Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California holds the largest coaster collection in North America, spread across a literal mountain. Ranking every last kiddie credit would take a book, so here are the twelve that matter most, ranked, with the details that decide whether your day works.

1. X2

The world's first 4D coaster. The seats rotate 360 degrees independent of the track, so you take the 200 foot first drop face down, then get flipped twice mid course with flame effects overhead. Nothing else on earth rides like it.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: outside seats on the left side of the train
• Best time: rope drop, no exceptions. It loads slowly, and it beats you up less when you are fresh.

2. Twisted Colossus

RMC rebuilt the old wooden Colossus into a nearly 5,000 foot hybrid with a Top Gun stall that hangs you upside down and a High Five element that tilts two trains toward each other. When the trains duel, it is the best ride in the park.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: back row
• Best time: morning for short waits, then again at night when dispatches sync and the duel actually happens.

3. Tatsu

A B&M flying coaster draped over the summit of the mountain. You soar face down over the treetops, then the 124 foot pretzel loop crushes you with the strongest sustained force in the park.

• Height requirement: 54 inches
• Best seat: front row, outside
• Best time: first two hours. Our tracking puts it among the longest waits in the park, and it loads slowly all day.

4. Wonder Woman Flight of Courage

The tallest and longest single rail coaster anywhere when it opened: 131 feet, 58 mph, three inversions, glass smooth. Single file seating makes it feel like flying a stunt plane.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: back row
• Best time: rope drop or the final hour. Single rail trains mean brutal capacity.

5. Goliath

A 255 foot drop into a tunnel at 85 mph, giant camelback hills, and a mid course helix that pulls enough positive g force to gray riders out.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: back row for the drop
• Best time: evening. Our data shows Goliath carries the longest average wait in the park, and it thins out late.

6. Full Throttle

Launches into the world's tallest vertical loop at 160 feet, fires you backward, then sends you over the top of the loop itself. Short but relentless.

• Height requirement: 54 inches
• Best seat: front row
• Best time: early morning. Low capacity keeps midday waits long.

7. West Coast Racers

Two side by side tracks, four launches, and a mid course pit stop themed as a tuner garage. You race the other train through two full laps.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: front row of either side
• Best time: midday works, but only ride when both sides are running.

8. Riddler's Revenge

The biggest stand up coaster ever built: 156 feet, 65 mph, six inversions. Set the bicycle seat carefully and it is a classic.

• Height requirement: 54 inches
• Best seat: front row
• Best time: midday, waits stay moderate.

9. Batman The Ride

The original compact B&M invert layout, still snapping through five inversions with real force.

• Height requirement: 54 inches
• Best seat: back row, outside seat
• Best time: anytime, capacity is solid.

10. Scream

A floorless B&M with seven inversions built over a former parking lot. Unloved, smooth, and usually close to a walk on.

• Height requirement: 54 inches
• Best seat: front row
• Best time: midday, when everything else spikes.

11. Viper

A 1990 Arrow giant with seven loops and 188 feet of old school steel attitude. Ride it for the history.

• Height requirement: 54 inches
• Best seat: middle rows, brace loosely
• Best time: anytime, short waits.

12. Apocalypse

A GCI wooden twister with tunnels, near misses, and a 50 mph pace that feels faster than it is.

• Height requirement: 48 inches
• Best seat: back row
• Best time: afternoon.

The rest

Ninja is a rare suspended swinging coaster worth one lap through the trees. Gold Rusher is the park's 1971 original. The kids area coasters round out the count for families.

First-timer order

1. X2 at rope drop

2. Tatsu

3. Full Throttle

4. Twisted Colossus

5. Goliath

6. Riddler's Revenge

7. Wonder Woman Flight of Courage in the final hour

Enthusiast order

1. Wonder Woman Flight of Courage at rope drop, capacity is the enemy

2. X2 immediately after

3. Tatsu before 11 a.m.

4. Batman, Riddler's Revenge, Scream, and Viper as a midday sweep

5. Full Throttle late afternoon

6. Goliath and Twisted Colossus after dark