Don't look down: Navitat Canopy Adventures near Asheville, N.C., features sky bridges and custom platforms built into trees.
As leaves begin to change color, it's the perfect time to glide through treetops on a zipline. Part thrill ride, part eco-adventure, ziplines have taken off in the past decade, says Michael R. Smith, creator of ZiplineNirvana.com, a social media website for zipline lovers. Tours generally run from $80 to $180 for a three-hour experience. Smith says a good tour provides a sense of place, exploration and entertainment. He shares some of his favorites with Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY.
Hocking Hills Canopy Tours
Rockbridge, Ohio
This course about an hour southeast of Columbus is one of the busiest in the country, attracting guests from across the region. The canopy tour includes 10 ziplines, passing over a cave, forest and river. The new Super Zip course lets you zoom along at speeds of up to 50 mph in a prone "superhero flying" position, Smith says. 740-385-9477; hockinghillscanopytours.com
Kapalua Adventures
Lahaina, Hawaii
This Maui installation is one of the country's largest and most spectacular zipline tours, Smith says. Some segments stretch more than 2,000 feet. "This one has breathtaking panoramic views, and because the runs are so long, you have time to look out at the landscape and the ocean," he says. "It's a real thrill ride." 808-665-3753; kapaluaadventures.com
Captain Zipline
Salida, Colo.
Guests literally fling themselves off a canyon edge on this central Colorado tour. "When you step off those cliffs, it's a pretty awesome feeling," Smith says. "Your feet are still running while you're in the air." And the landing is just as spectacular. "You come into this ball-bearing-type gravel, and you put your feet down and come to a Fred Flintstone-type stop." 877-947-5463; captainzipline.com
Sonoma Canopy Tours
Occidental, Calif.
This new tour features the towering redwoods of Northern California, about 90 minutes north of San Francisco. "It's really hard to grasp the enormous size of these trees," Smith says — until you're zipping through a forest of them. One segment has riders landing on a tree platform high above a creek and then climbing a spiral staircase leading to a sky bridge. 888-494-7868; sonomacanopytours.com
Berkshire East Canopy Tours
Charlemont, Mass.
New England's longest zipline "is breathtaking during the fall color change," Smith says. The attraction, about 70 miles east of Albany, N.Y., offers three options, ranging from a family-friendly introductory area to the heart-pounding Valley Jumping Tour course with the final run stretching a half-mile. 413-339-6617; berkshirezip.com
Cypress Valley Canopy Tours
Spicewood, Texas
One of the country's first zipline tours remains one of the best, Smith says. This family-run operation in the Texas Hill Country, about an hour northwest of Austin, takes visitors through giant old-growth cypress with views of streams and limestone walls. Afterward, cool off with a dip in a spring-fed pond. 512-264-8880; cypressvalleycanopytours.com
Tamarack Canopy Zipline Tour
Tamarack, Idaho
Visitors fly over creeks, canyons and dense forest canopies on this course about 130 miles north of Boise. Smith says the tour offers a variety of experiences and environments over its 4,400-foot length. "Some of the ziplines are sheltered, and you feel encapsulated; others are out in the open and way above the trees," Smith says. 208-325-1000; tamarackzipline.com
Navitat Canopy Adventures
Barnardsville, N.C.
North Carolina is a leading state for ziplines, and Smith calls this tour near Asheville one of the best in the nation. The design pays as much attention to aesthetics and the environment as to providing a thrilling ride. "The sense of being in a remote location is overwhelming," he says. "There are big sky bridges and custom platforms built into really unique trees." 828-626-3700; navitat.com
TreeTops New River Gorge Canopy Tour
Lansing, W.Va.
This tour swoops through hardwood forests and old-growth hemlocks above a canyon adjacent to the New River Gorge, which is famous for its whitewater rafting. Smith suggests visiting in spring, when the wild rhododendrons are in bloom and the water is roaring. "It's one of the most beautiful places I've been," Smith says. 877-811-5321; newrivergorgecanopytour.com
ZipQuest
Fayetteville, N.C.
This new course centers on a 150-foot-wide waterfall previously closed to the public. Set amid pines, mountain laurel and bald cypress trees, the tour offers eight ziplines, three sky bridges and three spiral staircases, including one suspended from a cable. "It explores this cool waterfall and a hidden ecosystem," Smith says. 910-488-8787; zipquest.com
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