Summer Escapes

Catch A Breeze On An NC Zipline

With summer temperatures hovering in the upper 90s around the Carolinas, why wouldn’t you want to catch a breeze? If you’re looking for a family-friendly way to stay cool, take an aerial view of North Carolina’s natural, scenic beauty by zipline. Close to a dozen zipline (or canopy tour) attractions have cropped up in the last few years, and summer is one of the most popular seasons for swinging through North Carolina’s lush treetops.

Whether you take on a Gilligan-sized three-hour tour or simply add on a quick zip to your day at attractions offering other activities like rafting or wine tasting, North Carolina’s ziplines are a breezy treat for thrill seekers of all ages.

Ziplining involves gliding above ground between platforms on industrial-strength steel cables. Riders are strapped into a secure harness and hooked to the cable by a carabineer-type enclosure that acts as a pulley. While heights and speeds can be breathtaking, swooshing between landing points is low-impact; the ride is naturally propelled by the gravity of your own body weight.

“We have riders of all ages from 3 years old to 90,” says Screaming Ziplines owner Monie McCoury. “We help riders launch and brake and since there’s no banging, jarring or jostling, there’s no real impact at all.”

North Carolina’s rolling topography has made it the perfect breeding ground for zipline attractions. Think you’re ready to give it a whirl? Check these zipline offerings:

Zip Quest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure (north Fayetteville)
The newest addition to North Carolina’s zipline attractions opened in July 2010 and features eight ziplines and three “Indiana Jones” canopy bridges. Riders will coast down lines nearly 1,000 feet long and some as high as 80 feet during their 2-hour tour over varied topography that includes passing over Carver’s Falls – the largest waterfall in central and eastern NC.

Navitat Canopy Adventures (20 minutes from Asheville)

True to its mash-up moniker (“navigation” and “habitat”), the three-hour course was designed to highlight the natural landscape. Blog editors at TheEcoNaut.com call this “the eco-travel treat you’ve been waiting for.” Coast through 240 acres in Moody Cove over mountain streams and a few 100-year-old hardwoods. Don’t forget to check out the sustainable Welcome Center too.

Nantahala Gorge Canopy Tours (southwest of Bryson City)

With its looming peaks, inviting waters, wooded trails and scenic wonders, the Nantahala National Forest is an outdoor recreation paradise your family won’t want to miss. Get a smooth, bird’s-eye glide through 20 acres with a three-hour, half-mile tour propelled by natural elevation gravity. With stops at three sky bridges and five transfer bridges, “zippers” take in multiple ecosystems, past hemlocks and forests peppered with natural blooms.

Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tours (north of Winston-Salem in Westfield)

Opened in 2007, Carolina Ziplines offers two tours at the edge of Hanging Rock State Park. After opening ziplines in Costa Rica and Ecuador, its owners found the perfect spot for their first U.S. attraction in North Carolina’s piedmont. Visitors can opt for the “high course” or “the Web” tour, which is great for groups or kids. Ask about the evening “lantern tour” too for groups of eight or more.

Screaming Ziplines (minutes outside Boone in the High Country)

Home to the first triple-wide 2,000-foot line – called the “Super Zip,” this is a perfect course for competitive types to race! The Super Zip is an add-on to the standard six-line tour. Riders are sure to catch a breeze at this treetop High Country attraction year-round.

Big Woods Zip Line and Canopy Tour (at Sanders Ridge Winery in Boonville near Winston-Salem)

Not looking to make a day of it? How about combining your zipline adventure with a visit to one of North Carolina’s 90-plus wineries? Sanders Ridge Winery is also home to the recently opened Big Woods Zip Line and Canopy Tour. Swing through 150 acres of secluded Yadkin Valley forests on a canopy tour with 14 platforms and 12 cables up to 65 feet high. And when you’re done, toast your bravery with one of Sanders Ridge’s award-winning vinifera or muscadine wines!

Want more ideas?
Richland Creek ZipLine Canopy Tour (at the base of Purgatory Mountain in Asheboro)
Plumtree Canopy Tours (Toe River Lodge Campgrounds on the edge of Pisgah National Forest)

U.S. National Whitewater Center (Charlotte off I-277)
Earthshine Mountain Lodge Flight Through the Treetops and High Ropes Course (Lake Toxaway near Brevard)

Hawksnest Resort Zipline Tour (in Seven Devils near Banner Elk)

The Beanstalk Journey at Catawba Meadows (in Morganton)

added: July 13, 2010

updated: May 3, 2012