Park City Mountain Coaster: The Ultimate Alpine Thrill Ride

Park City’s Mountain Coaster Creates Unforgettable Family Memories 🎢

Imagine the wind rushing through your hair as you twist and turn through pristine pine forests, the majestic Wasatch Mountains serving as your breathtaking backdrop. This isn’t just any mountain experience—it’s the exhilarating Park City Mountain Coaster, where the thrill of alpine adventure meets the comfort of controlled excitement. As your Park City experts, we’ve guided countless families to this must-experience attraction, and we’re here to share our insider knowledge to ensure your mountain coaster adventure becomes the highlight of your Park City getaway.

What Makes the Park City Mountain Coaster a Must-Try Experience? 🌲

The Park City Mountain Coaster offers a unique blend of natural beauty and adrenaline-pumping excitement that stands apart from typical amusement park rides. As one of North America’s longest alpine coasters, this mountain marvel stretches over 4,000 feet of track, weaving through aspen groves and offering panoramic views that showcase Park City’s breathtaking alpine landscape in all its glory.

“The Mountain Coaster was the unexpected highlight of our family vacation,” shares Michael B., a recent guest at our Silver Star property. “Our kids, ages 8 and 12, still talk about the rush of controlling their own speed while racing down the mountain.”

Unlike traditional roller coasters, the Park City Mountain Coaster puts you in control. Each rider manages their own speed via hand brakes, allowing you to choose between a leisurely scenic glide or a heart-pounding descent reaching speeds up to 25 mph. This customizable experience makes it perfect for both thrill-seekers and those who prefer to take in the mountain vistas at a more relaxed pace.

The Complete Mountain Coaster Experience: What to Expect 🌄

Pre-Ride Preparation

Your mountain coaster adventure begins at the base of Park City Mountain Resort, where a scenic chairlift carries you and your individual sled to the starting point. The anticipation builds as you ascend, offering a preview of the spectacular views you’ll enjoy during your ride.

While waiting, our guests often tell us they appreciate taking a moment to:

• Take photographs of the breathtaking mountain panorama
• Discuss speed preferences with younger riders
• Apply sunscreen (even on cloudy days, the mountain sun is powerful)
• Secure loose items in zippered pockets

During the Ride

Once seated in your personal sled, you’ll experience:

1. An initial gentle ascent via the automated lift system
2. The thrilling moment when gravity takes over and your descent begins
3. A series of banked turns and dips that follow the natural contours of the mountain
4. Moments of straight acceleration where speed enthusiasts can release the brake
5. Strategic curves that showcase stunning views of Park City and the surrounding wilderness

Best Times to Ride

While the Mountain Coaster is spectacular year-round, each season offers a unique experience:

• Summer: The vibrant green landscape and cool mountain breezes make this the perfect escape from summer heat
• Fall: Experience the magic of alpine autumn as you glide through a kaleidoscope of gold, orange, and red aspen groves
• Winter: For a truly magical experience, enjoy evening rides when the track is illuminated and snowflakes create a mesmerizing journey through a winter wonderland

A mother and daughter riding the Park City Mountain Coaster in the winter.

Is the Mountain Coaster Right for Your Family? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

One of the most common questions our guest services team receives concerns the age and height requirements for the Mountain Coaster. Here’s what you need to know:

The Mountain Coaster is particularly perfect for families with children who meet the height requirements but might be nervous about traditional roller coasters. The ability to control your own speed creates a sense of empowerment that our youngest guests especially appreciate.

“I was hesitant to try it with my 8-year-old daughter,” explains Jennifer T., who stayed in our Silver Star community last summer. “But the control element made it perfect for us—she could go as slow as she wanted until she built up confidence, then by her third ride, she was asking to go faster!”

Hours of Operation

The Park City Mountain Coaster operates daily from June 7 to September 1, with hours from 10 AM to 7 PM, weather permitting.

2025 Season 😎 / 🍁	Opening Dates 📆	Hours
Summer	June 7 – September 1	10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Fall	September 2 – Early October	11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (weekends)

Insider Tips from Your Local Park City Experts 🔍

After years of guiding our guests to the Mountain Coaster, we’ve gathered some invaluable tips to enhance your experience:

📱 Ticketing & Timing Strategy

• Purchase tickets online: Save time and potentially money through the Park City Mountain Resort website
• Consider the Alpine Activity Day Pass: If you plan to enjoy multiple mountain activities, this pass offers significant savings
• Visit mid-week: Tuesday through Thursday typically sees shorter lines and more ride opportunities
• Early bird advantage: Arriving within the first hour of opening often means walk-on access
• Sunset magic: The hour before sunset offers stunning golden light for photographs and typically smaller crowds

🧣 What to Wear & Bring

• Layer up: Mountain temperatures can fluctuate dramatically, even in summer
• Secure sunglasses: The mountain sun is intense, but ensure they have a strap
• Bring a small camera: A securely strapped GoPro or phone in a zippered pocket works well
• Leave loose items: Consider renting a locker for purses, backpacks, and other loose items
• Wear closed-toe shoes: Flip-flops are not permitted on the ride

💡 Maximizing Your Ride Experience

• First-timers tip: Take your first ride at a moderate pace to familiarize yourself with the track layout
• Photo opportunities: The best photo spots are about midway down the track, where the valley vista opens up
• Tandem riding strategy: For adults riding with children, consider a moderate pace that allows excitement while still enjoying the views
• Multi-ride recommendation: Many of our guests find 2-3 rides ideal to fully appreciate the experience from different perspectives

A mother and son riding the Park City Mountain Coaster in summer.

Create a Complete Park City Adventure 🏔️

The Mountain Coaster is just one of Park City’s thrilling alpine attractions. For the ultimate mountain experience, we recommend exploring these complementary adventures:

• The classic Park City Alpine Slide, which offers a different type of controlled descent using a track sled
• The heart-pounding Alpine Slide at Utah Olympic Park, where you can channel your inner Olympian
• The comprehensive Park City Alpine Slides and Coasters guide, which compares all the sliding options in our mountain town

Many of our guests choose to make a full day of mountain adventures by combining the Mountain Coaster with other Park City Mountain Resort summer activities, such as:

• Scenic gondola rides offering panoramic valley views
• Mountain biking trails for all skill levels
• Guided hiking excursions through wildflower meadows
• Adventure zone activities perfect for younger children

Where to Stay for Prime Mountain Coaster Access 🏠

After an exhilarating day on the Mountain Coaster, you’ll appreciate returning to a comfortable mountain sanctuary. All Seasons Resort Lodging offers several properties with convenient access to Park City Mountain Resort:

“We specifically chose a condo at Silver Star because of its location,” shares Mark D., a returning winter guest. “Being able to walk to both the slopes and summer attractions like the Mountain Coaster made our vacation so much more relaxing—no parking hassles or shuttle timing to worry about.”

Our most popular properties for families seeking Mountain Coaster access include:

• Silver King: Walk to slopes in the winter, steps to summer activities
• Shadow Ridge: Family-friendly amenities and prime location
• The Lodge at Mountain Village: Located in the heart of the base area with immediate access

Plan Your Park City Mountain Coaster Adventure

As you finalize your Park City vacation plans, remember that the Mountain Coaster can be the highlight of your mountain getaway—a perfect blend of natural beauty and controlled excitement that creates lasting family memories.

Our local team is standing by to help you select the perfect property for your alpine adventure, with insider knowledge about maximizing your time on the Mountain Coaster and throughout Park City. We understand that your Park City vacation is more than just a getaway—it’s where your family creates mountain memories that last a lifetime.

For more information about Park City’s alpine adventures, explore our comprehensive Park City Alpine Slide & Coaster Guide or contact our local team to begin planning your perfect mountain escape.

Ready to experience the Mountain Coaster and other Park City adventures? Contact our local reservations team at 1-888-575-2775 or visit our website to book your perfect mountain retreat. Our boots-on-the-ground experts are standing by to ensure your Park City vacation exceeds expectations.