The ride
Cliffhanger is a steel roller coaster built by S&MC on its Hurricane platform at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park in Colorado, having opened to the public in 2012. After 14 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park midway, drawing repeat riders who track every subtle change to its trains, restraints and station soundtrack.
On paper the ride is a serious thrill machine. It climbs 56 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. Trains reach a top speed of 34.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from S&MC have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other S&MC installations will pick up on the same DNA in Cliffhanger's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear. As a Hurricane, it sits within a recognizable family of attractions and benefits from years of refinement applied to similar installations elsewhere.
Plan to ride Cliffhanger early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.