High-Five

There is no shortage of activities for an adventure seeker in West Virginia. From whitewater rafting and rock climbing to backpacking and mountain biking, the state is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. While some adrenaline junkies may love the thrill of cascading down class 5 rapids at the New River Gorge, others may feel a propensity toward taking to the sky. There is much excitement to be found in the feeling of flying that comes along with zip lining, and West Virginia is host to many companies rising to the challenge of giving visitors a new perspective on the state’s beauty. These five zip lining companies will provide an epic adventure and a new angle to the Mountain State’s wild and wonderful natural beauty.

ACE Adventure Resort

Photo by ACE Adventure Resort.

Experience the only New River Gorge zip line tours with views of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. ACE Adventure Resort’s exciting and scenic course includes nine cliffside zips featuring dual cables that allow you to race your friends from platform to platform. The course also features two swinging sky bridges offering tree-top views of a scenic mountain stream and the Appalachian forest below. You’ll even catch glimpses of the historic ghost town of Thurmond along the way. Experience this incredible zip line journey during the day or at night—with your path lit only by a headlamp attached to your helmet. Tours run year-round, and the views only get better in the quiet season when the leaves drop from the trees.

Adventures on the Gorge

Photo by Adventures on the Gorge.

Adventures on the Gorge, located adjacent to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, offers zip lining adventures year-round. The TreeTops Canopy Tour provides an exciting and scenic look into an old-growth hemlock forest, transporting adventurers into a magical and wild place. On TreeTops, you’ll fly through 10 different zip lines, over a bubbling stream and across five swinging sky bridges. Your guides will provide all the zip lining know-how, but they’ll also teach you about the unique flora of the region. In the winter, you may experience snowy conditions, while fall brings incredible foliage and spring and summer offer bright greens. No matter the season, TreeTops provides beauty and fun.

As a bonus, you can feel good that a portion of your admission to the TreeTops Canopy Tour helps fund protective treatments for the beautiful hemlocks you’ll see along the way, which are currently endangered by invasive insects that can kill these majestic trees.

Grand Vue Adventures

Photo by Grand Vue Adventures.

Grand Vue Adventures is located within the beautiful Grand Vue Park in Marshall County, WV. Here, adventure seems endless. Overlooking the Ohio River Valley, the zip line tours and the Basecamp Adventure Park offer fun and thrills for guests of nearly all ages—plus incredible long-range views and exciting ways to experience the outdoors alongside friends, family, classmates or colleagues.

Grand Vue Adventures has eight different adventures to choose from offered within four different ticket types, as well as special packages for groups of all kinds. Choose from the Wild or Wonderful Zipline Tours, Basecamp Adventure Park or the 2,100-foot-long, side-by-side Dueling Yahoos Ziplines. Whether you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a memorable family vacation or something fun to do that is close to home, Grand Vue Adventures is a perfect choice—a destination that truly delivers.

Harpers Ferry Adventure Center

Photo by Harpers Ferry Adventure Center.

The Harpers Ferry Zipline Canopy Tour at Harpers Ferry Adventure Center is a three-hour spectacular, professionally guided Harpers Ferry zip line tour that answers your call for adventure. Zip through the treetops as you ride a network of eight zip lines—including the fan-favorite free fall rappel at the end—and navigate the adventure sky bridges towering above the forest floor. A new addition is an over-the-water river zip line. As you zip, take in the mesmerizing views of the Potomac River and Harpers Ferry Water Gap, and be sure to ask your tour guide about the local wildlife, trees, rock cliffs and history that surround you on your tour. Adventure elements on the Zipline Canopy Tour include eight zips from 200 feet to 1,000 feet in length, five belayed tandem ladder climbs, two adventure bridges and a 25-foot free fall rappel from the final platform.

River Expeditions

Photo by River Expeditions.

Step out of your comfort zone and take a ride on the wild side as you soar through the treetops. Experience zip lining near the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve with River Expeditions as your host. Thrill seekers meet nature lovers on this guided excursion for a rare perspective of the forest around them. This exhilarating journey features a cargo net climb to begin the course, followed by a series of zip lines and a sky bridge to traverse. Test your nerves while descending the final platform by rappelling. All necessary equipment is provided, as well as a ground school initiation where you’ll learn course safety and instruction from the incredible guides. Breathe deeply and check this experience off your bucket list. All skill levels are welcome on this tour.