is the Hasenhorn Rodelbahn in Todtau, Germany. It is a 5 minute downhill ride with amazing views. Would absolute recommend it next time you're in southern Germany :)
My Mountain coaster list includes the 3 in Branson, MO and Timber Twister at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN. There's a stretch of it where you get a good look over Lake Superior and as soon as you realize what you're seeing, a sharp little dip catches you by surprise.
My favorite is the Goat Coaster at Goats On The Roof in Pigeon Forge, followed by the nearby Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, and the Timber Twister Alpine Coaster at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN.
My favorite by far is the Great Wall mt coaster. after taking a chair lift up and spending hours at the Great Wall of China you ride the mountain coaster down. It’s long fast and zero auto breaking.
I absolutely adore Rail Runner. Of the over 300 coasters I have ridden, I put Rail Runner at #12 in my rankings. On no other rollercoaster have I felt like I had a near death experience. The laterals are insane. When I rode it last year I was talking to one of the operators about the crazy turn towards the end. Apparently it is referred to as the Widow Maker by the maintenance crew, and I totally understand why. The op also told me that Rail Runner is a maintenance nightmare and they often have to weld the high intensity turns. The op also hinted that it could possibly be going defunct soon because of the amount of maintenance having to be done on it. It would definitely be very sad for it to go defunct, but also understandable given how crazy those laterals are on just a single rail track.
@@CanobieCoaster the operator told me at the time they were building the new one to replace Rail Runner, but now they’re both operating together. So I’m not sure what the story is. Time will tell
I’ve only ridden a few mountain coasters (Goats on the Roof, Smoky Mountain and the one at Wisp) but I enjoy them. Nice to see a shoutout to those elements on the Wisp installation. Not only is the double down airtime great, but I’ve gotten insane lateral airtime on the drop heading into it that lifted my body to the side when going full speed.
Glenwood Caverns mountain coaster absolutely rules, got lucky enough for rerides on a cart that had autobraking disabled and it was a borderline elite coaster. Shame about the other two at that park though lmao. Still worth going for the cave tours, chairswing/screaming swing, drop tower and the mountain coaster though.
Nice, I've only been on two, and I found them both to be decent to good rides. The first Alpine Coaster that I experienced was "Mineshaft Coaster" in Big Bear Lake, CA. There were a lot of points in the layout of how the coaster had their laterals presented, with some short but good bursts on some turns, sustained laterals on the helix, and back-to-back laterals on the downwards S-Bends, switching the direction of force. It also had a few small drops that gave some pops of airtime, and it gave a long ride, with an impressive 5,280ft of track. I was quite surprised by that experience, due to the quantity of laterals, and it being decently forceful. My second Alpine coaster was Alpine Coaster at Glenwood Caverns, and while less impressed as of forces, was still a decent time, with multiple small quad downs with little pops of airtime, and the swooping drops.
I’ve been on 10 from your list and 19 overall. My favorite overall is the mountain coaster at park city mountain resort as it gave the best views. Tennessee Flyer is actually my #3/19. I didn’t mind the roughness as I liked the out of control feeling.
I recently re-rode Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort, and they’ve sadly trimmed the crap out of it. The double down now has no airtime and there’s no laterals either
Good list, I agree on Runaway being one of the more intense ones I've ridden. Will say though, I'm assuming you haven't been back to Pigeon Forge since Lost Mountain opened up-because that thing is in a league all of its own. Id say its less a Alpine coaster and more a 10 minute long mine train with how immersive it is....
Ha, I've only ridden Ripley's -- which I would suggest if you want one in PF open as late as advertised on a Sunday. Savage laterals. But also savagely uncomfortable seat. They all like that?
I've done Goats on the Roof, Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, Lost Mine Mountain Coaster, and the two currently at Anakeesta. Most of them feel pretty similar so it's pretty difficult for me to rank them, but I wasn't a huge fan of Rail Runner. It was much shorter than I had expected, and the lateral kinks were not my cup of tea personally.
I’ve been on two, camelback was the first one I’ve been on and wisp I rode last year. Wisp was way faster and better bc of the airtime however camelbacks has great length and a huge helix where you get great speed but wisp is definitely better
Too bad you haven't been to the Lost Mine coaster in Pigeon Forge. I just happened to visit it 1 week after it opened and was blown away by how detailed the theming was. The ride was not the most thrilling, but it wasn't a slouch in certain sections either, though it doesn't matter as much as this is perhaps the one coaster where I was tempted to break a little to take in the details better.
The only mtn coaster I’ve been on was at wisp resort, I heard great things going into it but locals told me the added auto breaks ruined the ride I still had hope before going in it had decent speed and the double down looked to give great airtime but auto breaking kicked in, for me there was 0 airtime and only a pinch of laterals
Funny you should ask: the only one I've ridden is "Alpine Bob" in South Tirol at Merano 2000 in 2009 close to Meran, Italy in South Tirol, the same trip I saw Metallica in Frankfurt and Gotterdammerung (the last of the four Des Ring des Nibelungen operas by Richard Wagner I told you about re the music used in the middle of Backlot Stunt Coaster at Kings Island Walkurit ("The Ride of the Valkyries" in English) used from the beginning of the third act of the 2nd "ring" opera Die Valkure, (which translates to "The Valkyrie"). Not only did I not ride any other coasters on that trip: I used brakes because I thought I was responsible for not dying. That means I'm not even sure if I can use it as a coaster credit; not because it's a mountain coaster, but because I used brakes.😖 I still need to check Out "Eagle Coaster" at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver (That's what it's called, even if it'd be more accurate to call it Western North Vancouver, but I don't make up the names of these suburbs of Vancouver). From the research I've done the world's best mountain coaster is the singe rail one in Northern Tirol at Mieders, south of Innsbruck in Ellbogen Austria which descends about 2000' down the steepest average grade of any mountain coaster and is also one of the longest. I should have ridden that when I went in 2009 because it was built in 2004! 😣 (BTW you don't have to say "...because there'l be a lot more roller coaster and amusement park videos..." on these since mountain coasters aren't found at any amusement parks, although it's still better than saying theme parks. 😆😉) In any case: thanks for posting this wonderful video!
Looks like the world's best mountain coaster. You gotta wait for the person ahead of you as long as possible so you can go full speed without ramming them, like someone did in a youtube video. (Not cool!) But Dave Elles (Davidjellis) has a no brakes POV of it.
@CanobieCoaster ohh wow, it's differently worth a visit, alpine coaster has kind spoiled me on mountain coasters though, it was my first one and I was really impressed with its air time, laterals and sense of speed and have been kinda disappointed with everyone I've ridden since.
Alpine coasters are a ton of fun but they're just so expensive. The reason I've only done 3 is because of them being $15-$20. I hope I can do more when I get back to Pigeon Forge or Branson.
Just rode SMAC this weekend. I'd say it's nowhere near as good as my other alpine credit, the one at Glenwood Caverns. The mountain coaster has a much different setting (dry mountaintop) and it's extremely aggressive with its turns.
The best US alpines are in Colorado. However, most of them are a pain to get to, have limited hours, and tend to be very expensive. Rocky Mountain Coaster @ Copper mountain is my current #1 alpine but im not sure ill ever ride again as the price is hard to justify a 2nd time now.
Still need to visit Colorado. Price is the main reason I haven't done the one at Van Hoevenburg. That one was $60-$70. How bad is the one you mentioned?
Vail and Aspen are similar costs. The Copper one was $35 last time I checked. Issue is numerous ones in Colorado are after gondolas that aren't cheap to take.@@CanobieCoaster
@@CanobieCoaster ya i agree honestly i never really understood why this was so polarizing to begin with. Just because it has brakes you can control compared to automatic brakes shouldn't have anything to do with it, especially when you don't even use them!
Before anyone asks, I saw the one at Mountain Creek Park, but did not get on it. I planned to ride it after the water park closed (since the coaster stays open later than the slides), but they closed it early due to an approaching thunderstorm.
Stoked for Australia’s first alpine coaster this year! Underrated rides
Glad they're getting one!
I have many of these from New England planned for August, so it was great to hear about them. Rail Runner is easily my favorite. I can't believe that one exists. Anakeesta's brand new one is quite a bit more tame, more of a middle of the road alpine coaster. The new Lost Mine one in Pigeon Forge felt a lot like Rocky Top with the multiple lift hills, but Lost Mine seemed a little better with variety in the sections and theming on the course.
I've heard a lot of good things about Lost Mine's theming.
My favorite is the Hasenhorn Rodelbahn in Todtau, Germany. It is a 5 minute downhill ride with amazing views. Would absolute recommend it next time you're in southern Germany :)
I've heard amazing things about that one.
I've done a few Mountain Coasters and loved all of them! Probably my favorite was the Ober Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster in Tennessee
Did you find it rough?
@@CanobieCoaster A little bumpy going full speed, yeah
Great idea for a great list...thank you! 👍🙏
You are welcome
Just rode my first Mountain/Alpine Coaster! Definitely some fun rides!
Nice!
My Mountain coaster list includes the 3 in Branson, MO and Timber Twister at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN. There's a stretch of it where you get a good look over Lake Superior and as soon as you realize what you're seeing, a sharp little dip catches you by surprise.
I still need to get on that Minnesota one.
The one at Anakeesta took me by surprise. Definitely the wildest one I have been on so far
That one is crazy.
My favorite is the Goat Coaster at Goats On The Roof in Pigeon Forge, followed by the nearby Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster, and the Timber Twister Alpine Coaster at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, MN.
I haven't ridden the latter, but would like to try it someday.
My favorite by far is the Great Wall mt coaster. after taking a chair lift up and spending hours at the Great Wall of China you ride the mountain coaster down. It’s long fast and zero auto breaking.
That sounds awesome.
I absolutely adore Rail Runner. Of the over 300 coasters I have ridden, I put Rail Runner at #12 in my rankings. On no other rollercoaster have I felt like I had a near death experience. The laterals are insane. When I rode it last year I was talking to one of the operators about the crazy turn towards the end. Apparently it is referred to as the Widow Maker by the maintenance crew, and I totally understand why. The op also told me that Rail Runner is a maintenance nightmare and they often have to weld the high intensity turns. The op also hinted that it could possibly be going defunct soon because of the amount of maintenance having to be done on it. It would definitely be very sad for it to go defunct, but also understandable given how crazy those laterals are on just a single rail track.
I hope that's not why they built a second mountain coaster. But I can see how Rail Runner would be a pain to maintain.
@@CanobieCoaster the operator told me at the time they were building the new one to replace Rail Runner, but now they’re both operating together. So I’m not sure what the story is. Time will tell
I’ve only ridden a few mountain coasters (Goats on the Roof, Smoky Mountain and the one at Wisp) but I enjoy them. Nice to see a shoutout to those elements on the Wisp installation. Not only is the double down airtime great, but I’ve gotten insane lateral airtime on the drop heading into it that lifted my body to the side when going full speed.
Wisp's is an underrated one.
Glenwood Caverns mountain coaster absolutely rules, got lucky enough for rerides on a cart that had autobraking disabled and it was a borderline elite coaster. Shame about the other two at that park though lmao. Still worth going for the cave tours, chairswing/screaming swing, drop tower and the mountain coaster though.
I would love to get to that park someday.
@@CanobieCoaster You must experience the mountain coaster quintuple down lol
Nice, I've only been on two, and I found them both to be decent to good rides. The first Alpine Coaster that I experienced was "Mineshaft Coaster" in Big Bear Lake, CA. There were a lot of points in the layout of how the coaster had their laterals presented, with some short but good bursts on some turns, sustained laterals on the helix, and back-to-back laterals on the downwards S-Bends, switching the direction of force. It also had a few small drops that gave some pops of airtime, and it gave a long ride, with an impressive 5,280ft of track. I was quite surprised by that experience, due to the quantity of laterals, and it being decently forceful. My second Alpine coaster was Alpine Coaster at Glenwood Caverns, and while less impressed as of forces, was still a decent time, with multiple small quad downs with little pops of airtime, and the swooping drops.
I still need to get to Glenwood. I've looked at the Big Bear Lake one, but I can't justify losing time at the bigger parks to try it.
I’ve been on 10 from your list and 19 overall. My favorite overall is the mountain coaster at park city mountain resort as it gave the best views. Tennessee Flyer is actually my #3/19. I didn’t mind the roughness as I liked the out of control feeling.
I loved the layout on Tennessee Flyer, but it was pretty jarring for me.
I recently re-rode Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort, and they’ve sadly trimmed the crap out of it. The double down now has no airtime and there’s no laterals either
A few people have commented that. That is unfortunate.
Good list, I agree on Runaway being one of the more intense ones I've ridden.
Will say though, I'm assuming you haven't been back to Pigeon Forge since Lost Mountain opened up-because that thing is in a league all of its own. Id say its less a Alpine coaster and more a 10 minute long mine train with how immersive it is....
I've heard great things about that one. I opened after my recent visit.
the only one I have ridden is the glenwood caverns one, I loved it!
Still need to visit that park.
Ha, I've only ridden Ripley's -- which I would suggest if you want one in PF open as late as advertised on a Sunday. Savage laterals. But also savagely uncomfortable seat. They all like that?
Wiegand actually has the most comfortable mountain coasters in my opinion.
I've done Goats on the Roof, Rocky Top Mountain Coaster, Lost Mine Mountain Coaster, and the two currently at Anakeesta. Most of them feel pretty similar so it's pretty difficult for me to rank them, but I wasn't a huge fan of Rail Runner. It was much shorter than I had expected, and the lateral kinks were not my cup of tea personally.
I agree Rail Runner is different. I like the violence of it.
The one I look forward to is at Mammoth Lakes. The only issue is these prices are as high as a general admission price to a park.
Unfortunately these coasters tend to be pricey.
Would love to hear what you think of the Tumwater Twister, though it's pretty far out of the way of anything else
Maybe one day I'll get on it.
I’ve been on two, camelback was the first one I’ve been on and wisp I rode last year. Wisp was way faster and better bc of the airtime however camelbacks has great length and a huge helix where you get great speed but wisp is definitely better
Both are great.
Too bad you haven't been to the Lost Mine coaster in Pigeon Forge. I just happened to visit it 1 week after it opened and was blown away by how detailed the theming was. The ride was not the most thrilling, but it wasn't a slouch in certain sections either, though it doesn't matter as much as this is perhaps the one coaster where I was tempted to break a little to take in the details better.
I hope to get on that one in the future.
The only mtn coaster I’ve been on was at wisp resort, I heard great things going into it but locals told me the added auto breaks ruined the ride I still had hope before going in it had decent speed and the double down looked to give great airtime but auto breaking kicked in, for me there was 0 airtime and only a pinch of laterals
That's a bummer it got a lot of braking. It was great when I rode it in 2018.
Funny you should ask: the only one I've ridden is "Alpine Bob" in South Tirol at Merano 2000 in 2009 close to Meran, Italy in South Tirol, the same trip I saw Metallica in Frankfurt and Gotterdammerung (the last of the four Des Ring des Nibelungen operas by Richard Wagner I told you about re the music used in the middle of Backlot Stunt Coaster at Kings Island Walkurit ("The Ride of the Valkyries" in English) used from the beginning of the third act of the 2nd "ring" opera Die Valkure, (which translates to "The Valkyrie"). Not only did I not ride any other coasters on that trip: I used brakes because I thought I was responsible for not dying. That means I'm not even sure if I can use it as a coaster credit; not because it's a mountain coaster, but because I used brakes.😖
I still need to check Out "Eagle Coaster" at Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver (That's what it's called, even if it'd be more accurate to call it Western North Vancouver, but I don't make up the names of these suburbs of Vancouver).
From the research I've done the world's best mountain coaster is the singe rail one in Northern Tirol at Mieders, south of Innsbruck in Ellbogen Austria which descends about 2000' down the steepest average grade of any mountain coaster and is also one of the longest. I should have ridden that when I went in 2009 because it was built in 2004! 😣
(BTW you don't have to say "...because there'l be a lot more roller coaster and amusement park videos..." on these since mountain coasters aren't found at any amusement parks, although it's still better than saying theme parks. 😆😉) In any case: thanks for posting this wonderful video!
I hadn't heard of the Mieders one, but that one looks fantastic.
Looks like the world's best mountain coaster. You gotta wait for the person ahead of you as long as possible so you can go full speed without ramming them, like someone did in a youtube video. (Not cool!) But Dave Elles (Davidjellis) has a no brakes POV of it.
Absolutely devastated there was no mention of Goats on the Roof actually having goats on the roof of the ticket booth/gift shop
That's a great quirk about the place, but I wanted to focus exclusively on the coasters.
The Runaway in Branson and the Goats on the Roof and Glennwood Caverans
Fun ones.
Are these pretty easy to ride or do riders have to do some work like hit the brakes a lot? I enjoy low-maintenance fun
If no one is in front of you, you can go full throttle.
I'm surprised Alpine at Glenwood caverns isn't on here, it still my number one mountain coaster
That's because I haven't been to Glenwood Caverns yet. I want to get there soon.
@CanobieCoaster ohh wow, it's differently worth a visit, alpine coaster has kind spoiled me on mountain coasters though, it was my first one and I was really impressed with its air time, laterals and sense of speed and have been kinda disappointed with everyone I've ridden since.
Alpine coasters are a ton of fun but they're just so expensive. The reason I've only done 3 is because of them being $15-$20. I hope I can do more when I get back to Pigeon Forge or Branson.
I agree most are pricey.
Just rode SMAC this weekend. I'd say it's nowhere near as good as my other alpine credit, the one at Glenwood Caverns. The mountain coaster has a much different setting (dry mountaintop) and it's extremely aggressive with its turns.
I still need to get to Glenwood.
The best US alpines are in Colorado. However, most of them are a pain to get to, have limited hours, and tend to be very expensive. Rocky Mountain Coaster @ Copper mountain is my current #1 alpine but im not sure ill ever ride again as the price is hard to justify a 2nd time now.
Still need to visit Colorado. Price is the main reason I haven't done the one at Van Hoevenburg. That one was $60-$70. How bad is the one you mentioned?
Vail and Aspen are similar costs. The Copper one was $35 last time I checked. Issue is numerous ones in Colorado are after gondolas that aren't cheap to take.@@CanobieCoaster
Is Nor’Easter at Attitash closing permanently?
Sadly I think it may.
does the branson runaway have autobraking
Yes but it's not as egregious as some. Most mountain coasters have autobraking. Just how bad depends on the installation.
My favorite is imst (Austria) .. the longest alpine coaster in Europe (world?)
Europe has some amazing ones.
But you didn't answer if you consider them a credit or not? :)
I do. They have rails, are gravity powered, and feel like a coaster.
@@CanobieCoaster ya i agree honestly i never really understood why this was so polarizing to begin with. Just because it has brakes you can control compared to automatic brakes shouldn't have anything to do with it, especially when you don't even use them!
I have two near me, but I have never bothered riding them because they are very pricey.
They are unfortunately pricey.
Clip at 0:14 my mom was there, my sister rode it
Nice!