Hillside Track Lift Systems
The most elegant, low-impact way to access every part of your waterfront or hillside property.
Not every hillside has the grade for a cable lift. Not every project has an unlimited budget. Our track lift system is designed for properties where slope angle, space constraints, or cost point to a ground-following solution instead of a suspended one.
If your slope is too gradual for a cable system, if landing space is tight, or if you need the same quality and reliability at a lower total cost — this is the system built for you.
When A Track Lift Is The Right Fit
Your slope grade won't support a cable lift.
Cable lifts are our flagship system, but they require a certain minimum slope angle to function properly. If your hillside has a more gradual grade — or includes sections where the angle flattens out — a track lift is often the better engineering solution. The track follows the natural contour of your slope, including grade transitions that would be difficult for a cable system to navigate.
why most homeowners choose a track lift
You're working with limited space for landings.
Track lifts require smaller upper, and sometimes, lower landing platforms than cable systems. If the upper landing area is constrained by your home's footprint, an existing deck, or site features — the compact footprint of a track lift can be the deciding factor that makes the installation feasible.
Budget matters, and the track system fits it better.
We're upfront about this: track lifts are generally less expensive to engineer and install than cable lifts. The difference isn't trivial. For homeowners who need reliable hillside access but are working within a tighter budget, the track system delivers the same American-made quality, the same local support, and the same decades of dependable service — often at a lower total project cost.
How it works
Follows the Slope. Same Quality. More Accessible Price.
A track lift runs on a precision-engineered steel track mounted to your hillside, following the natural contour of the slope from top to bottom — including grade transitions and gradual sections where a cable lift wouldn't function properly. A cable-driven electric hoist moves the car smoothly along the track, with variable acceleration for gentle, controlled stops at each landing.
The track system's ground-following design means it works on slopes that won't support a cable lift, fits in tighter upper and lower landing areas, and typically comes in at a lower total project cost. You're not sacrificing quality or reliability — you're choosing the system that fits your property and budget.
The car arrives at the bottom landing nearly flush with the ground — no raised platform, no pit — which makes loading, unloading, and accessibility straightforward. Like our cable lifts, track systems are electric, whisper-quiet, and built to meet ASME A17.1 national elevator safety standards. Same smooth ride. Same local support. Different engineering approach.
Built for the pacific northwest
Designed Here. Built Here. Engineered for This Landscape.
Every High Bank Elevators track lift is designed and fabricated in our Poulsbo, Washington workshop. We build nearly every mechanical component ourselves — the gondola, hoist, track system, safety components, and control panels — which means we know every system we install, and we can stand behind every part of it.
Our systems are built for the conditions of the Pacific Northwest — the rainfall, the challenging hillside terrain of Puget Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, the Olympic Peninsula, and the islands of the Salish Sea. Every track lift is custom-engineered for its specific property after a thorough on-site evaluation. No catalog parts. No off-the-shelf configurations.
features and benefits
What you get with a High Bank Elevators Track Lift
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The track system's ground-following design adapts to a wider range of slope grades and terrain configurations — including gradual slopes and sections where the grade transitions. If your hillside doesn't have the angle to support a cable lift, the track system is the solution that makes hillside access possible.
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The stability of the ground-mounted track makes it well-suited for cargo runs — dock equipment, kayaks, coolers, building materials. Whether it's passengers, freight, or both on every trip, the track system handles it with a smooth, controlled ride.
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Track lifts are typically less expensive to engineer and install than cable systems. For homeowners who need reliable hillside access on a budget, the track system delivers the same quality, the same local support, and the same decades of service at a more accessible price point.
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Every track lift includes an overspeed governor and safety brake, slack rope safety mechanism, automatically locking deck gates, a sliding door with safety shutoff switch, and impact-detecting bumpers. Variable acceleration delivers smooth, gentle stops at every landing. Built to meet or exceed ASME A17.1 national elevator safety standards.
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Electric drive, no hydraulics, no fumes, no noise. The same quiet, clean operation as our cable lifts — considerate of the landscape, the neighborhood, and the peace of waterfront living.
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Our certified technicians are available for annual maintenance and any service needs over the years. Because we built your system, we know it — service is faster, more accurate, and handled by the same local team that installed it.
Every Track Lift is built around your property
Our in-house design process means a direct relationship with you from the first site visit through final installation. We work with state-approved engineers to ensure every design meets safety and regulatory standards — and we handle permitting as part of our full-service approach.
Customization options include:
Car style: Open-air or fully enclosed gondola
Finishes: Cedar, translucent polycarbonate, stainless steel, or aluminum
Canopy: Optional, in polycarbonate, stainless, or aluminum
Color: Powder coating over metal components in any color
Controls: Key-operated or optional keypad entry
Doors: Single or Walk-Thru
Extras: Seat cushions, canvas covers, windows
Detailing: Architectural finishing to complement your home's existing style
Key specs in plain language: Standard capacity of 600–700 lbs (higher available on request) · Speed of 50–75 feet per minute · 15 sq ft interior floor space standard (larger available) · 240V electrical from your existing panel · Hot-dip galvanized, stainless, or aluminum hardware throughout · Anchoring engineered for your specific soil and terrain conditions.
Not Sure Whether a Track Lift is Right For Your Property?
That's exactly what our free site assessment is for. We visit your property, assess your specific slope, terrain, and access needs, and give you a clear, honest recommendation. We'll tell you which system fits — and why.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a straight answer from a local team that's been solving these problems since 1988.