Whether it’s a roller coaster or a ropes course, we love a good thrill. That’s why we rounded up some of the coolest places in Dallas-Fort Worth and beyond to go zip lining—a great pastime for date night and family dates alike.
Go Ape USA
Closer to home, Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Parks offer epic zip lines at two locations in Dallas-Fort Worth. At River Legacy Park East in Arlington, you can brave the 600-foot zip line and 65 obstacles like wobbly bridges and Tarzan swings—all while 40-feet in the air over the Trinity River, the largest river in North Texas.
Or take your treetop adventure to Go Ape at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve, Plano’s largest park, where you can climb 40 tree-top obstacles to the 423-foot zip line. The experience takes you through tree-to-tree crossings in the canopy, extra-long zip lines and Tarzan-style swings. There’s technically no age requirement but the height requirements vary by specific activities.
1601 NE Green Oaks Boulevard, Arlington
800/971-8271
goape.com/location/texas-arlington
5901 Los Rios Boulevard, Plano
800/971-8271
goape.com/location/texas-plano
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary
Visitors can do so much at the Heard: explore the trails, visit its resident ambassador animals and the butterfly garden, play in the pioneer village, and dig for fossils (when the Dinosaurs Live exhibit is open (September through February). The Heard is not only a great spot for helping children appreciate the world around them, but also for zip lining. Come during the special Zip Line Days when the ropes course and zip line are open to the public. The zip line is open to kids 10 years old and older and who weigh at least 75 pounds.
1 Nature Place, McKinney
972/562-5566
heardmuseum.org
Trinity Forest Adventure Park
For those looking for a kid-sized adventure, there’s Trinity Forest Adventure Park, about 15 miles southeast of Downtown Dallas. Trinity’s got more than 70 gravity-defying elements and over 20 zip lines. This park has a course for everyone, ranging from Out a Limb course, for children as young as 4 years old, and up to black courses—the hardest level, color-coded like a ski run.
1820 Dowdy Ferry Road, Dallas
214/391-1000
trinitytreetops.com
RELATED: 60 Outdoor Adventures Around Dallas-Fort Worth
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures
Really want to fly? Take a drive to Lake Travis to soar on the longest and fastest zip line in Texas. During this 3-hour zip tour you’ll glide across five zip lines, including a 2800-foot-long line where you’ll reach speeds of 65 miles-per-hour. The experience includes a boat ride, hike and time to rest and relax on the private lakefront property. Note that in order to take a ride at this Austin-area park, you must weigh at least 70 pounds.
14529 Pocohontas Trail, Leander
512/614-1996
ziplaketravis.com
Zip Lost Pines
If your kiddo weighs in at least 50 pounds, you can have high-flying fun at this zip line park southeast outside of Austin. They don’t have an age requirement, beyond that kids under 16 must be with an adult, but all riders also must weigh between 50 and 250 pounds. But it’s worth coming here for the zip line under the stars during a sunset/nighttime tour.
1760 State Highway 71 West, Cedar Creek
512/761-2323
ziplostpines.com
Rugaru Adventures
If you’re north of the border in Oklahoma, seek out this attraction Broken Bow, Oklahoma. There’s also a 70-pound minimum for zip line fliers at Rugaru Adventures, but it takes you through the forest canopy and over Broken Bow Lake for quite the view.
2658 Stevens Gap Road, Broken Bow
580/494-2947
rugaruadventures.com
Top image courtesy of Go Ape USA
