Matterhorn Bobsleds is the dual-tracked steel roller coaster inside the snow-capped mountain at the center of Disneyland in Anaheim, California — and it’s the reason every smooth steel coaster you’ve ridden since exists at all.
Opened on June 14, 1959, it was Disneyland’s first roller coaster and the world’s first permanently installed tubular steel coaster, a design breakthrough invented specifically to fit inside this ride. Here’s everything worth knowing before you ride: how fast it goes, how tall the mountain is, what the height requirement is, and why coaster historians treat this Fantasyland classic as a landmark.
Quick Answer
Matterhorn Bobsleds reaches a top speed of about 27 mph (43.5 km/h), inside a 147-foot mountain built to 1/100th scale of the real Swiss Matterhorn. It opened in 1959 as Disneyland’s first coaster and the world’s first tubular steel coaster, and today has a 42-inch height requirement, a ride time of roughly two minutes, and two interlocking tracks — one loading from Fantasyland, one from Tomorrowland.
How Fast Is Matterhorn Bobsleds?
Matterhorn Bobsleds tops out at 27 mph (43.5 km/h). That’s noticeably slower on paper than nearby thrills like Space Mountain (around 35 mph) or Incredicoaster (around 55 mph), but the Matterhorn doesn’t feel slow in the seat.
Its 1959-era track layout is tight and jolty rather than smooth and sustained — the bobsled trains snap through short, sharp turns and dips carved into the mountain’s interior, so the ride feels quicker and rougher than the top-speed number suggests. That’s also why the Matterhorn is known for being a bit rough on the neck and back compared to modern coasters, despite its modest speed.
Matterhorn Bobsleds: Stats at a Glance
Park: Disneyland, Anaheim, California
Manufacturer: Arrow Development / WED Imagineering
Opened: June 14, 1959
Mountain Structure Height: 147 ft (44.8 m)
Coaster Lift Hill Height: 80 ft (24.4 m)
Top Speed: 27 mph (43.5 km/h)
Ride Duration: about 2 minutes (Tomorrowland track ~2:07, Fantasyland track ~2:26)
Length (Tomorrowland Track): 2,037 ft (620.9 m)
Length (Fantasyland Track): 2,134 ft (650.4 m)
Height Requirement: 42 in (107 cm)
Inversions: None
Tracks: 2 (intertwined dual-track)
The Ride Experience
Riders board six-passenger bobsled trains and climb through the icy interior of the fabricated mountain before plunging through twisting turns, dark caves, and cascading waterfalls. The two intertwined tracks — one accessed from Fantasyland, the other from Tomorrowland — share the same mountain structure but follow slightly different layouts and durations, giving guests a reason to ride both sides.
Inside the mountain, the Abominable Snowman (affectionately nicknamed ‘Harold’ by cast members) lunges out from the shadows in an Audio-Animatronic encounter. The mountain structure itself stands 147 feet tall, built to 1/100th scale of the real Swiss Matterhorn, and forced-perspective design tricks make it appear even more imposing than that already-impressive height suggests.
Major refurbishments in 1978, 2012, and 2015 have updated the theming, vehicles, and special effects while preserving the original ride experience.
Height Requirement, Access, and Riding Tips
Riders must be at least 42 inches (107 cm) tall. Rider Switch is available for parties with a member who doesn’t meet the height requirement, and a wheelchair/ECV transfer point is provided for guests who need it, along with Disability Access Service (DAS) for guests who can’t wait in a standard queue.
Matterhorn Bobsleds typically offers Lightning Lane access through Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass system on busier days, in addition to the standard standby queue. Because the ride sits at the literal center of the park between Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, its line tends to build steadily through the afternoon — riding early in the day or checking current Lightning Lane availability in the Disneyland app is usually the best way to minimize the wait. For up-to-date hours, Lightning Lane pricing, and park tickets, check the official Disneyland Matterhorn Bobsleds page.
A Pioneer That Changed Roller Coasters Forever
What made Matterhorn Bobsleds truly revolutionary was its engineering. When conventional angle-iron track — the rough, bulky style common on wooden coasters — proved too rigid and clunky to fit inside the tight confines of the Matterhorn’s interior, Arrow Development co-founders Karl Bacon and Ed Morgan invented a new solution: hollow, welded tubular steel track.
That invention transformed the entire roller coaster industry, making smoother, faster, and more elaborate coasters possible worldwide, and it became the industry standard almost immediately after the ride debuted in 1959. Bacon and Morgan were inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2025 in recognition of that breakthrough.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds is widely recognized as the world’s first permanently installed tubular steel roller coaster. From the looping coasters of the 1970s to the hypercoasters of today, virtually every modern steel roller coaster traces its engineering lineage back to this single Disneyland mountain.
Matterhorn Bobsleds FAQs
How fast is Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland?
Matterhorn Bobsleds reaches a top speed of about 27 mph (43.5 km/h). The ride feels quicker than that number suggests because of its tight, jolty 1959-era track layout.
When did Matterhorn Bobsleds open at Disneyland?
Matterhorn Bobsleds opened on June 14, 1959, becoming Disneyland’s first roller coaster and the world’s first permanently installed tubular steel roller coaster.
How tall is the Matterhorn mountain structure at Disneyland?
The Matterhorn mountain structure stands 147 feet (about 44.8 m) tall — built to 1/100th scale of the real Swiss Matterhorn, which rises to around 14,700 feet. The coaster’s lift hill height is 80 feet, a separate measurement from the overall structure.
What is the height requirement for Matterhorn Bobsleds?
Riders must be at least 42 inches (107 cm) tall. Rider Switch is available for guests in a party who don’t meet the requirement.
Are there two different tracks on Matterhorn Bobsleds?
Yes. Matterhorn Bobsleds has two intertwined tracks — the Fantasyland side (2,134 ft, about 2:26 ride time) and the Tomorrowland side (2,037 ft, about 2:07 ride time) — each with a slightly different layout, though both pass through the same mountain structure.
Does Matterhorn Bobsleds have Lightning Lane?
Yes, Matterhorn Bobsleds typically participates in Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass system on busier days in addition to its standard standby queue.
Why is Matterhorn Bobsleds considered important in roller coaster history?
It was the first ride built with tubular steel track, an invention by Arrow Development’s Karl Bacon and Ed Morgan created specifically to fit inside the Matterhorn’s mountain structure. That design replaced rough angle-iron track and became the foundation for nearly every modern steel coaster, earning Bacon and Morgan induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2025.
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