Grizzly Peak

Another icon to Disney California Adventure is Grizzly Peak, a rock formation that looks coincidentally a lot like a grizzly. It’s the centerpiece around which several smaller sections of the park gather. Let’s look at each.

Grizzly Peak Airfield is a sub land that takes guests to the California’s High Sierra in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The signature attraction is Soarin’ Around the World, a ride that sets you in the air above locations like the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, and the Matterhorn. This is where the original Soarin’ Over California premiered when the park first opened. The attraction was so popular that it has been introduced to Walt Disney World, Shanghai Disneyland, and soon, Tokyo Disneyland. The original film makes more sense to the theming of the land, but guests still love the attraction and large queues can typically be found.

Further on is the Grizzly River Run, a white water raft ride set in California’s Gold Rush era. Compared to Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, this attraction more than holds its own, especially as it winds through the caves of Grizzly Peak. This is definitely worth checking out on a sunny, warm California day.

Another attraction in this area is the Redwood Creek Challenge, a fun playground for youngsters, but a terrific place to stroll for anyone. The entire setting is reminiscent of Yosemite and Redwood national parks.

We would be remiss not to mention that another attraction can be found in this corner of the park—Disney’s Grand Californian Resort. An entrance/exit to the hotel can be found directly into the park here. It’s an attraction worth the visit, even if you have to go through security to come back into the park. Add to that the Napa Roserestaurant that overlooks this wooded area. It is an important part of the total Disney California Adventure experience.