Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster

I had an absolutely amazing time on the Alpine Coaster ride! The mix of speed, fresh mountain air, and stunning views made it such a unique and unforgettable experience. I loved being able to control my own pace — slowing down to enjoy the scenery and speeding up for that thrilling rush around the curves. The staff were cheerful, helpful, and made me feel completely safe. The track was smooth and well-maintained, and the whole place had a fun, adventurous vibe. It’s one of those rides that makes you feel like a kid again! I’d love to go back and do it all over again.

Lot's of fun on this alpine coaster that is self controlled- meaning. You are in control of the braking systems so if you do not wish to go fast you can apply the brakes and enjoy the attraction at your own pace. Or, you can go totally brakes free and experience a thrilling ride. Beautiful scenery surrounds the entire track. Single riders or doubles (for smaller kiddos and an adult) Opt for one trip down or get a package with multiple rides. A great family experience and fun for most all ages.

Decided to go up on a Friday morning here and then over to Grandfather Mountain. Our teen Sons love doing these alpine coasters. We reserved the 11am the night before online. Would recommend, it was getting busy by the time we got there. Staff are polite and helpful. Super fun and cool little gift shop after. We’ll be back!

Cool spot. Prices were reasonable and the staff was very friendly. The coaster was a lot of fun, and we loved the fall foliage and Halloween decor. They definitely have a sense of humor. The café was nice with great coffee options. The muffins were cold but still tasted pretty good. Would definitely recommend to family and friends to add to their trip.

Plan ahead and book a reservation and sign your release forms prior to arriving. You can purchase tickets when you arrive. I definitely recommend getting the bundle package that allows you to go 3x ($40). You can ride with small children if of a certain height requirement or you must be 16 yrs old and up to ride alone. Parking is limited and they are strick, so don't show up early (only 5-10 min before reservation). Lots of stairs to go up and not wheelchair friendly. Cute gift shop but it gets crowded, especially on weekends. Opportunity to purchase a video ($15 emailed to you)of you riding, if you are in a coaster that has a working camera. Leave valuables in the car or with family that isn't riding coaster. They charge $20 recovery fee and you have to get it the next morning. Also, downstairs there is a coffee shop that sells pastries and drinks. Fun place to go with kids or on a date.

Very short ride, but very fun! My group all rode on the coaster. Some of us were unable to retrieve the video due to them not working. They let you know at the front, but they do not necessarily tell you which ones do not work.😕 but! I definitely recommend for travelers! In my video, you can go faster than what is pictured!

Amazing experince here at the Alpine Coasters, went ahead and bought the tickets and for my surprise we bought the bundle tickets which gives us three turn on the same coaster that was good. They have a nice gift shop and a nice cofe shop which was good for the family to stay warm while we freeze out here, loved the place and would defently return.

Super fast coaster! Almost felt like I was going to fly off the rails! Really fun coaster, though you as MUST make an online reservation for a time slot. Also, if most people buy the bundle (3 rides in a row) be prepared to wait in line about 30-40 minutes. Great experience though a little pricey, in my opinion.

This Wilderness Alpine Coaster was such a fun experience on my recent trip to Boone. Located in Banner Elk, this spot is a nice attraction for adults and children alike. My suggestion would be to book ahead, as it seems pretty popular and they stop accepting walk ins if they are full. This coaster is located on a mountain, and you get to ride your own car and control the speed. You can go slow, but if you have a need for speed you can get up to 27 MPH. I am someone who is so scared of things like this, and I felt super safe and had the best time going down the coaster. They also have a little coffee shop and gift shop within this attraction. The entrance itself is pretty organized, as they only allow you to park when you check in if you have a ticket, or if there is space for walk ins. Overall, I would suggest this if you're in the area!

The Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk, NC, is an absolute gem! It's the perfect mix of fun, adventure, and stunning mountain views. The ride lets you control your speed, so you can go full throttle for a thrilling rush or slow down to take in the gorgeous scenery. The track twists and turns through the forest, making it exciting from start to finish. The staff is super friendly, and the overall experience is well-organized. Overall the ride itself is pretty short so they offer an adult ticket single ride at $16 or a bundle ride ( 3 consecutive rides) for $35. They also offer a first responder discount . Also , there is a camera outfitted on your coaster cart that records you the entire duration of your ride . You can watch a preview of your video inside the gift shop and purchase the full video for $12 . Hang onto your ticket as you'll need to scan it for the video . Whether you're with family or friends, this coaster is a must-do in the Banner Elk area--definitely a highlight of the trip!

The Alpine Coaster is so much fun! It's great for all ages. I love that you can control your speed. You'll definitely want to buy a bundle to ride three times because once isn't enough. I went with my family and have a younger child that needs to ride with someone. She wanted to ride with me and then with her dad. Since we needed to switch rides, we did have to get off and get back in line. If you aren't switching riders, and are doing multiple rides, you can stay on the coaster. The staff is extremely friendly. There are also nice views from up top looking back at the mountains. This will be on our list of places to go whenever we are in the area!

Truly, an amazing experience. My friend and I will drive two hours to take a day trip to ride the Alpine coaster and grab lunch!

Amazing! So fun. Well worth the wait. Such a wonderful addition to Banner Elk. The views are amazing. Everything was well ran and all the folks working were super sweet and accommodating. I'm coming back. Just a tip. Make a reservation prior to arriving, and come at the actual time of the reservation. (Like within 5 mins.) Don't come too early and don't be late and be nice to the person in the parking lot checking you in. Trust me. Also buy the video they make of you afterwards, it's the best $12 you'll ever spend. Was awesome to be able to experience this with my entire family. My son and I rode together and he had an absolute blast!

Every time we visit the area, we make sure to ride the coaster. It's great fun, and my nervous daughter appreciates being able to control her intensity level with the brakes on each cart. Overall, we enjoy our time there and will continue to return.

Excellent, Excellent experience. Purchase tickets in advance on their website!!! This facility is organized so well!!! We had no issues purchasing our tickets online. We chose a date and time, then had to cancel. I was able to easily rebook to another date. They sell out over the weekend, I suggest purchasing in advance. On "busy" days they suggest arriving 10 minutes before your time slot or at exact time. I had no issue finding parking. Once you enter upstairs you get in line to pay. You can do a single ride or bundle of 3 rides. Highly recommend the bundle. They offer a military discount, thank you. After you pay you stand in line, which was short since they follow a time stamp ticket. So smart!!! (Other places we have been did not offer this and the wait was ridiculous) The ride!!!! So much fun, so smooth and an awesome experience. On the back of your ticket is a white sticker that can scan to order a video and images. $12! Well worth it to me. We had our video and over 100 images within minutes. Halloween decor was fun. I am hoping we can squeeze in a "night time" ride soon. Highly recommend. To the owners, your staff are polite, friendly and engaging. Stellar customer service.

Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster is an outdoor alpine roller coaster in the mountains near Banner Elk, North Carolina. To ride the coaster, reservation times are booked through the website. Arrive at your scheduled time because parking is limited (we arrived early and were told to come back). When purchasing you have the option of booking three rides or one. Seeing the line, I only booked a single ride. Next time I'd book three because they are continuous (no getting off and then getting back on). The cool thing about the coaster is you control the speed (to brake or not to brake, that is the question). My son (6 years old) and I ran through as fast as we felt comfortable and it was a very exhilarating experience. After the ride, check out the gift shop for cool Alpine Coaster drip. They also have a coffee shop. I would definitely do this again!

First time riding a coaster like this. It was super fun. Before boarding the coaster a staff will let you know what to expect. He talked pretty fast so I wasn't able to capture everything he said. These little coaster go really fast. You maneuver how fast you want to go. Definitely get the bundle as one ride will not be enough. Also, they have a gift shop where you can buy your photos and videos of your ride. I absolutely recommend and definitely will do it again.

This coaster is a great experience! The lady behind the ticket counter was very kind and sweet with my daughter who was a little nervous to ride! The tickets are pretty pricey for the short ride. The line was short when we were there but people but people with a pass for three rides stay on so it took a while to actually get on the ride. The ride overall is really fun and I love that you can control your speed!

This was my first time on the Alpine coaster. It was so much fun. I rode with my daughter and went full speed most of the time it was very exciting and thrilling but wasn't too scary if you're scared of roller coasters. Staff are very friendly and helpful to show you the braking/ acceleration function before going on. One thing I noticed is that they seem to value safety. They've got cameras to monitor riders on the coaster and the flow of traffic coming back in at the end. Then you can also purchase the video of you riding down afterwards.

Fun place to alpine slide near Boone Nc. Went here Friday morning during App State's spring break. It was raining, so that brought down the potential rider competition even further. This made it a little too quick for us, since even with a group of 8 we were probably finished with 3 laps under 30 min. The staff put up some plexiglass to block the rain, so the ride was nice and dry. The speed is based on if you apply the brakes or not. You get some nice air if you let go and let God ;) make sure you leave some distance between you and the rider ahead. At the end you can buy the video or shop the cute boutique inside that sells local goods and has a a plaid vibe.

This is a must do! So much fun and the staff were so friendly! Love that you can purchase the video and pictures for an affordable price! ($12)

It's a beautiful place, make sure you give your self about 45-1hour wait as some ppl go three times around so that can make the wait in line a little bit longer. The good think is they have a cute gift shop and coffee shop. Bring gloves it gets cold. They charge $20 if you loose something and they have to retrieve it for you and you have to wait till the end of the day. I don't think they have an elevator so if you have a problem with stairs forget it! I had a blast it's really fun. There was also an obstacle course that I saw but we weren't there for that so I can't say much about it. I definitely recommend this for kids and teens or a date!

This was something fun and different for us to do! You have a break so you're in control of your speed. This was a cool experience for a mountain trip.

Fun for Adults too!! Adding the bundle of 3 rides is worth it. Everyone in our group said they were glad we purchased this. Teenagers & adults were in our group and they had so much fun. We will be sure to stop here again on our next trip to the mountains.

So fun! Worth the trip! Drive up from Asheville just for this. Do the caves on the way back. Great trip

This place was so fun! I had never been on an Alpine coaster before and so this was a great experience. Thrilling twists and turns that it feels like your cart will flip over. I do wish the ride was a little longer but overall it was fun. The price was kinda expensive in my opinion but it was such a great experience overall. They also have a "jungle gym" for the kids which can take a very long time so make sure you have time to spare.

The service was amazing and the ride was so much fun they have a parent pass off if you and your partner have a young child that can't ride one can stand and wait while the other rides and switch off

I heard about this coaster so I had to try it when I was traveling in the area! It was advertised to register and sign up for a time online which I did, however, it really didn't mean anything because people were walking in and we all still waited in the same line. My time was for 1:30pm, I showed up at 1:15pm, and didn't actually get on the coaster til almost 3pm. The line goes super slow mainly because most people buy the bundle which means they can stay on for 3 rides in a row. The coaster itself was super cool and went way faster than I thought it would which is definitely worth the experience and price. Glad I went but I think this is a one and done kind of experience.

Cool Coaster, we got there at a good time. It wasn't crowded and line moved fairly quickly. The coaster ride is very quick and it's fast as long as the people in front of you aren't scared and always slowing down, otherwise you won't be able to go fast. What ruined the experience for me is the system designed to capture pictures and videos of your ride didn't record and we couldn't take any memories of our experience. I recommend you use your own cellphone to record your experience.

After reading reviews about how short the ride was, I was going to sit this one out and let my daughter and granddaughter go on. But, as we drove up, I decided that I needed to experience this first hand as at my age, I love the uniqueness of a virgin experience! It was awesome! You reserve your time online and pay when you arrive. They do allow walk ins, but only guarantee is if you register ahead. Parking lot is small so don't arrive too early. The line to wait is painfully slow. Took about a half hour to get through, but the ride is super fun and easy to navigate. Push brakes forward for full speed or pull back to slow down. The ride is super smooth with lots of curves and if you feel the need for speed, push forward and wheeeeeeee!

My family enjoyed it (kids ages 13 and 8). We purchased the bundle to ride 3 times, which I would recommend, because once just wouldn't make it worth it. Only thing that I wish was different, if you have a reservation, there should be a separate waiting line. We still waited in a line for 45+ mins even after getting there for our reservation time.

We went on the Wednesday before thanksgiving at 2pm. We had no reserved time. You buy tickets inside. It's $16/adult for one ride. The line took about 25 minutes. The ride was fun and I felt safe. They said they run all year and even in the snow.

I was happy to see this place was developed over the summer as it brings more to the area of Banner Elk/western NC. While it looked fun, to be honest, riding on this coaster wasn't on the top of my list of activities to try, especially during a worldwide pandemic. Lo and behold, I was convinced to go with a friend, and it turned out to be more fun than I imagined it would be. This was my first time riding an alpine coaster, so I didn't know what to expect. For those of you like me who didn't know this, alpine coasters are known for being different than others, in that the ride is formulated around the landscape of the area, usually down the side of a mountain or hill. When you ride, you are in a single- or double cart (i.e., 1 or 2 people at at time) and you go through the coaster yourself. There are brakes on the cart that you pull with both hands to slow yourself down the ride if you don't want to go full speed, which in this case is 27 mph, I believe. When I first saw the ride before actually getting on it, it looked sort of dinky and not fun. But once you're sitting in the cart, alone, being pulled up the track, you finally realize how freaky this is about to be! I am a scaredy cat, so I pulled my brakes the entire time. My two friends who went before and after me didn't brake once. The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars is the pricing. It costs a lot of money to ride a coaster lasting only a few minutes. My friends and I each paid for the single ride option (instead of the 3 ride package), simply because we couldn't afford otherwise (side note: I don't see how any family could afford this; my brother is a firefighter and father of 3... How is he expected to pay for his family of 5 to go on this, let alone more than one time?) However, next time, I definitely want to do the 3-ride package. For me, the ride was over just as I was getting the hang of it. I'm sure I would have gone the whole ride without braking on my 3rd try - just needed to work myself up to it. Lastly, the gift shop is really neat; they had a lot of cute t-shirts and stickers for the Appalachian Trail, Banner Elk, Boone areas. Overall, this was a really fun experience, and it is much needed in and around this area. I will be suggesting that others go check it out!

If you have not done a mountain coaster before, this one is well worth it. A steep lift takes you past beautiful greens and rocks, and down several drops and helixes. They have a cool on-ride photo/video system, which I'm sure makes a good souvenir. If you're riding in the morning like I did, I recommend hats and gloves on cold days. For the COVID restrictions, they were enforcing distancing and masks. Once you get to the lift, you can ride without a mask for the photo/video. They also have a reservation system in place, and it was haste-free for my visit.

Really enjoyed the experience, I am not as upset about the fact that their capturing system wasn't working for most of our group after making the reservation, so it wasn't a surprise to have all of us, and it was only 11. I would have bought the pictures that "are normally 25 but on sale for 12" but missing out on money there as lots of ours didn't load as mentioned. I would've given another star but then I thought about how the staff just wasn't as warm or inviting as I'd hope.m unfortunately. I feel like the focus on riding multiple times was just not pushed forward enough and the women up top were just staring/being quiet and the person selling the tickets was the warmest of anyone, the gentleman on crutches was very patient and inviting as well. Overall I think it's a great experience for someone who wants to get away from life for a moment and feel the wind in your face, but it's not as long of a ride as I previously thought and if you want your footage and pictures instead of a free ride to actually get new pictures/footage we were told that "if it says footage not found, sometimes it will show up after a few minutes but other than that it is probably lost." and personally it's the little things like this that I feel employees can go above and beyond but just don't.

Great ride and little store. Also has a coffee place downstairs. We had reservation for 12:30 but just an fyi you do still have to wait in line to get on the coaster.

Super fun coaster ride, wish it was longer! The coffee shop underneath is a nice touch, my friends are I would have stayed if they served any beer. Nice location, parking lot is a bit tight for the amount of people to visit

I had read about the new Alpine Coaster in Banner Elk a few months ago and, having been to a similar coaster in VT, I was excited to try this one out. I went online and made a reservation per their site guideline. They state that you should only "reserve one seat per group" as it would "allow them to better control the crowds and provide proper social distancing." I entered in a time of 3pm on June 13th. My boyfriend and I arrived a few minutes early, parked in the overflow parking lot, and made our way across the street to the main building. Once we got there, there was a confusing jumble of people and we had no idea where we were supposed to go. We finally saw a sign to go inside to purchase our tickets. I checked us in, we bought our tickets, and then we went outside to WAIT. In hindsight we should have just asked for a refund and left. The line wrapped all along the outside deck in a confusing jumble. We had to ask others around us to make sure we were at the end of the line. There was no signage and people were DEFINITELY not social distancing - there was no way you could! We were packed in like sardines. My boyfriend and I were only a handful of people wearing masks. None of the staff were wearing masks either. We arrived just before 3pm and it was almost 5pm by the time we were finally seated on the coaster. The ride itself is only about 3 minutes long from start to finish. It was definitely not worth the time we spent waiting. My boyfriend did complain as we stepped off that he was displeased and they did let us go up again for a second ride. I get it was a Saturday and people are excited to go out as quarantine restrictions have been easing, but Wilderness Run definitely needs to improve how they handle their crowds. I wouldn't go back and I certainly won't recommend other people go either. It's not worth the money or the aggravation.

I was really excited when this place opened back up after being closed due to COVID. Some friends and I were in the mountains for Thanksgiving and this was a must do. They are taking great steps to follow health guidelines...you reserve a time to arrive and buy tickets (wait in the car until then); every staffer was wearing a mask; riders must wear masks the entire time they're on the premises (can remove while on the ride); you can't go to the platform until called to prevent overcrowding; the floor is taped off into six foot sections. All that said, the employees were friendly and kept things moving at a good pace. It took just a few seconds to figure out the brakes and then it was down the first hill! I would have ridden more had there been more time. Dress warmly and have fun!

Excellent. They offer you different options. We chose the single ride. It a great little coaster. You can do single rider or double. Reminds me of a sled. It was my first time ever going on one of these and I loved the fact that I was in control of how fast or slow I went. A definite must do if you're in town even more if you have kids!

It is exactly how it sounds - a roller coaster in the woods. nothing more, nothing less. IT WAS A BLAST!!! We stood in line for about 15 minutes. We got our own personal cart. it took about a minute to get to the top of the hill and about another minute to go around and around to the bottom. The cool thing was that I could control my speed throughout thanks to the hand brake system. It felt like I was going to fly off the rails at one point but that is all part of the thrill. The staff was friendly from the ticket booth to the team making sure we were strapped in and ready to go.

Wow have you tried this newer attraction near banner elk out!!?! It's awesome, fun and goes as fast or as slow as you want! I love that you can control your speed and kinda pace yourself. And the video footage is priceless. I do wish we could film ourselves more than once if you purchase the 3 rides. But either way it was great. That staff was nice and super friendly. Give this place a try!

We each enjoyed, including my in-laws. We went back the following day as we left the mountains and bought 3 rides each. It's vacation so you spend more, I thought the price was very high for return on investment but during Covid we did not do a lot of other things like dining out so it felt justifiable. For ages from 15 to 69 Everyone enjoyed the rush We got there 30 minutes before it opened to try and beat crows and over concerns of Covid exposure, I should have done 45. As far as Covid the place was not designed for the crowds and social distancing, more could be done but without major working it just not ideal.

We had an amazing time! Make sure you make your time reservation on their website before coming. Actual ticket purchase is when you check in for your reservation. We purchased the 3 ride bundle and we're able to ride back to back. Please keep in mind, you will still need to wait in line to actually ride the ride. The staff were very courteous and helpful. We had a ton of fun and can't wait to return again one day! Don't forget to check out the gift shop and purchase your ride video and photos. Super affordable too!

Wow what fun!!!! All 4 of us loved this coaster! Teens & Mom & Dad!! Incredible staff, owner extremely engaged in your experience & great new building/facility! Definitely worth the $35 for 3-runs, teens actually went 4 times (it was slow, so they allowed them to use a 'punch' from our cards as twice was good for us adults). Owner is a Vet - super friendly & very engaged - they are very dialed in to creating a fun experience as they are new....as the Summer of 2020 progresses they may offer more options for added/multi use. Young kids can enjoy this too! They ride with a parent (max of 2 per car) and you really can control the ride with the built-in brakes of the car; our teen said 'what brakes?' Lol, but I tapped the brake a few times as you really can get going FAST on this thing! Really nice new facility, upper level has a small shop & local items. Lower level has a snack bar area that was closed during our visit, but looks very nice

It was a short but sweet outing for us during our visit to Sugar Mountain. We did the one ride option because it was way too cold lol. It's definitely a unique experience for the whole family to try.

Wooooohhhooooooooooo!!! Flying down a super smooth mountain coaster in Banner Elk was tons of fun. It's $16 for a single ride, $35 for 3 rides per person. This place is well run, clean, polite staff and tons of fun for the whole family. These are fast and smooth, with a handbrake if you want to slow down. They have a nice gift shop, candies, full coffee bar and clean restrooms.

Definitely go for the three ride deal. I wasn't sure if my 7 year old would go the three rides as he'd never been on any coaster before and let's face it, kids are hit or miss, but he loved it and was ready for a fourth ride! Nice that you can control the speed and not go so fast if that's your preference. Even my hubby had a great time! Small tip: no matter how small your purse is, you can't take it. I had a small crossbody that I thought would be ok since I didn't have to hold it, but I had to leave it at the station. So if you don't want to leave your purse with the workers, leave it in the car. I had no problem though.

So fun!! I don't even like rollercoasters but this was great! My 5 year old had a blast. Loved that you could control how fast or slow you go, and that my kid could ride with me. Definitely recommend!

I would have given this a higher rating if they paid attention to the Governor's mandate that all people should wear masks. There were so many people not wearing masks. You have to pay for your tickets inside an area that was over crowded with too many massless people. Kids were hopping lines and other people half had their masks on. I was too stressed out avoiding people without masks on to enjoy it. There wasn't any room to social distance. The staff was friendly and helpful. The ride itself was fun. I will try again another time when COVID isn't as concerning.

Fun!!! Especially in the snow! They have an option where you can get a recording of yourself down the coaster. I think the views of the mountains around the curve are cooler than a video of myself. You can either get a single ride or a 3 ride pass. ($37) It's the same track every time. I thought there were different tracks. They have a cute gift shop with snacks and souvenirs. It's worth it to go in the snow even though it's freezing. You could see a lot of the mountains through the trees. Beautiful mountain views! Almost reminds me of the coasters in Park City, UT. This track I don't think you could fall off if you did there's nets around the curves.

Pretty cool place. Definitely check it out when your in Banner Elk. The price is very reasonable. Just make sure you book early on weekends because time slots sell out quickly. We had a blast!

Pros: Lots of fun! Super clean and nice environment. Very nice shop. Cons: One bathroom for large crowd. Very short ride, advertised at a 5-7 minute ride but it is more like 2 minutes. Many stairs to climb to building. Minimal parking and on an incline. Reservation times were not necessary, there was a large crowd waiting upon arrival and walk in tickets were being sold.

Super fun alpine coaster! This was the first time I'd ever been on one and I absolutely loved it! It seems like it's a long ride to the top - and it is, but it's smooth as silk coming down. If your concerned about drops, there are none. If you're worries about speed, it's literally in your hands. You control how fast or slow you come down. It is the most fun and everyone should try it!

Outside of the cost being a smidge outrageous, it was a total blast & I'd do it again in a heartbeat ! I loved that after riding in the cold, we could go downstairs for a hot drink to warm us up ! All the staff were super friendly as well!

Never been on a roll a coaster that goes through the forest. It was an awesome experience and the kids loved it. What I like most is that if you purchase a multi ride ticket you don't have to get off. We rode the coaster 3 times in a row without getting off. Didn't have to wait in line each time.

The coaster was fun. Staff was respectful and safety was a priority. Does get crowded in a tight space to check in. Then there is a separate area to line up for the ride, which has a queue. Would do again.