Walt Disney on respecting nature: “Physical America — the land itself — should be as dear to us all as our political heritage and our treasured way of life. Its preservation and the wise conservation of its renewable resources concerns every man, woman and child whose possession it is.”
Overview: Grizzly Peak takes Disney California Adventure Park guests to rugged Gold Rush country. The rocky mountain summit looks like a grizzly bear roaring into the sky, but the beast is much more than a pretty face. The history of the mountain is a combination of legend and Disney imagination. The tale goes like this: A long, long time ago, a coyote met a grizzly bear at the top of the mountain and asked the bear to protect the land. One day, people came to the mountain to chase the grizzly bear down, but the bear held his ground. The coyote turned the grizzly bear into stone so that the bear could never be driven away. Today, some observant mountaineers claim they can hear the bear’s spirit when rafting through the windy caverns of Grizzly Peak.
Don’t miss: Grizzly Peak is the site of the rafting adventure, Grizzly River Rapids, a FastPass attraction that sends guests roaring through rough waters . Guests can also explore Redwood Creek Challenge Trail to earn their Wilderness Explorer badges. In the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, adventurers of all ages can head off into the woods to climb, swing, slide, glide and play.
Attractions:
Grizzly River Run
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Entertainment: Meet Russell and Dug from “Up” at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail and sing along with The Happy Camper, who performs campfire songs on select days.
Dining: Enjoy a classic Disneyland snack – churros – at the cart just past Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
Did you know?
Surviving buildings from the Empire Mine in Grass Valley, the Kentucky Mine in Sierra City and the Gold Bug Mine in Placerville (all California towns) were studied to help create an authentic look in the Grizzly River Run queue.
The Pelton Water Wheel at Grizzly River Run is 22 feet in diameter.
The bear standing at the entrance of Grizzly River Run is 20 feet tall.
Frog Jump Falls, a torrent of water tumbling over a bizarre geological formation of identical basalt pillars, was inspired by Devils Postpile National Monument in Northern California.
Grizzly River Run brings the challenging sport of adventure rafting to life inside Disney California Adventure as guests wind in and out of the 110-foot-tall Grizzly Peak.
Imaginative landscaping: Filled with pine trees, plants, shrubs and native flowers, the landscape creates a setting similar to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Cast member tips:
If you want to avoid getting wet on Grizzly River Run, stop into Rushin’ River Outfitters to purchase a poncho.
Vying to get soaked? Grizzly River Run still operates in the rain (but not in lightning).
Grizzly Trail provides a serene nature walk past Grizzly Falls and is a quiet alternate route through the land.
Wilderness Explorer activities can be completed in any order at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail.
Rushin’ River Outfitters offers a unique mix of California-inspired merchandise.
