Big Bear Mountain

Pigeon ForgeUnited States 35° N · 83° W Verified Aug 2026

At 3,990 feet, Dollywood's longest coaster packs three launches and a 48 mph bear chase into a ride with a 39-inch height minimum for multigenerational thrills.

Listen to the guide View map
Big Bear Mountain
Time needed
Queue dependent; ride lasts about 2 minutes
Entry
Included with Dollywood admission
Access
Must transfer from wheelchair; 39 in height minimum
Best season
Summer nights or spring/fall mild weather

Exactly 3,990 feet of orange steel snake through the piney folds of Wildwood Grove—yet the ride it forms is gentle enough for a four-year-old. That tension is Big Bear Mountain, the longest roller coaster at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, United States, and the best reason to queue up even if you don't love roller coasters.

The ride opened on May 12, 2023, after a $25 million construction push—the largest single-attraction capital investment in Dollywood's history. Dutch manufacturer Vekoma kept the height requirement at 39 inches, roughly the size of a four-year-old, without sanding off the speed. Three magnetic launches push the SUV-styled trains to 48 mph, about the pace of a city bus late for the depot.

That gentleness is the point. Dollywood President Eugene Naughton called it a 'multi-generational coaster' before the name went public—a ride for grandparents and first-graders in the same train. Active headlights and taillights on the vehicles aren't cosmetic; they flick on in tunnels and splash past the Wildwood Grove waterfall, adding just enough surprise to the terrain.

Researched by the Audiala editorial team from historical records, architectural archives, and local expertise.

What to see

  1. The Coaster Circuit

    Three launches. That's the first thing to know about Big Bear Mountain — Vekoma's custom family terrain coaster doesn't just drop you once and call it a day. The linear synchronous motors kick in three separate times, each a smooth magnetic shove rather than a jolt, pushing the SUV-styled trains to 48 mph across 3,990 feet of orange steel ribbon. The track hugs the foothill contours behind the Wildwood Tree, then dives behind a working waterfall near Till & Harvest — mist hits your face before you see the drop coming. And when the train plunges into the rock-lined tunnel, the functional headlights illuminate faux Appalachian strata carved into the shotcrete walls. This is the first Dollywood coaster with synchronized onboard audio, so Ned Oakley's radio chatter about 'large tracks near the ridge' plays through speakers as the Smoky Mountain panorama collapses into darkness.

  2. Adventure Base Camp

    The queue at Big Bear Mountain is worth arriving early for — not because the line gets long (it does), but because the three canvas safari tents are essentially a free museum exhibit about a fictional bear hunt. Ned Oakley, Wildwood Grove's Wilderness Ranger, has left his field research scattered across the timber platforms: oversized plaster casts of bear paw tracks, hand-annotated journals, weather-beaten crates with claw marks scoring the sides. Listen near the final stretch and you'll catch Ned's voice squawking through a wall-mounted CB radio between safety announcements. The loading station itself is a high-ceilinged post-and-beam lodge with exposed timber trusses and lantern-style lighting — it feels less like a theme park queue and more like the ranger station at the edge of a national park.

  3. Wildwood Grove Perimeter Loop

    Walk the perimeter of Wildwood Grove at dusk and you'll understand why Dollywood spent $25 million on this coaster. The orange track glows against the darkening Smoky Mountain ridgeline, and from the pedestrian plaza outside Till & Harvest Food Hall you can watch the SUV trains plunge into the rock trench beneath the waterfall — the best action photo spot in the park. For a quieter view, grab a bench near the boundary between Dragonflier and the Big Bear Mountain entrance. And if you're visiting during Smoky Mountain Summer Celebration, stay for a night ride: the functional headlights carve beams through the unlit tunnels, and the elevated track gives you a view of Dollywood's drone-and-firework show from 66 feet up.

Plan your visit

Getting There
The Dollywood Trolley runs from Patriot Park Transit Hub in the Old Mill District straight to the main gate; an all-day pass costs about $2.50 and dodges the standard $30 parking fee. Driving means taking US-441 to Dollywood Parks Blvd—avoid the Parkway between 4 and 7 PM on peak weekends, when Veterans Boulevard or Middle Creek Road moves faster. Walking along Dollywood Parks Blvd is a bad idea: heavy traffic and broken sidewalks.
Opening Hours
Dollywood runs mid-March through early January, closing most of February and early March. As of 2026, peak summer and holiday festival days typically open 10 AM to 9 or 10 PM, while spring and autumn off-peak days may open 10 AM to 6 or 7 PM; select Tuesdays and Wednesdays close in shoulder seasons. Big Bear Mountain itself shuts during lightning, high winds, or temperatures below roughly 38–40°F.
Time Needed
The ride lasts about 100 seconds, but the standby queue runs 20–40 minutes early or off-peak and 60–120+ minutes on summer weekends and holidays. Plan 1.5–3 hours for Wildwood Grove to do the coaster plus surrounding flat rides and walk-throughs. A full Dollywood day remains the realistic minimum for the whole park.
Accessibility
Wildwood Grove paths are paved and ADA-accessible, but boarding requires a transfer from ECV to wheelchair and then to the ride vehicle; riders need upper-body control to stay upright. The Ride Accessibility Center near the main entrance issues Boarding Passes with return times matching standby waits for the guest plus up to five companions. Minimum height is 39 inches; riders 39–48 inches need a supervising companion age 16+.
Cost/Tickets
General 1-day admission covering Big Bear Mountain runs roughly $89–$109+ as of 2026, with discounts for kids 4–9 and seniors 62+; under-4s enter free. Standard TimeSaver and TimeSaver Plus skip-the-line passes do NOT include this coaster—only TimeSaver Premium (about $99+ extra per person) or complimentary resort-guest TimeSaver passes include one-time expedited access. Buy ahead on Dollywood's official site to guarantee peak-date entry.

History

Three Launches and a $25 Million Bet

Records show Big Bear Mountain began as a post-pandemic wager on family tourism. In August 2022, Dollywood and Herschend Family Entertainment announced the $25 million ride—the largest single-attraction capital investment in the park's history—to expand Wildwood Grove toward the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.

That announcement capped a longer Pigeon Forge transformation. The ground under the track once hosted Rebel Railroad, Goldrush Junction, and Silver Dollar City Tennessee before Dollywood opened in 1986. By 2023, Big Bear Mountain became the longest coaster on that old ground.

The turning point

Dolly's Countdown

On May 11, 2023, Dolly Parton stood before the 66-foot orange steel of Big Bear Mountain with the most personal stake of anyone there. She had co-owned Dollywood since 1986 and had shaped Wildwood Grove's lore from her own childhood roaming the Great Smoky Mountains. But with $25 million and the park's reputation on the line, she had no intention of climbing into a seat.

According to reporting from the dedication, she told the crowd: 'If I get on that thing, you'd find my wigs on one of those trees!' It was a perfectly Dolly move—self-deprecating, honest, and instantly quotable. Then she did the thing only she could do. She counted down the ceremonial first dispatch.

The first train of guests launched from Adventure Base Camp at 48 mph, disappearing behind the Wildwood Grove waterfall. What had been blueprints and orange track pieces as recently as September 2022 was now a working ride. The bet was no longer theoretical.

The Machine Under the Paint

Dutch manufacturer Vekoma designed Big Bear Mountain as a custom family launch coaster, not a stripped-down thrill machine. Three linear synchronous motor launches fire the SUV-styled trains over a 3,990-foot circuit that hugs the terrain. It stands as the first coaster in Dollywood history with onboard audio and working headlights and taillights—details that feel like toys until you see the lights sweep across the tunnel walls at 48 mph.

Ned Oakley's Paper Trail

Most guests rush through the queue toward the ride, but the fictional outpost of Wilderness Nature Ranger Ned Oakley rewards a slower look. His field desk holds maps, logbooks, and gear tied to the legend of a giant black bear leaving oversized paw prints across the grove. Some coordinates on those maps point to real Great Smoky Mountains terrain; some point to vanished Dollywood attractions. Deciding which is which is half the fun.

Tips for visitors

  • Ride After Dusk

    Locals prize the night ride—low terrain turns, woods, waterfalls, SUV headlights and audio make it far more disorienting after dark than daytime. Queue in the last hour of operation if the temperature is above the cold-weather shutdown threshold.

  • Stash Everything

    Phones, selfie sticks, hats, sunglasses and any handheld gear are prohibited in motion; use the free short-term cubbies at the station, not just pockets. Opt for secured footwear—flip-flops are allowed but can work loose on the lateral turns.

  • Skip On-Ride Photos

    Big Bear Mountain has no automated on-ride camera, so don't expect a post-ride photo screen. Non-riders get the best shots from the Wildwood Grove waterfall bridge, where trains plunge close alongside the viewing path.

  • Beware Parkway Ticket Deals

    Storefront 'cheap Dollywood tickets' along the Parkway are usually high-pressure timeshare pitches, not real discounts. Authentic savings come from official season-pass buddy passes, lodging partners, or ID.me military verification.

  • Front vs. Back Row

    Front row gives the clearest view and best dashboard audio; back row delivers noticeably stronger airtime over launch crests and hills. If the queue splits, choose based on whether you want scenery or whip.

  • Rope-Drop Wildwood Grove

    Big Bear Mountain sits at the rear of Dollywood, so head to Wildwood Grove immediately at opening. The queue is shallow for the first hour, especially on spring and autumn weekdays.

  • Don't Ride Stuffed

    Wildwood Grove has quick-service kiosks only; save the Old Mill District skillet meals and cinnamon bread for after your ride. Three launches and low-to-the-ground twists punish a full stomach.

Frequently asked

Is Big Bear Mountain worth visiting?

Yes — especially if you want a coaster that bridges generations instead of just scaring half your family inside Dollywood. It's the park's longest coaster at 3,990 feet of orange steel, roughly 11 football fields of track, with three smooth magnetic launches that top out at 48 mph, and the 39-inch height minimum means plenty of elementary-school kids can ride. The queue itself is half the fun, winding through Ned Oakley's expedition tents full of bear-cast props and Smoky Mountain field notes.

How long do you need at Big Bear Mountain?

The ride itself lasts about 100 seconds, but budget 45 to 90 minutes for the queue and the surrounding Wildwood Grove area. Peak summer weekends can push the standby line past an hour, so arrive at park opening or ride after dark when crowds thin and the SUV headlights do their best trick. Full Dollywood days usually run one to two days for the whole park.

How do I get to Big Bear Mountain from Pigeon Forge?

Take the Dollywood Trolley from Patriot Park near the Old Mill; it drops you at the main gate for about $2.50, bypassing the $30 parking fee. Driving from the Parkway means heading east on Dollywood Parks Boulevard and paying around $30 to park, or $45 for preferred. Skip walking — there aren't continuous sidewalks along the road into the park.

What is the best time to visit Big Bear Mountain?

Go after dusk in summer or during October evenings, when the SUV headlights cut through the dark tunnels and the surrounding Smokies fall color is doing its own show. Wait times are lowest in the first hour after opening and during spring or late-autumn school weeks. Avoid 4 to 7 p.m. on fall-foliage weekends unless you enjoy sitting in Pigeon Forge traffic.

Can you visit Big Bear Mountain for free?

No — you need Dollywood admission, and there's no separate free ticket or public free-entry day. Adult one-day passes typically run about $89 to $109, though children under 4 get in free and some season passholders or resort guests have parking and expedited access included. Avoid the Parkway kiosks advertising cheap Dollywood tickets; those are usually timeshare pitches.

What should I not miss at Big Bear Mountain?

Do not skip the night ride, and do not skip the second queue tent where Ned Oakley's field desk hides oversized plaster bear tracks and claw-scored crates. For photos, stand on the pedestrian plaza outside Till & Harvest and watch the train plunge behind the waterfall; you'll feel the spray even as a spectator. Sit front row for the clearest audio or back row if you want the hills to yank you harder.

How scary is Big Bear Mountain?

Not very. It has no inversions, no huge vertical drop, and uses a lap bar instead of over-the-shoulder restraints, but the three launches and low-to-the-ground banked turns feel faster than 48 mph suggests. If you've done Thunderhead or Wild Eagle, this is a softer step; if you've only done kiddie coasters, the first launch will feel like a small but serious jump.

Sources & attribution 9

Researched and written by the Audiala editorial team from historical records, architectural archives, and local expertise. Last reviewed August 2026.

Built from cited sources · see the method · How we make our guides →

Photo credits (5)
  1. Big Bear Mountain1 — Freddo — CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) — Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bear_Mountain1.jpg
  2. Big Bear Mountain (Dollywood) 3 — Jeremy Thompson — CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) — Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bear_Mountain_(Dollywood)_3.jpg
  3. Big Bear Mountain (Dollywood) 1 — Jeremy Thompson — CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) — Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bear_Mountain_(Dollywood)_1.jpg
  4. Big Bear Mountain (Dollywood) 2 — Jeremy Thompson — CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/) — Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bear_Mountain_(Dollywood)_2.jpg
  5. Big Bear Mountain2 — Freddo — CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) — Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_Bear_Mountain2.jpg

Photos may have been resized or cropped.