Looking for Some Serious Thrills? We’ve Got You Covered.

Upstate New York has a great number of roller coasters and zip lines for the thrill-seekers among us. Here are five top-quality options.

By Ken Sturtz

The guided zip line tours offered by Greek Peak Mountain Resort feature four dual zip lines, the highest exceeding 65 feet!
The guided zip line tours offered by Greek Peak Mountain Resort feature four dual zip lines, the highest exceeding 65 feet!

1. Ride of Steel, Six Flags Darien Lake 

If you’re seeking a roller coaster with hair-raising height and speed look no further than Ride of Steel. One of the tallest coasters east of the Mississippi, it climbs 208 feet before plunging through the first 70-degree drop. Reaching speeds greater than 75mph, the heart-pounding excitement continues with two more drops, quick turns and a series of fast-paced mini hills. If that wasn’t enough, the ride zips over a lake and offers excellent views from the first hill. sixflags.com/darienlake

2. Jack Rabbit, Seabreeze Amusement Park 

If you’ve never experienced the thrill of a wooden roller coaster, there’s nothing quite like it. The Jack Rabbit is the ultimate combination of excitement and history. Built in 1920, this wooden beauty is the oldest continuously operating roller coaster in the country and features a modified out and back layout. Its 2,150-foot-long track includes a 75-foot drop and tops out at more than 40 mph. The ride finishes with a final wild curve and a dark tunnel. seabreeze.com

3. Outdoor Adventure Center, Greek Peak Mountain Resort 

It’s one-stop shopping with both zip lines and an exciting gravity-fed mountain coaster. The guided zip line tour features four dual zip lines starting with a beginner line 15 feet off the ground. The highest zip line reaches 65 feet and passes over several creeks. The mountain coaster offers an equally nerve rattling experience, albeit closer to the ground. Individual coasters weave through the trees at speeds up to 30 mph. There’s even a handbrake that lets riders control the speed of the 5-10-minute ride. greekpeak.net

The Steamin' Demon lasts only 90 seconds, but packs a turbulent punch with a 65-foot drop and vertical loops!
The Steamin’ Demon lasts only 90 seconds, but packs a turbulent punch with a 65-foot drop and vertical loops!

4. Steamin’ Demon, Six Flags Great Escape

The Steamin’ Demon is a classic steel looping coaster with a technological twist. This high-speed ride lasts 90 seconds, but packs a lot of punch: prepare to drop 65 feet as you race through a five-story vertical loop followed by a massive double-inversion corkscrew. In 2016, the ride was upgraded. Riders can don virtual reality headsets and be transported into a realistic 360-degree virtual world. Riders are co-pilots in a fighter jet as they try to save the planet from an alien invasion; all of the drops, loops and twists are synched to the roller coaster. The virtual reality headsets make for a truly unique experience. sixflags.com/greatescape

5. CataMonster, Catamount Mountain Resort 

If you’re looking for the ultimate adrenaline-filled zip line experience, this is it. Situated on the New York-Massachusetts border, the 2-hour tour includes three dual zip lines. The first is a training line. The second starts at the top of the mountain and runs alongside a ski trail. The main attraction is the CataMonster, which at 5,523 feet is more than a mile long and the longest zip line in the U.S. About 1,300 feet into the ride the terrain drops away and riders cruise 250 feet above the ground. The vertical drop from start to finish is 1,000 feet, allowing riders to reach up to 55 mph, although a brake lets you control your speed. catamountski.com ϖ