What is the steepest drop on a wooden roller coaster?

Goliath claimed three Guinness World Records upon opening. The ride's 180-foot-tall (55 m) drop at 85° was the steepest and is still the longest in the world for wooden roller coasters.



As of 2026, the record for the steepest drop on a wooden roller coaster is held by Goliath at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois. This "wood-track" beast features a staggering 180-foot drop at a near-vertical angle of 85 degrees. While traditionally wooden coasters were limited in their steepness due to the structural constraints of timber, Goliath utilizes "Topper Track" technology developed by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC). This involves a steel plate on top of the wooden layers, allowing for maneuvers and drop angles previously only possible on all-steel coasters. Another notable contender in this category is Wildfire at Kolmården Wildlife Park in Sweden, which features an 83-degree drop. These modern "hybrid-wood" coasters are redefining the category, combining the classic "click-clack" feel and aesthetic of a wooden structure with extreme, record-breaking drops and even inversions (going upside down). While steel coasters like the upcoming "Storm Rampaging Run" can reach drops of 95 degrees or more, the 85-degree plunge on Goliath remains the "gold standard" for adrenaline in the wooden coaster world.

People Also Ask

1. Kingda Ka - 127-Metre Drop
  • Location: Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey, USA.
  • Height: 139 m (456 ft)
  • Drop: 127 m (418 ft)
  • Speed: 206 km/h (128 mph)
  • Duration: 0:50.


MORE DETAILS

Roller Coaster Restrictions At no time can the track be more than 75 feet above the ground or go below ground level. No ascent or descent can be steeper than 80 degrees from the horizontal.

MORE DETAILS

The angle at which the car drops is another variable that affects the rider experience. Typical angles range from 30° to 80°. Loops: Roller coaster loops are never circular loops.

MORE DETAILS

Plunge 200 feet on SheiKra - an intense coaster! Climb 200 feet to the edge of a 90-degree drop that inches you mercilessly over the edge—and stops.

MORE DETAILS

But since 1979, The Beast at Kings Island in Ohio has held tightly onto the record as the world's longest wooden coaster.

MORE DETAILS

Superman: Escape from Krypton has an incredible 415-foot tall tower. It holds the distinction of being the first coaster to reach 100 mph.

MORE DETAILS

What is the fastest roller coaster in the UK? The fastest roller coaster in the UK is Stealth at Alton Towers, which reaches 0-80mph (128.7 kmph) in just 1.9 seconds. After reaching top speed, the track turns 90 degrees and rapidly ascends the ride's famous 'top hat'-shaped peak before descending down the other side.

MORE DETAILS

Since then, Cedar Point has been called the roller coaster capital of the world. They created the first amusement park to have a ride that goes over 200 feet tall, that's Magnum xl-200. And it was the first park to have a ride over 300 feet tall when they opened the Millennium Force.

MORE DETAILS

The Beast Wooden Roller Coaster at Kings Island Come face-to-face with The Beast – the longest wooden roller coaster in the world!

MORE DETAILS

Dominator: The Longest Floorless Roller Coaster Holds the world record as the longest floorless roller coaster at 4,210 feet. Great ride experiences delivered in the front, middle and back rows of the train.

MORE DETAILS

They may just not enjoy the thrill as much as they did as a kid. “No one is ever too old to ride roller coasters,” amusement park expert and author Pete Trabucco said. “You can ride roller coasters as long as you're physically able to.”

MORE DETAILS

“As far as an age limit, though, if you are physically healthy and up for the thrill, there is likely no greater risk for someone who is 60 than there is for someone who is 20.” The largest concern for those who indulge in roller coasters is the after effects.

MORE DETAILS

There's the nervousness while you wait in line, the excitement as you buckle yourself in and the thrill as come speeding down that first drop. But as you age, you may be wondering if it's even still safe to ride a roller coaster. The short answer is, probably yes.

MORE DETAILS