Mountain coasters have exploded in popularity around the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge area over the last decade — and for good reason. They’re fun for virtually all ages, you control your own speed, and you get to experience the beauty of the Smoky Mountains in a way that no other attraction offers. The writer of this guide personally rode the majority of the coasters in the area. Here’s everything you need to know.
What Is a Mountain Coaster?
A mountain coaster is similar to a traditional roller coaster with one key difference: riders control their own speed using a hand brake. The carts are single-unit vehicles attached to a fixed rail track. A cable or pulley system hauls the cart to the top of the mountain, and then gravity does the rest. These coasters do not go upside down. The experience can be as gentle or as thrilling as you choose — let the brake go and you’ll reach speeds up to 35 mph on the fastest ones, or hold it back and enjoy a leisurely scenic ride.
Mountain coasters differ from the classic alpine slide (which has been around since the 1970s) in one important way: the cart is attached to the track, making for a more controlled and safer experience. The alpine coaster format was refined and popularized by the German manufacturer Wiegand Sport, which built many of the early installations across Europe and the United States.
What Does It Cost?
Most mountain coasters charge $15–$18 for an adult’s first ride, with children’s tickets slightly less. The standard pricing model gives you a discounted rate on subsequent rides the same day — sometimes half price or less — so the per-ride cost drops significantly if you ride more than once. For a family of four doing two rides each, expect to spend around $100. Anakeesta is the most expensive option since you must purchase admission to reach the mountain before paying separately for the coaster.
The Best Mountain Coasters in Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge
1. Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster — Gatlinburg
Rowdy Bear was the fastest coaster reviewed and the best overall ride. It reaches speeds up to 35 mph — the fastest in the area — as you wind through the woods of the mountain. Operation is straightforward: push the handles forward to accelerate, pull back to brake.
What makes Rowdy Bear particularly distinctive is its combination offering. In addition to the mountain coaster, they have a Mountain Glider — a single-railed air coaster that blends the sensations of free-falling and hang gliding. Unlike a zipline (which moves in a straight line), the Mountain Glider swings you along a stiff, curved steel rail, pushing you far out to the side. It’s a genuinely strange and exciting experience. The most economical way to visit is to purchase the coaster/glider package, which includes two coaster rides and one Mountain Glider ride.
2. Anakeesta Rail Runner & Hellbender — Gatlinburg
Anakeesta, the mountaintop theme park near downtown Gatlinburg, is now home to two mountain coasters — an important update from when many older guides were written.
The original coaster, the Rail Runner, remains the most unusual mountain coaster in the area. It is advertised as the first single-rail mountain coaster in the United States. Unlike standard two-rail coasters, the Rail Runner places you very close to the ground on a single track, which dramatically amplifies the sensation of speed. The track is 1,600 feet long with a 400-foot elevation change, reaching speeds up to 25 mph. Signs along the rail actually instruct you to apply the brake at certain points. It is the only coaster in the area that requires riders to sign a waiver. The downhill run lasts about 50 seconds, followed by a scenic cable-pulled ride back to the top.
The newer coaster, the Hellbender (opened 2023), is a double-rail coaster with 3,350 feet of track and a 240-foot elevation change, also reaching up to 25 mph. The Hellbender offers a longer but slightly less steep ride than the Rail Runner. Both coasters are sold via an Anakeesta Coaster Pass (an add-on to general admission).
Cost note: Because you must pay Anakeesta’s general admission to access the mountain before purchasing coaster tickets separately, this is the most expensive coaster option in the area. Plan to spend time at Anakeesta’s other attractions — the Treetop Skywalk, Dueling Ziplines, and AnaVista Tower — to make the most of your admission.
3. Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster — Pigeon Forge
Located on Wears Valley Road in Pigeon Forge, the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster was the first mountain coaster built in the Smoky Mountains (it opened in August 2013), and it remains one of the best. It claims to be the longest downhill track in the United States, with over one mile of track and a 363-foot elevation drop. Speeds reach up to 27 mph. The ride takes approximately 7–8 minutes and includes a slow, scenic cable-pulled ascent followed by a thrilling descent with more than a dozen turns and four switchbacks.
The nighttime experience here is exceptional — 300,000 LED lights illuminate the track and the surrounding forest. Parts of the track run deep into a tree-covered corridor, so the lights really pop once the sun goes down. This is the best after-dark coaster in the area. Located just 1.4 miles off the Parkway on Wears Valley Road.
4. Goats on the Roof — Pigeon Forge
Goats on the Roof is the quirky, family-friendly gem of the Wears Valley Road coaster cluster. The attraction features a souvenir shop, gem mining, fudge and ice cream, and — yes — actual live goats wandering around on the rooftop. The mountain coaster here is 4,875 feet long (nearly a mile), reaching speeds of nearly 30 mph, with a 7-minute ride time.
This is the best coaster option if you have younger children who want to ride. It’s not quite as extreme as some others, but it delivers real thrills and is also the most affordable first-ride ticket of the coasters reviewed. Subsequent same-day rides have been offered at just $5. Located right down the road from the Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster on Wears Valley Road — if you’re doing a coaster day, hit both.
5. Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster — Gatlinburg
This is the original — the first mountain coaster in the Gatlinburg area. No Smoky Mountain coaster tour is complete without riding the one that started it all. What makes this one particularly memorable (and slightly nerve-wracking) is that it is the only coaster reviewed that does not have an automated braking system to prevent cars from making contact with each other. That means it is genuinely important that you keep moving on this ride and not stop on the track. This may also contribute to it being one of the fastest-feeling rides of the group. Carts accommodate both solo and tandem riders.
6. Rocky Top Mountain Coaster — Pigeon Forge
Rocky Top is the longest mountain coaster in East Tennessee and the first in the world to feature four uplifts (most coasters have just one). This design creates four distinct up-and-down sections rather than a single long descent, which gives the ride a very different rhythm from the others. You go through themed barns, tunnels, and past assorted mountain-themed props throughout the more than 9-minute ride. Each single cart reaches speeds up to 30 mph.
Rocky Top has been voted Best Mountain Coaster in Pigeon Forge for four consecutive years (2022–2025) by visitors. The night rides — lit by over half a million dollars’ worth of lighting — are genuinely spectacular. Located across from Dollywood on Veterans Boulevard.
7. Moonshine Mountain Coaster — Gatlinburg
Moonshine Mountain Coaster is a well-regarded family-friendly ride that puts riders in control of their own speed, reaching up to 30 mph. Both single and double rider carts are available. The day and night experiences differ meaningfully — the track is lit for evening rides. A solid choice, particularly if you want a coaster closer to central Gatlinburg.
8. Tennessee Flyer Mountain Coaster at Ober Mountain — Gatlinburg
The Tennessee Flyer (previously known as the Ski Mountain Coaster) at Ober Mountain is one of the most scenically located coasters in the entire area. Ober Mountain sits high above Gatlinburg — accessible via the famous aerial tramway from downtown or by car up Ski Mountain Road — and the coaster uses that elevation beautifully. The ride begins with a relaxing 1,000-foot cable-assisted ascent through the forest, then releases you for 2,750 feet of turns, dips, corkscrews, and G-force moments, reaching speeds up to 25 mph. The total ride takes roughly 5–6 minutes.
This is the highest-elevation mountain coaster in Tennessee, and the mountain views on both the ascent and the descent are among the best of any coaster in the region. Since the coaster is part of Ober Mountain’s wider attraction complex, it can be combined with ice skating, wildlife encounters, alpine sliding, and mountain biking into a full day out.
Quick Comparison Table
Here’s a summary of the key specs for each coaster to help you decide:
| Coaster | Location | Track Length | Top Speed | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowdy Bear Mountain Coaster | Gatlinburg | N/A | 35 mph | Fastest in area; includes Mountain Glider |
| Anakeesta Rail Runner | Gatlinburg | 1,600 ft | 25 mph | Only single-rail coaster in the US |
| Anakeesta Hellbender | Gatlinburg | 3,350 ft | 25 mph | Newer double-rail at Anakeesta |
| Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster | Pigeon Forge | 1+ mile | 27 mph | Longest downhill track in the US; great night ride |
| Goats on the Roof | Pigeon Forge | 4,875 ft | ~30 mph | Most affordable; best for families with kids |
| Gatlinburg Mountain Coaster | Gatlinburg | N/A | ~30 mph | The original; no automated car spacing |
| Rocky Top Mountain Coaster | Pigeon Forge | 20+ acres | 30 mph | Longest in East TN; 4 uplifts; 9+ min ride |
| Moonshine Mountain Coaster | Gatlinburg | N/A | 30 mph | Family-friendly; lit night rides |
| Tennessee Flyer (Ober Mountain) | Gatlinburg | 2,750 ft (downhill) | 25 mph | Highest elevation; best mountain views |
Tips for Getting the Best Experience
A few practical pointers before you go. First, most coasters offer significantly discounted re-rides on the same day, so if you love one, stay and go again — the per-ride value improves dramatically. Second, the nighttime experience at several of these coasters (especially Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster and Rocky Top) is genuinely different from the daytime ride and well worth a return visit after dark. Third, if you want to do multiple coasters in a day, the Wears Valley Road cluster — Smoky Mountain Alpine Coaster and Goats on the Roof — are close together and make natural back-to-back rides. Rocky Top is also nearby on Veterans Boulevard.
For families with small children, Goats on the Roof is the gentlest starting point. For pure thrill-seekers, the Anakeesta Rail Runner offers the most intense sensation due to the single-rail track and proximity to the ground. For the best overall combination of length, theming, and excitement, Rocky Top Mountain Coaster gets the nod.
Have you ridden one of these coasters? Share your favorite in the comments below!
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