I”ve written a few times about the longest lifts of different types but what about the shortest? The considerable expense of a detachable lift is usually justified for long profiles where speed makes sense. The average detachable lift in this part of the world is over 5,200 feet long while the average fixed grip lift is under 2,800 feet. However, the slow loading speed of a high-speed lift also make sense for beginners and foot passengers regardless of the length of the line. Hence there are plenty of very short detachable lifts that cost millions and take less than two minutes to ride. Below are the ten shortest ones in the US and Canada.
- Cabriolet – Mont Tremblant, QC – 1994 Doppelmayr detachable 6-passenger cabriolet
Slope length: 1,100 feet, ride time 1.4 minutes.
- Easy Rider Express – Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA – 1996 Doppelmayr detachable quad
Slope length: 1,165 feet, ride time 1.3 minutes
- Chair 3 – Horseshoe Resort, ON – 1989 Doppelmayr detachable quad
Slope length: 1,400 feet, ride time 1.6 minutes
- Super Glide – Alpine Valley Resort, WI – 2011 Leitner-Poma detachable quad
Slope length: 1,421 feet, ride time 1.4 minutes
- Valley Flyer – Alpine Valley Resort, WI – 1999 Poma detachable quad
Slope length: 1,426 feet, ride time 1.6 minutes
- Cabriolet – Winter Park Resort, CO – 2008 Leitner-Poma 8-passenger cabriolet
Slope length: 1,436 feet, ride time 2.3 minutes
- Mach 1 Express – Mt. Holly, MI – 1997 Poma detachable quad
Slope length 1,465 feet, ride time 1.6 minutes
- 8. Over Easy – Stowe Mountain Resort, VT – 2006 Leitner-Poma 8-passenger gondola
Slope length 1,483 feet, ride time 1.9 minutes
- Little Cat Express – Snowbasin, UT – 2008 Doppelmayr CTEC detachable quad
Slope length: 1,579 feet, ride time 1.6 minutes
- Buckaroo Gondola – Beaver Creek Resort, CO – 2007 Doppelmayr CTEC 8-passenger gondola
Slope length: 1,671 feet, ride time 2.8 minutes
Lift Blog 
I’m surprised the EzRider at Alpine Valley WI isn’t included, according to SAM its listed at 2360′, id strongly challenge that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am quite surprised that casper & teewinot at jackson hole don’t make the list. But I suppose I hadn’t considered just how useful a detachable beginner lift could be. Much easier for kids to load and instructors can ride with students to ensure they sit on the lift properly and don’t fall off.
LikeLike
Casper is 3,400 feet long. Teewinot is 2,700 feet long. So both are more than a half mile in length.
LikeLike
$6 Is a transfer lift from a parking area to slope-side. #10 is dedicated to Children’s Ski School- a huge money maker at Beaver Creek!
LikeLike
Chair 3 at horseshoe is now a leitner poma high speed six pack.
LikeLiked by 1 person
there is a high speed quad and a lpoa hs six running side by side at horseshoe
https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C561BAQFjxd9hArPHuw/company-background_10000/0?e=2159024400&v=beta&t=UI3JaCo3rL79zUTQyHVtPIc3bBTH-YDIWQ3j2HQwG2A
LikeLike
The Horseshoe Doppelmayr HSQ has already been dismantled and removed. It’s for sale, if anyone wants a a 1,550ft 1989 detachable quad. (I’m surprised Peter hasn’t posted it on his Classified page).
https://www.skiresortequipment.com/lifts/asset%3Ds1546035013753
LikeLike
Refit it with Doppelmayr Uni-G parts and ship it to Ski Sundown in Connecticut. Have it go along the current Triple Barrel alignment and end further up, with 90 degree unloading to the left. Then they can sell their two sluggish triples to pay it off. Win Win. Definitely that simple. Yup.
LikeLike
What about First Time Express at PC at 1823 ft
LikeLike
there’s a few detachable quads in michigan that are pretty short, did you think of those? Boyne Mountain, which only has a 435′ vertical drop (and it’s one of the states largest resorts) has a high speed 6 pack going from the base to the summit. it takes like 2 minutes to get up.
LikeLike
looked into it, it has a length of 1942 ft.
https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/boyne-mountain/ski-lifts/l101713/
it also happens to be the first 6 pack in north America
LikeLike
Sorry, the one in Boyne wasn’t the first six-pack in North America. The first six-pack was built in Mont Orignal, Quebec in 1991. Boyne’s six-pack was built in 1992.
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd6-a-doppelmayr-6474.html
LikeLike
the mondanock express at wachussett, MA serves a short novice slope. I’d say the ride time is no longer than two minutes. Quite short.
LikeLike
What about the upcoming Rip’s Ride SuperChair at Breckenridge at around 1800 feet long. Would that make the list one of the shortest detachable lifts in North America?
LikeLike
Easy Rider, Sierra @ Tahoe in CA. 1165′ slope and 160′ vertical.
Runs full all day.
LikeLike
Would Gemini express at WP make this list if it was updated?
LikeLike
Wonder how close Discovery/11 at Mammoth is…
LikeLike
So whats the shortest lift overall (not just detachables)?
LikeLike
For overall chairlifts, the world’s shortest chairlift is likely this private installation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG_8R2Pnxq4
LikeLike
this one’s super short :)
https://youtu.be/5DabZRECAzI?si=E2rp5PzXVJJ1eaXP
LikeLike
Making a lift that takes less then two minutes to ride a D-line ten passenger gondola is crazy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why would they put a high-speed lift there, especially a gondola?
LikeLike
I have no idea! It’s definitely an overkill in my opinion!
Here’s some photos of this lift on Remontees.mecaniques.net.
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tcd10-12er-express-doppelmayr-6768.html
LikeLike
What about burns express at deer valley? New lift
LikeLike