6 Zip Lining Destinations Where Adventure Awaits
If you’re looking to conquer a fear or simply explore in a new way, these spots offer something for everyone
Get a new view of the landscape on a zip lining adventure.
Zip lining is a fun, exhilarating outdoor activity that tests your skills, balance and bravery while giving your heart an adrenaline-inducing workout. Most courses are accessible to people of varying fitness levels. And, perhaps best of all, it’s a great family activity. While there are many zip lining locations, here are some of our favorites across the country.
Zip line through the Catskills (Hunter, New York)
One of the thrilling aspects of the Skyrider Zipline Tour is its scenic chairlift to the Summit Lodge where your zip lining adventure begins. Located in the Catskill Mountains at Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl, about three hours north of New York City and approximately 90 minutes south of Albany, New York, Skyrider offers you five dual racing zip lines spanning 4.6 miles while you speed along at 50 miles per hour, 600 feet above the ground. It’s recommended that you attend its Zipline Pilot training school for a safety briefing and to maximize your skills. The adventure lasts about three hours.
Experience underground thrills (Louisville, Kentucky)
For an unconventional zip line experience, head to the Louisville Mega Cavern where you can buzz along the world’s only fully underground zip line. Photo Credit: Louisville Mega Cavern.
At Louisville Mega Cavern, widely considered one of the best zip lines in the USA, you won’t be zooming across mountains or valleys or even over treetops. That’s because you’ll be underground in a 100-acre man-made former limestone quarry with 70- to 90-foot ceilings. The Mega Zips course features six zip lines and two challenge bridges. You’ll explore about 17 miles of underground passageways under the city of Louisville,. Along the way, you’ll learn about the geology and history of the quarry from your tour guides.
Soar under the stars (St. Cloud, Florida)
Try zip lining at night at Night Flight Adventure, part of the 7-Zip Adventure in St. Cloud, located an hour south of Orlando. Get an aerial view of the lush Florida landscape and let the stars and moonlight be your guide. You’ll glide through the trees from tower to tower over seven zip lines and across three sky bridges, reaching heights of 78 feet. This experience is available only on Saturday nights, so be sure to book ahead.
Enjoy the Rocky Mountain heights (Conifer, Colorado)
Located in a nature park less than 30 minutes from Denver is Denver Adventures Zipline Tours, home to the state’s longest zip line at 1,900 feet. You can ride up to eight lines at speeds up to 60 miles per hour between 30 and 250 feet off the ground as you crisscross a Rocky Mountain valley. The total trip duration will take close to three hours, depending on how many zip lines you choose. And at the end of it, stop by the craft beer bar and enjoy a pint or two of locally brewed beers.
Fly over the desert (Boulder City, Nevada)
If you’re in Las Vegas and need a break from the casinos and the famed Vegas strip, head over to Flight Linez Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, about 30 minutes away. You’ll travel up to 60 miles per hour, between four different zip lines, as you soar down the Red Mountains and above the breathtaking scenic views of the Mojave Desert. Along the way, you might spy some desert wildlife, such as big horn sheep, lizards and hawks. This thrilling experience takes about three hours.
Watch the animals below (San Diego, California)
Experience the San Diego Zoo Safari Park from high above. Flightline Safari gives you a glimpse of rhinos, giraffes and other wildlife as you zip through the sky, 130 feet aboveground. You’ll soar for about two-thirds of a mile and land near the zoo’s main campground. Pay a bit extra and you can also record your flight in high-definition video with a helmet cam so you can relive the moment over and over again.
Ready to travel? Find hotels in Hunter, New York City, Albany, Louisville, St. Cloud, Orlando, Conifer, Denver, Boulder City, Las Vegas, San Diego.
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