The ride
Trailblazer is a steel roller coaster built by Arrow Development on its Mine train platform at Hersheypark in Pioneer Frontier, Pennsylvania, having opened to the public in 1974. After 52 seasons of operation it remains one of the defining attractions on the Hersheypark 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 43 ft above the park before pitching forward into its first descent. Trains reach a top speed of 35.0 mph before the first turnaround, where the layout opens up into a sequence of lateral and vertical elements. In total the track stretches 160 ft, giving the experience a distinctly long-form feel rather than the punchy one-and-done character of many modern compact coasters. enthusiast trip-planning resources
Coasters from Arrow Development have a recognizable signature in track shaping, train design and the way transitions are paced. Riders familiar with other Arrow Development installations will pick up on the same DNA in Trailblazer's layout, particularly through its station design and the sound profile of the running gear. As a Mine train, it sits within a recognizable family of attractions and benefits from years of refinement applied to similar installations elsewhere.
Plan to ride Trailblazer early in the day or during the final hour before park close, when standby waits at Hersheypark typically drop. Single-rider lines and early-entry ticketing programs, when available at Hersheypark, are usually the fastest ways to get repeat rides on a busy day.