Goliath’s drop is the part of this ride people remember, and the number itself raises a question first-time visitors always ask: how can the drop be taller than the lift hill? Goliath climbs 235 feet into the air, then plunges 255 feet, 20 feet more than the hill it just came off of.
That’s not a typo. The track dives below ground level into a tunnel, which is how a hypercoaster with a 235-foot lift can post the biggest drop it ever recorded. This guide breaks down exactly how that drop is measured, what it felt like to briefly hold a world record, and everything else you need to know before you ride, from seat choice to the height requirement.
Quick Answer
Goliath’s first drop is 255 feet (78 m) at a 61-degree angle, which is 20 feet taller than its 235-foot (72 m) lift hill because the track descends into an underground tunnel. Top speed is 85 mph (137 km/h), reached at the bottom of that drop. The ride has zero inversions, a second drop of 185 feet, and a 48-inch (122 cm) minimum height requirement.
Goliath’s Drop Height, Explained
Goliath’s lift hill tops out at 235 feet, but the first drop measures 255 feet, 20 feet more than the hill itself. The gap is the giveaway: the drop isn’t measured from the top of the lift to ground level, it’s measured all the way down into a 120-foot tunnel that the track dives into below grade. That extra vertical distance below the surrounding terrain is what pushes the drop past the lift height.
The drop angle is 61 degrees, steep enough to feel like freefall but short of the 90-degree vertical drops found on later hypercoasters. Riders hit the tunnel at the bottom of that 255-foot plunge, where the ride reaches its full 85 mph top speed before climbing back out into daylight for the rest of the layout. For comparison, a 61-degree, 255-foot first drop is still one of the larger drops among coasters that opened in Southern California, even though several newer rides elsewhere have since built bigger ones.
Goliath Stats at a Glance
Park: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California | Opened: February 11, 2000 | Manufacturer: Giovanola (Switzerland) | Designer: Werner Stengel | Model: Mega Coaster (hypercoaster) | Cost: about $30 million | Lift hill height: 235 ft (72 m) | First drop: 255 ft (78 m) at 61° | Tunnel depth: 120 ft (37 m) long | Second drop: 185 ft (56 m) | Top speed: 85 mph (137 km/h) | Track length: 4,500 ft (1,400 m) | Duration: about 3 minutes | Maximum G-force: 4.5 Gs | Inversions: 0 | Trains: 3, each with 5 cars and 30 riders | Capacity: about 1,600 riders per hour | Height requirement: 48 in (122 cm).
These figures match the specs listed on the official Six Flags Goliath page and on the ride’s engineering record from Giovanola.
Goliath’s Records: What It Actually Held
When Goliath opened on February 11, 2000, it briefly held the world records for longest drop and top speed among full-circuit steel coasters, both tied directly to that 255-foot, 85 mph first plunge. Cedar Point’s Millennium Force opened about three months later, in May 2000, at 310 feet tall with a 300-foot drop and a 93 mph top speed, passing Goliath on every count.
Goliath hasn’t been a record holder since, but the drop that earned the title hasn’t changed. It’s still the single biggest moment on the ride and the reason the coaster is still talked about 25 years later.
Ride Layout and What It Feels Like
Goliath combines two styles: the first half is an out-and-back layout, the second half is a twister. The ride starts with the chain lift to 235 feet, then the 255-foot plunge into the tunnel at 61 degrees. From there it’s a mix of airtime hills, banked turns, and the 185-foot second drop.
It ends with a 585-degree descending helix and a final brake run. The helix is what most riders remember after the drop itself, sustaining forces up to 4.5 Gs for several continuous seconds, which is why Six Flags rates Goliath a Level 4 thrill, its top intensity tier. The feeling is heavy and pressing rather than floaty, and riders who expect inversions may be surprised Goliath has none, but the sustained lateral load from the helix more than makes up for it.
Height Requirement and Who Should Skip It
Riders must be at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall. Six Flags posts the requirement on the official Goliath page, and the park’s measuring stations are the final word, so if a child is close to the line, measure at the park before queueing.
The strong, sustained forces from that 255-foot drop and the closing helix make Goliath a poor fit for guests with neck, back, or heart conditions, and for pregnant guests or anyone recovering from surgery. The park posts health warnings at the ride entrance; read them before you board.
Trains, Seating and Capacity
Goliath runs three trains. Each has five cars, and each car has three rows with two seats side by side, so a full train holds 30 riders. Capacity is around 1,600 riders per hour when all three trains are running. Lap restraints hold you in, and seat belts were added in November 2013 as an additional safety layer.
For seat choice, the front row gives the clearest view straight down into the 255-foot drop and the tunnel below. The back row usually feels the strongest pull over the drops and airtime hills, since the train crests each hill ahead of you before gravity takes over. The closing helix feels intense from any row.
Planning Your Visit
Goliath is in the Goliath Plaza area of Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, in the greater Los Angeles area. Six Flags sells single-day tickets, season passes, and memberships, plus group tickets and discounts such as military offers; prices change with the date, ticket type, and how far ahead you buy.
Park hours vary by season, typically running longer in summer and on holidays and shorter on off-season weekdays, with some days closed entirely. For current hours, ticket prices, and ride status, check the official Six Flags Magic Mountain site, which has a Calendar & Hours page and the ticket and pass pages. Rides sometimes close temporarily for weather or maintenance, so check the day’s ride status before heading to the queue.
Several other Six Flags parks have their own ride called Goliath, including Six Flags Great America and Six Flags Over Georgia, each with different stats. Make sure you’re reading about the Magic Mountain version: the 235-foot Giovanola hypercoaster in Valencia with the 255-foot drop.
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Goliath drop height FAQs
How tall is Goliath’s drop at Six Flags Magic Mountain?
The first drop is 255 feet (78 m) at a 61-degree angle, measured down to the bottom of a 120-foot tunnel below ground level.
Why is Goliath’s drop taller than its lift hill?
The 235-foot lift hill only measures height above ground. The drop continues past ground level into an underground tunnel, adding roughly 20 extra feet and making the 255-foot drop taller than the hill itself.
How fast does Goliath go at the bottom of the drop?
Goliath reaches its top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h) at the bottom of the 255-foot first drop, inside the tunnel.
Did Goliath ever hold a world record for its drop?
Yes. When it opened in February 2000, Goliath briefly held the world records for longest drop and fastest speed among full-circuit steel coasters, until Cedar Point’s Millennium Force surpassed both about three months later.
Is the Magic Mountain Goliath the same as the Goliath at other Six Flags parks?
No. Six Flags Great America and Six Flags Over Georgia each have their own, shorter Goliath coasters with smaller drops. The Magic Mountain version has the largest drop of the three at 255 feet.
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