One of the coolest little towns in Colorado is also home to the longest zip lining course in the world. With more than a mile-and-a-half of cable on 27 different zip lines, Soaring Tree Top Adventures is a top destination for zip lining enthusiasts. As if the five-hour-long adventure wasn’t enough, they throw in a four-course gourmet lunch on the Animas River.
Also, the entire course is built without bolts, hooks and screws that could penetrate the trees. The sustainable, eco-friendly system helps minimize impact on the rare old growth ponderosa forest.
Founded in 2002, Haleakala Skyline Adventure is America’s first zip line. This one is meant for the daredevils. With five zip lines available, you get to soar over Maui’s canyons and through its eucalyptus tree canopies. There is also an up-and-back line — the Pendulum — where you can reach speeds of more than 45 mph! This is a great one to get a different perspective on Hawaii’s native wildlife and amazing scenery. What can beat a bird’s eye view?
Big Sky Resort offers a ride in the Rocky Mountains unlike any other. About 20 minutes from Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky Resort is home to a twin zip line where you can challenge your fellow zip liners to the finish line. Or jump on the nature zip, which has three zip lines that are 30-to-60 feet in the air. The landscape is breathtaking and you won’t miss out on any of it while you soar past Lone Mountain and the Madison Mountain range.
Have an adventure under the stars at DC Adventure. This is one of the only courses that is run at night. Your route is lit by glow sticks and you are accompanied by certified guides. Whether you are a zip lining pro or a beginner, DC Adventure welcomes you. They accommodate guests of all ages. This is a perfect zip line for families and singles alike.
ArborTrek is located at the Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Vermont. It offers climbing, treetop obstacle courses, and three zip lining courses. ArborTrek has a zip line for every season. The winter zip line course is an award winner and shouldn’t be missed if you are a cold-weather explorer. You can spend one to three hours gliding through the canopy with a guide educating you on the local ecology and history.
Located just outside Portland in the Willamette Valley, Tree to Tree zip lining is an adventure for the whole family. A highlight is a tour across the Super Zip, a 1,200-foot zip line. Safety is a main focus at Tree to Tree and guides are always around for support. To really push yourself, try the aerial obstacle course. This comes complete with tightropes, ziplines and unbalanced bridges. For a longer stay, you can get the Sip and Stay adventure package which includes a suite at a local hotel, zip line adventure, gourmet lunch and wine tasting.
Go Ape is only minutes outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, in Eagle Creek Park — one of the largest parks in the U.S. with 1,400 acres of water and more than 3,900 acres of land. The higher you go in this adventure park, the more thrilling the experience. At Go Ape, you will find a treetop obstacle course with five sections of rope ladders, platforms and multiple crossings. The name says it all.
If you feel the need for speed, then zip over to Hocking Hills Canopy Tours. They can get you up to speeds of 50-plus mph! Hocking Hills is also famous for its Super Zip, which is incredibly steep. The terrain is diverse with streams, cliffs and caves. Separate trips are available for the young ones and this is another course that offers nighttime rides.
Utah Olympic Park’s XTREME ZipRider course boasts a 500-foot vertical drop, which makes it the steepest zip line in the world. The XTREME ZipRider runs parallel to the Nordic Jump (120 meters). If that seems like too much to handle, they’ve got you covered with the Ultra ZipRider. This course is shorter (750 feet long) and includes four cable zip lines for a more leisurely adventure.
On a budget? The Berkshire East Zip Line offers tours starting at just $30. They have three family friendly tour packages and one for every experience level. The Base Tour is great for beginners while the Mountain Top Tour has seven zip lines, hikes and ski lift rides that take you to extraordinary views of the valley. For the more experienced zip liners, there’s the Valley Jump. Two half-mile-long zip lines almost 200 feet off the ground take you soaring through the valley with great views. Take a trip here during the fall season to see some amazing colors as you zip by.
