Top 3 Smokies Zipline Tours for Beginners and Adrenaline Junkies
Ziplining is a nice way to get a bird’s eye view of the Smokies in Tennessee. Imagine yourself gliding along a steel cable above a beautiful panorama of lush green foliage. Cool, isn’t it? Of course, it can be a little scary especially if it’s your first time. But what a proud moment once you get to the other side, right? You take a look at the world around you, and your breath is taken away by nature’s beauty that’s full of life! And then suddenly, it’s no longer as scary as you thought it was. If you find yourself fancying a thrilling, fulfilling outdoor activity in the Smokies, we say go ahead and give ziplining a try! Here are three top-rated providers of Great Smokies zipline adventure:
1. Climb Works Smoky Mountains
Climb Works operates two popular zipline destinations—one located in Oahu, Hawaii and another in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Experience their Mountain Zipline Tour, which includes different adventures that will get your adrenaline pumping! This two-hour guided tour includes zipping side-by-side on six dual zip lines, walking across four sky bridges, rappelling, and enjoying an exhilarating ATV ride to the mountaintop. Not only that! You will also learn about the history of the Smokies from their friendly and knowledgeable tour guides, whom previous guests absolutely loved. All these while enjoying the views of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park from an awesome vantage point.
To enjoy the tour, you must be at least seven years old and weigh at most 270 lbs (for heights 5′ 10″ and over) and at most 250 lbs (for heights under 5′ 10″). If you’re under 70 lbs and at least seven years old, you may still participate in the tour but you may have to ride in tandem with a guide or another lightweight family member or friend. For safety reasons, Climb Works doesn’t allow anyone over 6’ 8” to participate. All minors under 18 years must submit a guardian’s signed consent form, while participants under 15 years have to be accompanied by an adult during the tour.
To guarantee your spot, you can call ahead or book online prior to your preferred date, and make sure to arrive at least 40 minutes early to check-in. Also, since quick rain showers are common in the Smokies, remember to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet in.
According to previous guests, they had a blast with Climb Works, thanks to their accommodating guides who not only made sure the experience was fun and safe but who also take amazing photos you may purchase at the end of your tour.
Pricing:
| Activity/Excursion | Cost/Person | Description and Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Zipline Tour | From $99.95 | 2-hour guided tour for ages 7+ 6 side-by-side ziplines 4 sky bridges Fun, controlled rappel ATV ride to the top Educational tour about Smokies history Panoramic views of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park Difficulty: Easy |
Source: https://www.climbworks.com
Ratings:
| Source | Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Trip Advisor | 5 | 5,221 |
| 5 | 4,868 | |
| Yelp | 5 | 200 |
| 5 | 1,500 |
2. Wahoo Ziplines
Don’t miss out on one of the most exciting experiences in your lifetime! Cruise through the air at high speed with Wahoo Ziplines. Opened in 2008, they were the first to offer Great Smokies zipline adventures. Enjoy magnificent views of the Smoky Mountains at different elevations while you cross two miles of cables spanning beech and oak forests below.
For a comfortable zipline experience, make sure you wear closed-toe shoes with soles that stay securely on your feet. And since you will be wearing a full-body harness, you’ll have to wear pants or shorts that are at least knee-length.
Kids who are at least five years old may participate in the activity, but participants aged 5 to 13 years will need to be accompanied by an adult during the experience. Note that Wahoo Ziplines have weight requirements where participants must have a minimum weight of 45 lbs but no more than 275 lbs. And of course, expecting mothers are not allowed to join the zipline tour.
NOTE: It is highly important that you arrive 45 minutes before your scheduled tour as you will have to go through the check-in process, receive instructions, and get geared up. In case you need to cancel, be sure to inform them at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled tour time to get a full refund. You may request adjustments on your booking, but try to have it done by 7 p.m. the night before your tour date to avoid additional charges.
Pricing:
| Activity/Excursion | Cost/Person | Description and Inclusions |
|---|---|---|
| Zipline Tour | Regular rate: $89 Seasonal $20 discount | 6 signature lines; 2 miles of cable/ speeds up to 40 mph Heights between 45 to 250 feet off the ground |
Source: https://wahooziplines.com
Ratings:
| Source | Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Trip Advisor | 5 | 1,803 |
| 5 | 2,389 | |
| 4.8 | 2,678 | |
| Yelp | 5 | 142 |
3. Legacy Mountain
Let your heart race as you fly through the air at speeds up to 50 mph on a Great Smokies Zipline tour with Legacy Mountain. Experience a liberating ride above the scenic landscape at a height of up to 500 feet! Legacy Mountain’s seven-line zipline adventure welcomes participants as young as seven years old. During the activity, it’s normal to feel anxious at first especially if you have a fear of heights. But their friendly tour guides will make sure you’ll laugh your nerves away. Don’t believe us? Read about it for yourself in the many reviews from past customers (see below)!
Note that all participants under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult during the tour. Moreover, for your safety, Legacy Mountain requires all participants to meet their weight requirement of 60 to 275 lbs.
For your tour, be sure to wear comfortable, snug-fitting, fully-enclosed footwear, such as hiking shoes, boots, and athletic shoes. Remember to avoid wearing any type of jewelry that dangles and to tie your hair back, especially if you have long hair. Don’t forget to take your phones and everything else out of your pockets, too, as you wouldn’t want your valuables to end up falling off into the depths of the forest! If you’re experiencing the adventure during the winter, you may want to consider wearing thick socks, a warm jacket and winter hat, thermal underwear, and even a face mask.
In the event of inclement weather such as high winds, lightning, or storm, Legacy Mountain reserves the right to cancel the tour. If this happens, you will need to reschedule the experience as Legacy Mountain issues rain checks in place of refunds in these cases.
Pricing:
| Activity/Excursion | Cost/Person |
|---|---|
| 7-Line Zipline Adventure | $119 + tax |
Source: https://www.legacymountainziplines.com
Ratings:
| Source | Rating | Number of Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Trip Advisor | 5 | 2,861 |
| 4.9 | 3,180 | |
| 5 | 4,606 | |
| Yelp | 5 | 94 |
Got questions about Great Smokies zipline tours? Shoot us an email at hello@mightyvacay.com.
Haven’t booked your Great Smokies vacation home yet? Check out our charming rustic cabins in Tennessee: Mighty Sunrise, Mighty Sunset, Mighty Big Bear, Mighty Birdsong, Mighty Chickadee, and Mighty Duckster.
NOTE: While this article has been written for your general enjoyment and personal informational use, it should not be relied upon because we cannot warranty the accuracy of information. Please be sure to contact each business directly to verify rates and terms of service.
