ZIPPITY DO DA: COLORADO’S NATURAL BEAUTY BEST SEEN FROM SOARING HIGH ABOVE
Denver (April 29, 2013) – As summer approaches in Colorado, visitors can take to the skies for the best views of the state. Colorado is home to 15 zip line attractions with more coming online this summer. Colorado’s zip lines take visitors high above churning white water rivers, over 300 year-old Ponderosa pine trees, across forests and canyons and through backcountry wilderness. Following are Colorado’s diverse mix of zip line experiences. For additional information on Colorado visit www.COLORADO.com.
§ AVA’s Zip Line Tours (800-370-0581) in Buena Vista offers a seven zip line course over 44 acres with the Arkansas River and the Collegiate Peaks as the ultimate backdrop. AVA’s Idaho Springs location, just 30 miles outside of Denver, offers a zip line over nine acres. In both locations, visitors can double their fun and combine a zip line tour with a whitewater rafting trip, seeing the best of Colorado from the water and the sky. Half day zip line tours start at $79 per person for adults and $69 per person for children 10-12 years of age.
§ The Bat-A-Pult (719-685-5444) in Manitou Springs features an epic, 1,200-foot round trip aerial ride across Williams Canyon. The experience begins as two riders board the Bat-A-Pult, leaving from its perch at the edge of Williams Canyon and zipping across the canyon at heights of up to 100 feet and speeds of nearly 30 mph. Unlike some zip lines, the Bat-A-Pult remains open between dusk and nightfall, so riders can experience ‘night flight’ just like a bat. Cost is $15 per person.
§ Captain Zip Line's Lost Canyon Zip Line Tours (877-ZIP LINE) in Salida was one of the first zip lines to debut in the country. Tours feature lines where riders can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, 100-200 feet above the canyon floor. The tours combine adventure with the area's rich past, steeped in mining and Wild West history. Visitors take short hikes between the platforms overlooking rocky cliffs, lime kiln ruins, and abandoned silver mine shafts dating back to the 1800s. Moonlight tours featuring campfires and s’mores can be arranged during full moon periods. Rates are $89 per person.
§ Colorado Zip Line Adventures (970-926-9470) in Avon boasts six different zip lines, with some as high as 200 feet in the air and more than 1,000 feet in length, offering unbeatable views of the Vail Valley. The tour takes approximately two and a half to three hours and is available June 16 through December 1. Cost is $150 per person and includes all safety gear, water and snacks.
§ Crested Butte Zip Line Canopy Tour (970-349-2211) at Crested Butte Mountain Resort features five zip lines ranging in length from 120 - 400 feet connected by features (or “events”) that include wooden suspension bridges and massive platforms. The zip line is open summer, fall and winter. Five-day advance purchase is $56 per person and $59 per person at the window.
§ Denver Zip Line Tours (303-984-6151) in Golden is one of the closest zip lines to Denver, located in a Rocky Mountain pine forest, and includes Colorado’s fastest and longest zip lines, taking travelers at speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour, 200 feet in the air for 6,000 feet. Cost is $89 per person for the 4-Zip line Adventure, which lasts approximately four hours. Open year round.
§ Full Blast Zip Line Canopy Tour (970-759-9880) in Durango is located just a mile from the downtown area and offers a zip line course that runs through massive timber towers and Ponderosa pine trees. The Ponderosa Zip Line Tour lasts two hours and includes all safety gear, refreshments and snacks. The company also offers Night Flight, which start at sunset and provides guests with a unique perspective. Headlamps and glowing bracelets are included for the Night Flight. Rates for the Ponderosa and Night Flight are $149 per person.
§ Glenwood Canyon Zip Line Adventures (888-494-7386) in Glenwood Springs allows visitors to soar across the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon on zip lines 350 feet in the air. The attraction features three separate zip lines as well as several other elements including a high ropes challenge course and a 40-foot rock wall. Rates are $83 per person.
§ The High Lonesome Zip Line (970-726-5632) debuts on May 26, 2013 at Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa in Tabernash. The attraction mixes adventure, historical overviews, and adrenaline pumping fun on five zip lines, ranging from 370 to 1,600 feet in length and 28 to 78 feet high, reaching speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. The full tour includes 3,900 feet of awe-inspiring views and short hiking journeys that include stories and overviews of the ranch’s Western and Nordic history. A full tour costs $90 per person (three rider minimum) and one zip line tour costs $35 per person (five rider minimum).
§ Idaho Springs Colorado Canopy Zip Line (888-494-7386) boasts one of the longest and highest courses in Colorado. The 3,000 foot zip line in Clear Creek Canyon includes five towers reaching up to 65 feet. Riders travel above the treetops and zig-zag over the rushing Clear Creek River three times while enjoying amazing views of the surrounding mountains, canyons, and river below. Mix up your adventure with a double zip or even nighttime zip lining. Rates run from $79 - $119 depending on the type of zip you choose.
§ Purgatory Plunge (970-247-9000) at Purgatory Durango Mountain Resort, so named for the sensation of “plunging” off of a massive tower, allows the visitor to experience vertical and horizontal motion. Two zip lines run for more than the length of a football field at speeds in excess of 35 mph, over the resort’s Bear Bar and “Purgatory Beach.”
§ Royal Gorge Zip Line Tours (719-275-7238) in Canon City boasts 20 different zip lines on two distinct courses, and features nine different zip lines that travel more than a mile in the air. The Double Black Diamond Course offers 11 lines covering one and a half miles of cable, finishing with a seven-story rappel at the finish. Classic zip line tour is $89 per person
§ The Soaring Eagle Zip Line (888-333-5597) at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park in Canon City is the highest zip line in the world, sitting 1,000 feet above the churning Arkansas River below. Two zip lines carry two riders across the entire span of the Royal Gorge at speeds of approximately 35 miles per hour. Open from March through October. The High Altitude package costs $60 and includes gate admission, zip line and SkyCoaster attraction.
§ Top of the Rockies Zip Line (970-668-5323) is located minutes away from all major ski areas and only 90 minutes from Metro Denver. Open year-round, the property is home to herds of elk, deer, and other Colorado wildlife. Snow Cats and Ranger Cats transport guests up almost 1,000 vertical feet from the Base Camp to platforms starting at 11,200 feet above sea level. Riders can zip side by side on dual lines as they glide along the Continental Divide passing over beautiful scenic landscapes and the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad.
§ Soaring Tree Top Adventures (970-769-2357) in Durango is the longest and safest zip line course available, with 24 unique zip lines ranging from 56 to 1,400 feet long, that pass through pristine old-growth alpine forest and across the Animas River. This all-day activity includes a four-course gourmet lunch served in the trees and an eco-tour. The only way to access the zip line is via the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, so getting there is truly half the fun. The all-inclusive cost is $449 per person, which includes round-trip, first class train transportation in private luxury cars, full day of Soaring, four-course epicurean lunch, eco-tour, and all equipment.
§ Vail Mountain Adventure Ridge (970-754-4380) is set to debut a four-line, 1,200-foot long zip line mid-summer, in addition to two aerial challenge courses, a 40-foot climbing wall and “summer tubing” on the same hill used for snow tubing. The aerial courses will feature three levels of elements including ladders, rope bridges, swinging logs, cargo nets and more. The new additions come as Vail Mountain continues its 50th Anniversary celebration throughout 2013.
§ Zip Adventures of Vail (970-926-9470) offers a graduating progression of six diverse ground-to-ground zip lines, ranging up to 1,000 feet in length and 250 feet high. The adventure begins as guests are transported to the zip line course via Pinzgauers: six-wheel drive, open air, all-terrain vehicles. Then with the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains and lush valleys serving as the backdrop, zip liners can enjoy the progression of zip lines, from “The Bunny Hill” to “What Was I Thinking” and its spectacular aircraft carrier landing. Cost is $150 per person (all ages).
Weight minimum and maximum limits – generally between 60 and 275 pounds – and height and/or age requirements, will vary from operator to operator. Some zip lines are open year-round and some have annual opening and closing dates. Reservations are also generally recommended. Please refer to each individual company website for specific requirements and information.
ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and 26 renowned ski areas and resorts. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of seven major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, 13 national parks and monuments, and 58 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the 2013 Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, visit www.COLORADO.com or call 1-800-COLORADO. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at www.COLORADO.com/media-room. Follow Colorado on Twitter at www.twitter.com/colorado or Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitcolorado.
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