USA TODAY 10Best
These are the Best Aerial Adventure Parks in the U.S.
Best Aerial Adventure Park (2022)
Ziplining and canopy tours have exploded in popularity recently as a way to experience the forest canopy in a safe and thrilling environment.
Photo courtesy of Nick Kogos | Visit Durango
No. 10: Soaring Colorado - Durango, Colorado
Soaring Colorado is located on 180 acres of pristine old growth forest along the Animas River near Durango, Colorado, surrounded by a national forest and only accessible by narrow gauge railroad. In 2004 this family-owned operation became the first zip line adventure course in the United States, and it continues to set a high standard in the industry. The park now has 34 platforms and 27 zip lines ranging in length from 56 to 1,400 feet, making it the most extensive course of its kind in the country. You can expect to spend five and a half hours on the zip lines to complete the entire course one time.
Photo courtesy of Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventure Park
No. 9: Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures - Cape Canaveral, Fla.
At Cocoa Beach Aerial Adventures, 49 unique obstacles await visitors in the canopy of life oak trees. Guests can choose between seven trails and three difficulty levels to explore the park via suspension bridges, ziplines, catwalks, nets and rope bridges.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Eckel / Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
No. 8: Hocking Hills Canopy Tours - Rockbridge, Ohio
The award-winning Hocking Hills Canopy Tours provides adventurers with a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the natural features of Hocking Hills. Visitors have a choice of aerial adventures, ranging from the “Original” Canopy Tour, X-Tour with 11 ziplines, SuperZip (reaching speeds upwards of 50 miles per hour) or the DragonFly for kids.
Photo courtesy of Quarry Park Adventures
No. 7: Quarry Park Adventures - Rocklin, California
The only adventure park in the United States located in a sixty-foot-deep former granite quarry, Pinnacle Peak’s Aerial Adventure northeast of Sacramento boasts more than sixty elements of ropes, bridges, and beams to challenge young people and old of all skill levels. Admission provides access to six distinct aerial adventures from zip lines to rock climbing and rappelling. Guests move at their own pace and can run the course as often as possible to master each element fully. The park also offers summer camps and can accommodate groups and birthday parties.
No. 6: The Gorge - Saluda, N.C.
The Gorge calls itself the nation’s steepest and fastest zipline canopy tour. This tree-based adventure in North Carolina comprises 11 ziplines spanning well over a mile with a total descent of more than 1,100 vertical feet. The course also includes a sky bridge and three rappels.
Photo courtesy of Greensboro Science Center
No. 5: SKYWILD - Greensboro, N.C.
This treetop adventure park in Greensboro, North Carolina takes inspiration from the neighboring Greensboro Science Center’s zoo. Visitors can tackle 60 challenges and three intensity levels.
No. 4: Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park - Multiple Locations
With 15 locations across the United States, Go Ape is all about offering their guests "tree-mendous adventures." Whether you're looking for a one hour introductory experience or want to "Go Ape" with a 2-3 hour aerial adventure, you'll be kept entertained and challenged by their rope ladders, wobbly bridges, tricky crossings, nets, and tricky planks.
Photo courtesy of Camelback Resort
No. 3: Camelback Mountain Adventures - Tannersville, Penn.
Camelback Mountain Adventures in Pennsylvania is home to the longest zipline in North America, the 4,000-foot Soaring Camel Twin Zip-Flyer. If that’s not reason enough to visit, the park also features aerial obstacle courses for kids and adults, a steel-track rollercoaster and twin 1,000-foot double barrel zip lines.
Photo courtesy of The Forge: Lemont Quarries
No. 2: The Forge: Lemont Quarries - Lemont, Illinois
The Forge: Lemont Quarries offers adventures for all ages in the form of ropes courses, climbing walls, ziplines and hiking and biking trails. The facility features a skills course for mountain biking, boat rentals, tactical laser tag and an AR outdoor escape room.
Photo courtesy of The Shepherd of the Hills
No. 1: Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park - Branson, Mo.
Branson’s Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park brings thrills to the Ozark Mountains in the form of a multi-level treetop ropes course, zipline canopy tour or the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider, Missouri’s highest zipline where riders reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour after a launch from 170 feet above ground.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning aerial adventure parks!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Chez Chesak
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor... Read More
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Chez Chesak
‘Chez’ Chesak is Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, an adventure travel writer, board member of the Society of American Travel Writers and 22-year veteran of the outdoor and travel industries. While he’s lived all over the U.S. and traveled to more than 30 countries, he has the most fun when he’s exploring with his wife Sally and two daughters. An avid outdoors person, he’s happiest on a trail, on skis, or nestled into a sleeping bag. Learn more about him and his work at www.chezconnects.com.
Lauren Gay
Lauren Gay is the creator of Misadventures of the Read More
Lauren Gay is the creator of Misadventures of the Outdoorsy Diva Blog, host/producer of the Outdoorsy Diva Podcast, published photographer, speaker and CEO of Lauren R. Gay Consulting where she offers professional consulting services for blogs and podcasts, courses, as well as curated group adventure trips. She is a travel writer and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring and empowering black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel and adventure and embracing nature as therapy. Lauren is also a dedicated long time advocate for racial diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and adventure travel.
Lauren Gay
Lauren Gay is the creator of Misadventures of the Outdoorsy Diva Blog, host/producer of the Outdoorsy Diva Podcast, published photographer, speaker and CEO of Lauren R. Gay Consulting where she offers professional consulting services for blogs and podcasts, courses, as well as curated group adventure trips. She is a travel writer and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring and empowering black women to step out of their comfort zones for new experiences in travel and adventure and embracing nature as therapy. Lauren is also a dedicated long time advocate for racial diversity and inclusion in outdoor recreation and adventure travel.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.