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The first alpine coaster in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains opened in Banner Elk in 2020. At Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster, guests zoom downhill in individually controlled carts that can reach speeds up to 27 MPH. The run includes three circular loops, a series of waves and lots of twists. Wilderness Run is open every day year-round, including during ski season at nearby Sugar and Beech Mountains.
The 2,390 feet of tract descends through the forests via banked turns with braking controlled by the rider. So you control how fast you go. The run has plenty of curves around boulders and trees for an exciting ride - complete with the latest safety technology.
The carts are designed for either one adult, or one adult accompanied by a child. The child must be at least 38 inches tall to ride. The coaster is open in most weather conditions, including snow and rain.
The entire ride up and back down takes about 7 minutes, so you can ride multiple times. The package ticket includes three rides. After your ride, browse their gift shop with souvenirs and locally created items. Downstairs, enjoy some sweet treats in their pie shop.
You find many similar coasters in Europe, but there are only 20 or so in the United States. We are lucky to have them in our Blue Ridge Mountains!
Wilderness Run also operates an adventure course beside the coaster. Wilderness Run Adventure Course features 28 obstacles with three levels of difficulty: easy, intermediate, and hard. Activities include scrambling over cargo nets, scaling rock-climbing structures, and traversing swinging bridges and logs.
Night rides now available! Photo courtesy of Wilderness Alpine Coaster
Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster Tickets & Hours: Go to Banner Elk's website for more info.
Open daily, hours vary. Check website for details.
Location: Find the Wilderness Run Alpine Coaster between Grandfather Mountain and Beech Mountain, at 3265 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk - along NC Highway 184. It's about 72 miles from Asheville, allowing about 1.5 hours to drive. See our Banner Elk Guide for many other things to do nearby. It's about eight miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.
