Alpine Slides in California and the Pacific Northwest
The West Coast has only a couple of alpine slides, but both are classics. Big Bear Lake in Southern California and Mount Hood in Oregon each pair a twin-track slide with a mountain getaway that is an easy drive from a major city.
Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Big Bear Lake, California
In the San Bernardino Mountains, Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain calls itself the home of the world-famous Alpine Slide and describes the ride as Southern California's only authentic bobsled experience. The ride begins with a scenic chairlift trip that looks out over Big Bear Lake and the surrounding peaks. At the top, riders take individually controlled sleds, each with Teflon runners and ball-bearing wheels, down their choice of two quarter-mile cement tracks filled with high-banked turns and long straightaways. A touch of the control handle applies the brake, so you can go as fast or as slow as you like.
The park runs year-round, with different attractions by season. Alongside the slide, it lists the Mineshaft Coaster, a mountain coaster; the Soaring Eagle; go-karts; and mini golf, with a water slide in summer and snow play in winter. That makes it an easy place to compare an alpine slide with a mountain coaster on the same afternoon.
Rules to know: Riders must be at least 36 inches tall. Children from 36 to 48 inches ride with an adult 18 or older, and each rider needs a ticket.
Around Big Bear Lake
- Big Bear Lake is part of the San Bernardino National Forest, and the U.S. Forest Service highlights the Stanfield Cutoff causeway across the east end of the lake as one of the best places in the valley to watch wildlife, including white pelicans and great blue herons.
- Big Bear Discovery Center, on North Shore Drive in Fawnskin, is the Forest Service visitor and education center for the area, with exhibits, maps, and naturalist programs.
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo is a wildlife rehabilitation facility that cares for injured, orphaned, and imprinted wild animals. Those that cannot be released remain on exhibit.
Mt. Hood Skibowl, Government Camp, Oregon
Mt. Hood Skibowl's Adventure Park sits off Highway 26 in Government Camp, about 50 miles east of Portland, and serves as a gateway to the Mt. Hood National Forest. Its centerpiece is what Skibowl calls the Pacific Northwest's only half-mile dual alpine slide. Riders start with a leisurely trip up on the Scenic Sky Chairs, with views of the Cascades and Mount Hood, then ride down a half-mile track of banked turns, S-curves, and hairpins through mountain meadows. Two side-by-side tracks let families ride together at the speed of their choice, with the brake at their fingertips.
Skibowl publishes unusually detailed numbers. The track is 2,640 feet long with a 350-foot vertical drop. The maximum speed is 37 miles per hour and the average is 15 to 20. The track is fiberglass with a protective gel coating. The slide is visible from Highway 26 as you approach Government Camp.
The Adventure Park bundles the slide with many other attractions, including tree-top tours, a rock climbing wall, ziplines, bungee jumping, karts, mini golf, batting cages, and bungee trampolines. Skibowl operates an east side and a west side; the Alpine Slide and Scenic Sky Chair are at Skibowl West.
Rules to know: Riders must be 36 inches or taller and at least 3 years old, and 48 inches or taller to ride alone. Riders from 36 to 48 inches ride with a ticketed adult 18 or older, and adults with passengers must be able to fully operate the brake lever. Skibowl's rules prohibit bumping, racing, or stopping on the track, and hand-held cameras or video while sliding.
Around Mount Hood
- Timberline Lodge, on Mount Hood's south slope above Government Camp, was declared a National Historic Landmark and is one of Oregon's most popular attractions, according to the Mt. Hood National Forest. It operates under a Forest Service special-use permit.
- Mt. Hood National Forest surrounds Skibowl with hiking trails, lakes, and campgrounds managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
- Government Camp itself is a small mountain village with places to eat between rides.
Planning a West Coast slide day
Big Bear and Mount Hood are both popular weekend escapes, so summer weekends can be busy. Skibowl strongly recommends buying tickets and passes in advance for the best pricing and availability. At both slides, arriving early gives you more laps before lines build.
Mountain weather still rules. Big Bear Lake sits high in the San Bernardino Mountains, and Mount Hood weather can change quickly, so pack a warm layer for the chairlift and sun protection for the meadows. Like nearly every alpine slide, these close when the track is wet. If rain moves through, ride the mountain coaster at Big Bear or explore the lodge and trails at Mount Hood until the track dries.
Both slides are friendly to young families. Children who meet the minimum height can ride with an adult, and older kids who reach 48 inches can take their own sled. See riding with kids for a side-by-side look at rules, and the directory for slides farther inland, such as those in Colorado and Utah.
Sources
- Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Alpine Slide
- Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain, Attractions
- U.S. Forest Service, Big Bear Lake
- U.S. Forest Service, Big Bear Lake Recreation Area
- Big Bear Alpine Zoo, About
- Mt. Hood Skibowl, Alpine Slide
- Mt. Hood Skibowl, Press Room
- Mt. Hood Skibowl, Hours of Operation
- U.S. Forest Service, Timberline Lodge