Our Favorite Amazing Thrills Pictures

Get ready for the most fast-paced, heart-pounding activities the world has to offer. From waterslides and roller coasters to swimming with sharks and flying a warplane, we’ve narrowed down the list to our favorites.

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Photo By: Air Combat USA

Photo By: Robie Capps

Photo By: Six Flags New England

Photo By: Eve Nagode

Photo By: Schlitterbahn

Photo By: Aquatic Aviation

Photo By: Six Flags Magic Mountains

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Photo By: Ferrari World

Photo By: James Moskito Great White Adventures

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©Six Flags New England

Photo By: Six Flags Mexico

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Photo By: Dollywood

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Photo By: Holiday World

Photo By: Lon Beale / Sandboard.com

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Photo By: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

Photo By: Schlitterbahn

Photo By: Six Flags Magic Mountain

Photo By: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio

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Photo By: Grahm S. Jones, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium

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Air Combat USA (Fullerton, CA)

Ever wanted to fly a real fighter jet? Here’s your chance. Begin your mission in a real airborne warplane, experiencing 6 G’s of force. After the experienced combat veteran hands over the reins, it’s up to you to shoot your closest enemy out of the sky.

Goliath, Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)

Unlike any other coaster experience in the world, this record-breaking ride has only the bravest of the brave rushing to board it. Featuring speeds of up to 72 mph and 2 upside-down turns, Goliath is not only the world’s fastest wooden coaster, but it has both the tallest and steepest drops as well.

Bizarro, Six Flags New England (Springfield, MA)

Ride along 5,400 feet of track — starting with a 221-foot drop into an underground tunnel — as you soar across Six Flags New England. Reaching a mind-bending 77 mph, this massive steel structure lets you experience zero gravity like never before.

Giant Canyon Swing, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park (Glenwood Springs, CO)

Talk about a swing with a view. Appreciate nature in a whole new way while swinging 1,300 feet above the Colorado River at 50 mph. This is the world’s only swing ride that’s built on the edge of a cliff.

Master Blaster, Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, TX)

On what is considered to be one of the best water rides in the United States, riders are masterfully blasted across 1,000 feet of track in 90 seconds flat. They cruise over 9 hills and through a downward spiral, which all lead to the final 3-story plunge.

Flyboard, Aquatic Aviation (San Diego)

Prepare for blastoff! Flyboarding, the newest thrill in adrenaline-inducing aquatic sports, combines jet-packing and wakeboarding to provide one of the most epic flying experiences in the US.

Lex Luther: Drop of Doom, Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)

Extreme heights are 1 man’s kryptonite, another man’s bliss. Standing 415 feet tall, the tallest drop-tower ride in the world sends its riders plummeting down at speeds close to 90 mph, something even Superman would be proud of.

Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)

More than 150 feet taller than the Statue of Liberty, this 45-story monstrosity is the tallest steel coaster on earth. If you think that’s scary, add in the fact that it’s the second-fastest in the world, going from 0 to 128 mph in 3.5 seconds, and you’ve got one of the most thrilling experiences an adrenaline junkie could ask for.

Formula Rossa, Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! Strap on your safety goggles — no, seriously — as this coaster based on a Formula 1 racer shoots its "drivers" from 0 to 149 mph in less than 5 seconds, making it the world’s fastest roller coaster.

Kilimanjaro, Village Water Park (Barra do Pirai, Brazil)

After climbing the 234 steps to the top, you finally understand why Kilimanjaro held the record for world’s tallest waterslide for 13 years. Known for its steep, 163-foot drop, this massive slide sends its riders down at speeds of up to 56 mph.

Great White Shark Cage Diving (Guadalupe Island, Mexico)

Get up close and personal with one of the ocean’s most dangerous predators. Deep in Guadalupe’s crystal-clear waters, come face-to-face with several 16-foot great white sharks as you engage in one of the world’s most extreme undersea adventures.

Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast, Six Flags St. Louis

Face your fears head-on when you climb aboard this massive, 23-story-tall shuttle coaster that launches riders 218 feet high in reverse, reaching 70 mph in just 3.8 seconds.

Bonzai Pipelines, Six Flags New England (Springfield, MA)

On one of the most unusual slides in the world, the suspense escalates while riders stand nearly upright in one of 6 see-through launcher capsules with trapdoors. Once released, they free-fall at 40 mph before twisting and turning through high-banking curves.

Superman El Ultimo Escape, Six Flags Mexico City

With 2 360-degree helix turns and tons of airtime, this superhuman hypercoaster will keep you coming back for more, as you soar to speeds of 75 mph by the time you reach the base.

Constrictor, Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix

Riders slither down this 478-foot-long coiling serpent at 18 mph on a multi-person raft. After a series of corkscrew turns and winding spirals, they’re dropped into a soaking splashdown.

The Destroyer (Vail, CO)

Stretching a monstrous 300 feet long and put together with just some painter’s tarp and dish soap, Vail’s first homemade, public waterslide brings the local community together every summer.

Hades 360, Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park (Wisconsin Dells, WI)

If you’re scared of the dark, then you may want to stay far away from this top thrill. Although above ground for the most part, Hades also features an 800-foot span of pitch-black tunnel, making it the longest underground tunnel coaster in the world.

VertiGo, Aqualandia (Benidorm, Spain)

Get ready to VertiGo on the tallest capsule slide on earth. You’ll be free-falling from heights equivalent to that of a 10-story building, so prepare yourself, because the trapdoor can drop at any moment, propelling you from 0 to 60 mph in just 2 seconds.

Zapcat (Christchurch Harbour, England)

Hop aboard this lightweight, inflatable catamaran and strap in for the thrill of a lifetime. On this perfect whirlwind experience, you graze the water at 50 mph on boats capable of launching close to 15 feet in the air.

Hammerhead Shark, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA)

If you thought the Tasmanian devil got dizzy, just wait until you hop on the Hammerhead Shark at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Thanks to 4 360-degree rotations — followed by a reverse in direction and 3 more spins — this cold-blooded fish offers the amazing feel of weightlessness for all who dare to ride.

Wild Eagle, Dollywood (Pigeon Forge)

One of the most unusual roller coasters in the world, America’s first-ever winged coaster offers 2 completely different G-force experiences, depending on which side of the eagle you sit on.

Verzasca Dam Bungee Jump (Ticino, Switzerland)

Prepare for death-defying feats as you hurl yourself off the Verzasca Dam (aka the Contra Dam) like a young James Bond in Golden Eye. This incredible 721-foot dive sends thrill-seekers plummeting at speeds of up to 89 mph as they dangle 19 feet from the wall.

The Voyage, Holiday World (Santa Claus, IN)

Prepare for the voyage of a lifetime, because this spine-chilling thrill ride boasts more airtime than any other wooden roller coaster on earth. Featuring 5 underground tunnels and several jaw-chattering turns, this ride alone makes a trip to Holiday World worth every penny.

Sand-Boarding, Sand Master Park (Florence, OR)

Shred the sand dunes at the world’s first sand-boarding park. This mecca for sand-boarders features jumps, kickers and rails on more than 40 acres of sandsational terrain.

Wingsuit Flying, Roca Foradada Mountains (Montserrat, Spain)

Ever wished for the superhuman ability to fly? Montserrat, Spain, offers the closest thing possible. Take to the skies at speeds of more than 100 mph in your specialized jumpsuit with one of the world’s biggest new trends for adrenaline junkies, wingsuiting.

Waterplexx 5D, Sunway Lagoon (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Strobe lights, fog machines, lasers and water — nope, you’re not at one of Malaysia’s fancy new nightclubs. Question what’s real and what’s not on the world’s first-ever 5-D water ride.

Gladiator Training (Rome)

You know what they say — “When in Rome!” Go back in time and become a true gladiator by learning hand-to-hand combat skills at the city’s No. 1 gladiator training school.

Skyhawk, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

Cedar Point is known for having some of the best rides in the US, and the Skyhawk won’t make you think anything different. The largest 2-armed swing ride in the world, it has giant arms that whip riders around at a heart-pounding 60 mph.

Dragon's Revenge, Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, TX)

Note to self: Don’t mess with dragons! That is, unless you want to travel down this innovative, 1,360-foot-long water coaster that ends with an extreme drop into the moat of the dragon’s castle. Just be careful what you wish for!

The Big Rush, Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban, South Africa)

Take the SkyCar or climb the steps up to this massive, 262-foot bungee swing (the tallest in the world), located at the top of Moses Mabhida Stadium in South Africa. Since they’ll be free-falling at nearly 80 mph, riders are required to wear mountain-climbing harnesses for safety.

Full Throttle, Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)

Launching its riders from 0 to 70 mph in a matter of seconds, Full Throttle also boasts the world’s tallest vertical loop, which stands 160 feet high.

Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

Scared of heights? If so, you might want to sit this one out and watch from the built-in observation deck. The second-tallest steel coaster in the entire world, Top Thrill Dragster launches riders at a mind-blistering speed, going from 0 to 120 mph in just 3.8 seconds.

Kite-Surfing, Playa de Los Lances (Tarifa, Spain)

The hybrid hobby known as kite-surfing is a cross between wakeboarding and windsurfing. Strap your feet in tight and let the wind whip you up and down the shore.

Wrestling With Luchadores (Cancun)

Find that alter ego hidden way down inside of you and take part in Mexico’s national pastime as you train, practice and wrestle with actual professional masked luchadores.

Big Boa Falls, Zoombezi Bay (Columbus, OH)

There are only 6 water parks in the United States with this type of ride. Big Boa Falls takes you through a series of dark twists and turns before arriving at the 30-foot half-pipe and then dropping you into a pool at 25 mph.

El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)

Get ready for your heart to drop into your lap as you cruise down the third-steepest wooden coaster in the US. With 9 gravity-defying drops at speeds of up to 70 mph, El Toro is consistently receiving awards as one of the best wooden coasters in the country.

Climbing Matanuska Glacier (Sutton, AK)

When summer heat has you beat, here’s the chance to do something uniquely cool. Explore the natural beauty of the largest moving glacier in the US as you scale 30-foot walls of sheer ice for a bone-chilling thrill.

Armourgeddon (Husbands Bosworth, England)

Suit up in army gear, team up with a group of friends, hop inside an 18-ton tank and begin firing on the world’s only tank paintball course. Just make sure you can handle the heat, as these high-powered paintballs travel at speeds of 250 mph.

Alpine Coaster (Imst, Austria)

Begin your speedy descent on the longest alpine coaster in the world at an altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level. Winding down the 2 1/4-mile track at 35 mph, riders will face more than 65 different twists, bumps, drops and turns.

Leap of Faith, Aquaventure (Nassau, Bahamas)

Attention all you thrill seekers out there: If you’re in the mood for some screaming, history and wild encounters, then this ride is for you. Slide down 60 feet from the top of an iconic Mayan temple and finish the ride in a tunnel submerged in a shark-filled lagoon.

Millennium Force, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

This $25 million monstrosity at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH, was the world’s first coaster ever to be called a giga-coaster, a ride with a height or drop that ranges from 300 to 399 feet and completes a full circuit.

Aquaconda, Aquaventure at Atlantis the Palm Dubai

Coming in at just shy of 690 feet long, this water snake of a ride slithers in as the largest tube slide in the world. Reaching speeds of up to 22 mph, Aquaconda features a slide within a slide.

Summit Plummet, Disney's Blizzard Beach (Orlando)

Known as the tallest and fastest free-fall body slide in the US, this 360-foot-long, winter-inspired attraction hurls its victims down 12 stories through a darkened tunnel at mind-boggling speeds.

Vomatron, Old Town (Kissimmee, FL)

This stomach-churning monstrosity of a swing is so dizzying that a strategically placed “barf shield” protects the restaurant below. Dangling riders 200 feet off the ground, Vomatron — the tallest ride of its kind in the world — reaches speeds of 75 mph.

Hot Jump, Acroland (Tignes, France)

Get ready for some serious hang time when you fly off the incredibly steep ramps of the Hot Jump. After speeding down the 114-foot-long slide, show off your best pose while sailing through the air before splashing down into the lake.

Wodan Timbur Coaster, Europa Park (Rust, Germany)

Reaching speeds of 62 mph, Wodan is in the conversation as one of the fastest and tallest wooden coasters in all of Europe. Built with 21,000 boards, it is so massive that it intertwines with 2 other park attractions.

The Blob, Area 47 (Otztal Valley, Austria)

Catapult your friends 25 feet into the air before they land in a gorgeous lake in Otztal Valley, Austria. This quirky water activity involves a 30-foot vinyl tube that’s filled up with only 2 pounds of air pressure.

The Wild Swing, Wild 5 Adventures (Oribi Gorge, South Africa)

Standing 550 feet above Oribi Gorge in South Africa, Wild Swing is the highest swing ride in the world. Get ready for the thrill of a lifetime as you hurl yourself over the deceptive depths of the gorge.

Aftershock, Silverwood Theme Park (Coeur d’Alene, ID)

There’s a reason why it was voted the top hanging coaster by Travel Channel in 2012. Aftershock is 2 thrills in 1; not only does it speed through a cobra roll and inverted loop forward, but it also goes backward and reverses its course.

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101 Amazing Thrills

Our Favorite Amazing Thrills Pictures

Related To:

Shop This Look

Air Combat USA (Fullerton, CA)

Goliath, Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, IL)

Bizarro, Six Flags New England (Springfield, MA)

Giant Canyon Swing, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park (Glenwood Springs, CO)

Master Blaster, Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, TX)

Flyboard, Aquatic Aviation (San Diego)

Lex Luther: Drop of Doom, Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)

Kingda Ka, Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)

Formula Rossa, Ferrari World (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

Kilimanjaro, Village Water Park (Barra do Pirai, Brazil)

Great White Shark Cage Diving (Guadalupe Island, Mexico)

Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast, Six Flags St. Louis

Bonzai Pipelines, Six Flags New England (Springfield, MA)

Superman El Ultimo Escape, Six Flags Mexico City

Constrictor, Wet 'n' Wild Phoenix

The Destroyer (Vail, CO)

Hades 360, Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park (Wisconsin Dells, WI)

VertiGo, Aqualandia (Benidorm, Spain)

Zapcat (Christchurch Harbour, England)

Hammerhead Shark, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (Vallejo, CA)

Wild Eagle, Dollywood (Pigeon Forge)

Verzasca Dam Bungee Jump (Ticino, Switzerland)

The Voyage, Holiday World (Santa Claus, IN)

Sand-Boarding, Sand Master Park (Florence, OR)

Wingsuit Flying, Roca Foradada Mountains (Montserrat, Spain)

Waterplexx 5D, Sunway Lagoon (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Gladiator Training (Rome)

Skyhawk, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

Dragon's Revenge, Schlitterbahn (New Braunfels, TX)

The Big Rush, Moses Mabhida Stadium (Durban, South Africa)

Full Throttle, Six Flags Magic Mountain (Valencia, CA)

Top Thrill Dragster, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

Kite-Surfing, Playa de Los Lances (Tarifa, Spain)

Wrestling With Luchadores (Cancun)

Big Boa Falls, Zoombezi Bay (Columbus, OH)

El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)

Climbing Matanuska Glacier (Sutton, AK)

Armourgeddon (Husbands Bosworth, England)

Alpine Coaster (Imst, Austria)

Leap of Faith, Aquaventure (Nassau, Bahamas)

Millennium Force, Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)

Aquaconda, Aquaventure at Atlantis the Palm Dubai

Summit Plummet, Disney's Blizzard Beach (Orlando)

Vomatron, Old Town (Kissimmee, FL)

Hot Jump, Acroland (Tignes, France)

Wodan Timbur Coaster, Europa Park (Rust, Germany)

The Blob, Area 47 (Otztal Valley, Austria)

The Wild Swing, Wild 5 Adventures (Oribi Gorge, South Africa)

Aftershock, Silverwood Theme Park (Coeur d’Alene, ID)