This North Carolina Tree Top Aerial Adventure Park Is Nation’s Best
Looking for a fun, thrilling summer adventure? How about a tree top adventure? These adventure parks consisting of ziplines, and other aerial adventure courses can be a fun teambuilding or…
Looking for a fun, thrilling summer adventure? How about a tree top adventure? These adventure parks consisting of ziplines, and other aerial adventure courses can be a fun teambuilding or family activity. They may even make a good date! USA Today recently conducted a poll as part of the publication's "10 Best" campaign and one of the categories was 10 Best Aerial Adventure Parks. And one North Carolina tree top adventure park ranked as one of the 10 best. Well, technically two, but one is a chain with locations in many states. So while we will recognize it, we can't be sure that the North Carolina location specifically is one of the 10 best.
Other locations that made the list included parks in Florida, California, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. What makes a good tree top adventure park? Fantastic scenery, safety, the length of the adventure, and the staff all play a role in the overall experience. I've never done a full zipline adventure, though I have done the "challenge course" at the camp I grew up going to, the zipline in downtown Myrtle Beach, and the one at the White Water Center. But those are small compared to the ones on this list. Below you'll find the locations on the USA Today 10 Best List that are in or near North Carolina. You'll also learn about some other North Carolina tree top adventure park options. Happy ziplining!
No. 9: The Gorge - Saluda, North Carolina
Coming in at number 9 on the list is North Carolina's own The Gorge in Saluda. The tree top aerial course features 11 zip lines that span over a mile and a quarter, 3 opportunities to repel, and a sky bridge! This one-of-a-kind experience begins on the rim of the Green River Gorge. From there you will take the plunge deep into the wilderness. Participants must weigh between 70 and 250 lbs.
Other Nearby Experiences
Including Two Ranked By USA Today as well as other nearby options
Navitat Knoxville - Knoxville, Tennessee
USA Today ranks this Knoxville Tennesee adventure park as the 10th best in the country. The Treetop Zipline Adventure Park at Navitat Knoxville overlooks the Tennessee River and offers 6 adventure trails ranging from easy to extreme. Each adventure trail consists of 8-12 elements including zip lines, bridges, swings, nets, climbs, and more. They also offer a lighted Navitat at Night adventure that looks so much fun!
Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park
Go Ape is a national chain ranked 7th overall by USA Today Readers. It does have a North Carolina location. And it's not tucked into the mountains where you might expect. No, Go Ape's North Carolina location is in Raleigh at Blue Jay Point County Park. The go-ape Original Treetop Adventure in the canopy features 50-foot-high tree-to-tree crossings, super long zip lines, and "heart-stopping" Tarzan swing. They also have a lower thrill entry adventure called the Treetop Journey.
Richland Creek Zipline Canopy Tour
Asheboro is the home of Richland Creek Ziplina Canopy Tour. The tour features 14 ziplines totaling over one and a half miles of cable, 4 ropes obstacles, and a tour of Mendenhall waterfalls. Tours last 1.5-2 hours depending on the size of the group.
Canopy Ridge Farm
Canopy Ridge Farm Adventure Park is located in picturesque Lake Lure North Carolina. They offer zip line tours of the Blue Ridge foothills as well as UTV tours. On the zipline tour you'll "soar through the forest canopy, across gorges, hillsides, and water as you tour over 60 acres of stunning hardwood forest."
Get more info
Carolina Ziplines Canopy Tour
You'll find Carolina Ziplines in Westfield, NC. They offer guests the opportunity to not only zipline but make a day of it picnicking and enjoying the farm and homestead of RJ Reynolds's great-grandfather Joshua Cox. There are 11 different canopy ziplines to provide thrills for visitors of all ages.
