Six Flags Magic Mountain · Cyclone Bay
Goliath
The 255-foot Giovanola hypercoaster with a 61-degree first drop, an underground tunnel and the helix that greys out the front row.
Ride facts
- Type
- Roller coaster
- Height
- 48in (122cm)
- Intensity
- Intense
- Motion sickness
- Moderate motion risk
- Getting wet
- Stay dry
- Indoor / outdoor
- Outdoor
- Air conditioned
- No
- Rider Switch
- Available
Last verified July 2026
What it is
Goliath opened in 2000 as the park's giant drop machine: 255 feet down at 61 degrees, 85 miles per hour, into a course of hills and one extended helix that has become the ride's signature — a sustained high-g spiral that quietly dims the vision of riders in the front row.
It carries a 48-inch minimum despite being one of the biggest drops at the park, which is the standing surprise of Magic Mountain's height ladder. The restraint is a lap bar, the seats are roomy, and the ride is speed-and-airtime rather than inversions.
The mid-course underground tunnel is the moment non-enthusiasts remember: full darkness at full speed, then daylight and the helix. Goliath does not have Tatsu's elegance or X2's chaos — it is simply enormous, and enormously re-ridable.
What riding it is actually like
The lift gives you the whole back corner of the park, then the drop. Sixty-one degrees from 255 feet is a commitment the stomach registers before the brain does. The first hill's airtime float leads straight into the tunnel — dark, loud, disorienting for exactly the right number of seconds.
The second half is the helix: a long descending spiral where the g-force builds and holds. Front-row riders describe the grey-out as a gentle fade at the edges; it passes before the brake run and is the ride's badge of honor among enthusiasts.
Because the restraint is a lap bar and the layout has no inversions, Goliath is the park's most accessible giant. Riders who bail on X2 and Batman frequently discover they are fine here, which makes it the confidence-builder of the mountain.
Is Goliath scary?
The first drop is 255 feet at 61 degrees and the tunnel underground section runs in darkness at full speed. Goliath's reputation for grey-out moments comes from the helix's sustained positive g — riders who feel lightheaded in sustained turns should note it.
Scores are editorial, on a 1–5 scale, judged against what frightens a typical four- to seven-year-old rather than an adult.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair
- Must transfer to the ride vehicle
- Audio description
- Not offered
- Handheld captioning
- Not offered
- Assistive listening
- Not offered
- Sign language
- Not offered
- Service animals
- Must use a kennel or wait with a companion
Transfer into traditional coaster trains. The final brake run and unload are ground level.
Tips that actually help
- Front row for the grey-out helix; back row for the first-drop airtime.
- If tunnels in darkness are a no for a young rider, this is not the intro coaster — the tunnel is fast and total.
- Queue in the late afternoon; the bay-side location keeps its line shorter than the summit rides all day.
- Hydrate before riding if you are sensitive to sustained g — the helix is where low water intake shows up.
Timing
- Best time to ride
- After 15:00, when the crowds migrate back toward the plaza.
- Typical wait
- 30–50 minutes in season; often walk-on weekday mornings.
- line-skip passes
- Covered by a line-skip pass
Goliath: common questions
Does Goliath really make people black out?
The helix pulls sustained positive g-force that causes brief grey-outs for some riders, especially in the front row. It is a known, discussed, and for many riders sought-after feature of the ride. It passes within seconds and is not a medical event for healthy riders, but anyone with cardiovascular concerns should skip it.
What is the height requirement?
48 inches — surprisingly low for a 255-foot drop, and one of the reasons this park is so good for the 48-to-54 crowd.
Is Goliath scary for kids at 48 inches?
The drop is the scariest single moment, and the tunnel darkness surprises first-timers. Kids who handle Twisted Colossus usually handle Goliath; kids who found Colossus at the edge should wait a season.