Move over whitewater rafting, there’s a new “extreme” family adventure that’s fast become the thing to do for families with a taste for adrenaline.
Ziplines — most of which include high adventure ropes courses — have popped up throughout North Carolina over the past few years, selling the safe thrill that for years has earned whitewater rafting on Class III water a spot on the adventurous family’s vacation agenda.
While most of the state’s ziplines are in the mountains — 15 by our count — there are five nearer the population centers of the Piedmont and one in the coastal plain.
We’ve compiled a list of North Carolina’s 21 ziplines, including enough information to tell you where they are, their impact on your wallet and what you’ll find. From there, click on the link for more details.
What’s it like to spend an hour or three cavorting in the canopy? Check back tomorrow and we’ll give you our take, based on a recent visit to Go Ape, the state’s newest park, at Blue Jay Point County Park in Raleigh.
Note: for future reference, this list will live on the left side of the GetGoingNC.com home page, under “Ziplines.”
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Coast / Coastal Plain
1. ZipQuest
Location: Fayetteville
Contact: 910.488.8787, website
Cost: $85 per person
About: Includes eight Ziplines, including one over Canver’s Falls, a 20-foot-high, 150-foot-wide waterfall reported to be the largest waterfall in the central eastern part of the state.
Piedmont
1. Go Ape Zip Line & Treetop Adventures
Location: Raleigh
Contact: 800.971,8271, website
Costs: $57 for ages $16 and up, $37 ages 10-15
About: 42 “features” including a log swing, spider’s web, double stirrups, Apple Picker’s Ladder, two Tarzan swings, and 5 ziplines.
2. Kersey Valley Zipline Aerial Tours
Location: Archdale
Contact: 336.802.1962, website www.kerseyvalleyzipline.com
Costs: $99 (1st Class); $89 (Coach Class); $59 (High Ropes)
About: 14 ziplines with more than 1.5 miles of cable. Also includes a corn maze and other adventures.
3. Richland Creek Zipline Canopy Tour
Location: Asheboro
Contact: 336.629-9440, website
Cost: $40 per adult; $25 per child
About: 14 ziplines, 3 sky bridges, and a swinging bridge take you across Purgatory Mountain.
4. Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tour
Location: Westfield
Contact: 336.972.7656, website
Cost: Daytime: adults 13 and up, $80; kids 3-12, $40; Evenings: adults: $90; kids 3-12, $50
About: 22 ziplines including five tours.
5. U.S. National Whitewater Center
Location: Charlotte
Contact: 704.391.3900, website
Cost: Youth $49, adults $54 (includes access to entire park)
About: Three prime Ziplines: Mega Zip, 1,123 feet long and 46 feet high, geared toward beginner sand intermediates; Canyon Zip, 200 feet long, for beginners; Climb 2, 100 feet long, 32 feet high, gives an overview of the Whitewater Center, aimed at beginners and Intermediates.
Mountains
1. Adventure Center of Asheville
Location: Asheville
Contact: 828.225.2921, website http://www.ashevilletreetopsadventurepark.com/
Cost: $129.95 (Chattooga River/ Zip); $79.25-$129.95 (Pigeon); $109.95(Ocoee); $109.95(Nan)
About: 11 ziplines, three sky bridges and a zipline targeted to kids 10 and under.
2. Boulderline Adventure Programs
Location: Lake Lure
Contact: 828.625.4913, website
Cost: Children $45, Adults $50
About: Six ziplines ranging from heights of 2 feet to 25 feet. Also, a climbing tower that includes night climbing with headlights, glow paint and more.
3. Canopy Ridge Farm
Location: Lake Lure
Contact: 828.625.4500, website www.canopyridgefarm.com
Costs: $65 for adults, $55 for kids 12 and under, $45 for kids under 50 pounds
About: Features Zip-Zilla, a 1,000-foot-long zipline.
4. Earthshine Discovery Center
Location: Lake Toxaway
Contact: 828.862.4207, website
Costs: call for prices
About: Includes a variety of adventure activities.
5. French Broad Adventures
Location: Marshall
Contact: 800.570.7238, website
Cost: Packages- $117
About: 10 ziplines ranging from 75-1,000 feet in length.
6. Ghost Town in the Sky
Location: Maggie Valley
Contact: 828.926.1130, website
Cost: $45 ages 13 and up; $40 ages 4-12
About: 3 main ziplines: Quick Draw, 325 feet long; The Bullet, 480 feet long; The Holster, a 190 ft. long zipline that refreshes you from the Quick Draw and The Bullet.
7. The Gorge
Location: Saluda
Contact: 855.749.2500, website
Cost: $95 ages 10 and up; $85 per for groups of 8 or more
About: 11 ziplines over the Green River Gorge. Includes a suspension bridge, 3 free-fall rappels, and a short downhill hike.
8. Hawknest
Location: Seven Devils
Contact: 828.963.6561, website
Cost: $80 for the Hawk Tour; $54 for the Eagle Tour
About: Twenty ziplines, including four mega ziplines — two that are 2,000-feet long and two that are more than 1,500 feet long. Great views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Location: Scaly Mountain
Contact: 828.526.8773, website
Cost: $89 for World Class package; $49 for the Mountain package; $19 for the Brave Indian
About: 7 ziplines
10. Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours & KidZip
Location: Bryson City
Contact: 866.319.8870, website
Cost: $89
About: 13 zipline sections, 8 aerial, swinging bridges, 4 tandem zips; 1 mile of cable.
11. Navitat
Location: Asheville
Contact: (828) 626-3700, website
Cost: Starting at $89
About: 10 ziplines as long as 1,100 feet and as high as 200 feet.
12. RidgeRunner Ziplines
Location: Andrews
Contact: 828.421.8119, website
Cost: $85
About: 11 Ziplines, each 600 feet long and 80 feet high. Takes you through mature forests of hemlock, maples, chestnuts, dogwood, laurel and mountain laurels.
13. Screaming Ziplines
Location: Vilas
Contact: 828.898.5404, website
Cost: $69, $79 for the Extreme package
About: 6 ziplines ranging from 450 feet to 800 feet, plus the Super Zip, which is 2,000 feet long.
14. Sky Valley Zip Tours
Location: Boone
Contact: 855.475.9947, website
Cost: $79
About: 10 ziplines and swinging bridge (120 feet long, 50 feet high). Includes ATV ride to site!
15. Vordach Ziplines Experience
Location: Sapphire
Contact: 828.743.2251, website
Cost: $37.50
About: Family-focused lines include: Green Course, which is the shortest and lowest zipline aimed at ages 8 and up; Blue Course, aimed at ages 12 and up; and the Black Course, offering more of a challenge.
Compiled by Hana Miller, Western Carolina University, Department of Parks and Recreation Management
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