Best Zip-Line Adventure

Whoever first thought of stringing a line between two trees, hitching up a harness and gliding from point A to point B was apparently a genius. From Hawaii to New York, you'll find popular zip-line courses offering a boatload of thrills as well as a new appreciation for nature as you glide past amazing views. Here's our list of top zip-line courses in the US, compiled by our expert adventurers.

These 10 zip-line adventures were selected by our expert panelists and contributors and voted on by readers as the best of the best.

Congratulations to our 2024 winners; you can now visit our 2025 Best Zip-Line Adventure contest.

1. Canopy Ridge Farm—Lake Lure, NC

If you're visiting the Hendersonville-Asheville area, don't miss this family-friendly outdoor adventure park near Lake Lure. Set on 60 acres of hardwood forest, the zip line takes adventurers age 4 and up soaring through the trees. Six lines include Zipzilla, a 1,000-foot stretch made to thrill. Note that kids under 75 pounds can ride tandem with another (total weight restrictions apply).

2. ZipZone Outdoor Adventures—Columbus, OH

On the outskirts of Columbus, ZipZone Outdoor Adventures takes guests on a zip-line tour of lush forest. Two guides accompany each group and supervise equipment and braking so you can simply enjoy your experience gliding through the trees. For a special treat, book the post-sundown Night Flight. The complex also includes an obstacle course with multiple difficulty levels and a kids' park for ages 4-7.

3. The Gorge—Saluda, NC

With the tagline "Steep. Fast. Beautiful.", The Gorge promises you a ride to remember. And boy does it deliver. Its 11 lines may not be the longest, but they make up for it in plunging drops that take you 1,100 feet down into the verdant old-growth forests of North Carolina's Green River Game Lands. Add in a skybridge and three large rappels, and you've got a great memory in the making.

4. Zip Nola—New Orleans, LA

Trust NOLA to offer an experience like no other. Zip Nola lets you soar through the wildlands of Maurepas Swamp—a journey impossible on foot. Begin your tour 60 feet up with great views of Lake Pontchartrain, and circle through five ziplines. You'll fly by cypress trees, over tea-stained waters, and see flora and fauna familiar and exotic. Two suspension bridges and a viewing platform give you time to linger.

5. ZipQuest Waterfall & TreeTop Adventure—Fayetteville, NC

Traverse a course of zip lines and suspension bridges at Fayetteville's ZipQuest Waterfall & TreeTop Adventure. Located on 72 acres of pristine forest held by the founder's family for years, the course includes fast and slow zip lines so you can enjoy thrills and scenic views in equal measure. The highlight of the course? Zip lining right over Carver's Falls, a magnificent waterfall that's 150 feet wide and two stories tall.

6. Catalina ZipLine Eco Tour—Catalina, CA

Just off the coast from Los Angeles, Catalina Island offers beachy fun, including the popular Catalina Zipline Eco Tour. Starting on a ridge 600 feet above the beach with panoramic ocean views, this five-line course takes you down the mountain at up to 35 mph. As you go, an expert points out the island's unique flora and fauna, including over 60 rare species. Tandem rides are available within weight restrictions.

7. Montana Whitewater—Big Sky and Gardner, MT

Take in Big Sky land from a bird's-eye view with adventure outfitter Montana Whitewater, which offers the only guided Montana zip line experience in Greater Yellowstone. The company offers two amazing courses. The Yellowstone zip line zips you over ridgelines and down mountainsides with spectacular views of the iconic park and its wildlife. The Gallatin River course incorporates zip lines and obstacles, peaking with an 800-foot-high zip line over the Gallatin River.

8. Wahoo Ziplines—Sevierville, TN

Visiting Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge? Side trip to this exciting course, the first of its kind around Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Six zip lines span over two miles of cable, including a dual-line section where you can race a friend. The course includes great views, taking you up to 250 feet high or weaving through beech and oak forest. The well-certified staff and emphasis on fun make a winning combination.

9. Flyin Hawaiian Zipline—Waikapu, HI

Set in the West Maui mountains, this dramatic zip line is a customer favorite. And it's not hard to see why! You'll speed through unmatched, sky-high panoramas of the island's North and South shores and even hover within view of the Haleakalā volcanic crater. A total of 8 zip lines cover 2.5 miles of speedy goodness, with one 3,000-foot continuous stretch as the course highlight.

10. Soaring Tree Top Adventures—Durango, CO

A monster with 27 runs, including one 1,400 feet long, the zip-line course at Soaring Tree Top Adventures is one-of-a-kind. The 5.5-hour tour welcomes all ages and includes an ecology class and a gourmet lunch amid the San Juan Mountains. Even your journey to the course is unique, taken in comfortable train cars. Add high safety standards and friendly staff, and you have a wonderful addition to your Colorado itinerary.

About Newsweek Readers' Choice Awards

Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For more details, read our terms and conditions. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readerschoice@newsweek.com.

Panel of Experts

Heather Mundt is a freelance writer based in Longmont, Colorado, who writes about outdoor and family travel. She is also the author of Colorado Family Outdoor Adventure. Follow her adventures at momfari.com.

For more than 20 years, Karon Warren has traveled the globe, searching for adventure, unique personalities and a new perspective on the world to share in her travel content. Her work appears in USA Today's 10Best, Family Vacation Critic, US News & World Report and many more outlets. Karon also is the author of 100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die from Reedy Press. Karon lives near Atlanta in the North Georgia mountains with her family, where they enjoy such outdoor recreation as hiking, geocaching and biking. You can follow her on Instagram at @karonwarren.

Vanessa Ball, content creator and photographer behind She Wanders Miles, is a responsible travel blogger with an adventurous attitude. Having travelled to seven continents, climbed Kilimanjaro and backpacked across Central and South America, she loves to explore new cultures, try local dishes, learn about history and hike natural landscapes. She Wanders Miles travel blog shares authentic, sustainable experiences and in-depth guides on off-the-beaten track as well as sustainable mainstream destinations. Follow her @wandersmiles and She Wanders Miles and join the journey!

Newsweek contributors speak from a variety of backgrounds and offer expertise in a wide range of subject areas.