Overview
Zip, Rappel, & Explore Mountain Forests
West Virginia’s forests are one of the things that make West Virginia so special. West Virginia is ranked 3rd in the country in terms of tree coverage, and there’s no better way to experience the magic of West Virginia’s mountain forests than high up in the leafy canopy. This is the perfect adventure for those who want to feel the wind in their face, but who also enjoy learning about the flora of an area. Our knowledgeable guides will not only lead your adventure, but show you so much more about plants, wildlife, and more.
The TreeTops Canopy Tour gives you a taste of multiple adventures in two to three hours. After checking in with your guides, you’ll get outfitted with a harness, gloves, and helmet. A short walk will lead you to the entrance to our course, where you trip leader will conduct “Ground School” with a safety speech and demonstration of proper ziplining technique. Now, you’re ready to zip!
The tour starts on a ridge top, which gradually descends through a forest of oak, maple, and birch trees before settling at a beautiful stand of hemlock trees along Mill Creek. You’ll fly through the hemlocks on 10 different ziplines, make your way over five swinging sky bridges, admire Mother Nature during a couple of short hikes on the forest floor, and conclude the tour with a free-hanging, 35-foot rappel! You’ll even zipline over Mill Creek, where you can admire this free flowing stream from above.
This isn’t an ordinary zipline tour, however. The beauty of the old growth forest makes you feel as though you’ve been transported to a magical place. Your guides will teach you about the flora of the region, while pointing out various trees and their attributes. It’s adventure, but with a twist!
As a bonus, you can feel good that a portion of your admission to TreeTops Zipline 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.
The minimum ages for TreeTops is 10. Participants must weigh between 90 and 260 pounds.
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FAQ
Requirements and Limits
- The minimum age for this adventure is 10 years old.
- Participants must weigh 90-260 pounds.
- Participants must be of sound mind and body to perform specific safety tasks independently.
- All guests participating must fill out a waiver prior to your trip. Those under 18 will need assistance from a guardian when filling out their form.
- No alcoholic beverages, illicit drugs, or tobacco products are allowed while in our gear on our courses.
- We do not allow pregnant individuals on TreeTops Zipline Canopy Tour. Please consult your guide about any other medical conditions before you head out on the course. Few conditions ever keep individuals from going on this course, but it really helps the guides cater to specific needs.
- A moderate level of physical mobility is required for this course. Participants will be required to extend their arms and actively use their hands when steering and in proper zipline position.
- Individuals will also be required to perform their own hand braking on this course. Backup systems will be in place, but guests must prove a certain level of competence with hand braking to continue past our beginner zips.
What’s Included
We’ll provide expert safety instruction and all the necessary safety gear, including helmets, gloves, and harnesses. Your guides will carry a liter of water to split throughout the group, but its very important to hydrate ahead of time during the summer months.
What to Wear
Closed-toed shoes are required. The TreeTops harness has leg loops and shoulder straps, so wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move around in and would be comfortable under a harness. Skirts, dresses, and other loose-fitting clothing may get caught in our rigging and should not be worn for TreeTops. A rain jacket is a good idea if weather dictates. Tightly tie back long hair so it’s out of the way.
What to Bring
During hot summer months, you might want to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a full water bottle that can be safely clipped to your harness. Let your guide know if any specialized medical supplies need to be brought out on course throughout the adventure. We will have a safe spot for car keys, but valuables are best left in your cabin or vehicles.
Where to Meet
Trips will start and end at building number 8 on the Mill Creek side of campus. Arriving 15 minutes prior to your trip time for check-in really helps the flow of the trip.
Inclement Weather
Trips will continue even during periods of heavy rain, but trips will be halted in the case of lightning or heavy sustained winds around our course.
Trip Length
It all depends on the size of your group, but the trip generally takes 2-3 hours. This includes gear-up time, ground school, and a bus ride back to base after completion of the course.
Hours and Reservations
Reservations are strongly encouraged for the TreeTops Canopy Tour. Tours depart morning to evening and run rain or shine, but we’ll temporarily close the course during lightning storms or high winds. If we know in advance that we will be closing TreeTops, we'll try to contact you. If your tour is cancelled, we’ll offer you the option to participate in another activity, rebook for a different day or time, or be issued a rain check.
Safety
There is inherit risk in anything you do, and we aim to mitigate any risk involved with ziplining. All TreeTops trips will have two guides - one lead, one sweep who are highly trained in both safety standards and rescues. Before the tour begins, your guides will review the procedures and explain the hazards during a practice, ground-level zip at Ground School. On course, you will be double-clipped onto two steel cables, which are capable of supporting more than a ton of weight. TreeTops Zipline Canopy Tour was built by Bonsai Design, the premier zipline design and build company in America.
Can I watch my group zipline?
Onlookers will be able to observe participants at gear-up, ground school, and our first two ziplines. After that, the tour will descend towards inaccessible areas within our hemlock preserve.
What is ground school?
Ground school is where participants will learn all the do’s and don’ts of our zipline course. Guides will explain steering, braking(yes, you do this yourself), and any safety information to guests during this demonstration. Participants will be required to successfully demonstrate these skills before we begin the first zipline.
What if I am afraid of heights?
Once your tour begins you will be at heights of 30-100 feet for the entirety of the tour. You will be required to perform physical tasks on course while also navigating any mental fears. Our guides are highly trained in helping calm these fears and in most cases participates are able to successfully complete course.
What if I decide if I do not want to continue the course?
There will be an option to exit the course after the second beginner zip via our escape zip. This will require no effort on the guests part besides a short hike out of the forest back to base.