Five adventures for the zipline enthusiast around Colorado

Ready for an adventure? For those looking for an adrenaline-driven challenge, ziplining is sure to get your heart racing. Careen downward over hills and canyons, seeing nearby mountains and forests zipping by, feeling like you are free-falling on an incline toward your eventual stop.

Ziplines are not one size fits all. There are many types available for the adventure seeker. Try out one of these if you dare.

Get a bird’s eye view of the Royal Gorge plateau or the Arizona river when you take one of two zipline adventures offered at Royal Gorge Zipline Tours. Which zipline tour you take depends on your ability and what you want to see. Each tour has a half-day and full-day option.

The 11-line tour over the river includes a hike the equivalent of 10 flights of stairs and speeds of 55 to 60 mph. The highest speed comes at 1,700 feet high. To finish, you can Flightline Free Fall 30 feet or choose the True Blue belay used by firefighters and military tactical teams. This tour is okay for age 13 and up in average physical condition who want a challenge.

The 9-line tour over the Royal Gorge plateau is less challenging, at only 45 mph with a hike the equivalent of four flights of stairs and a height of only 50 feet. It ends with two side-by side racing lines. This tour accommodates those under 12.

Ready to unleash your inner Indiana Jones? Then your choice may be to take on the challenge of Soaring Adventure ziplines. The historic Broadmoor Resort offers this unique experience as one of their amenities. Located in South Cheyenne Canyon, Soaring Adventure allows you to carefully cross suspension bridges high above the beautiful landscape below and climb up scenic trails before rushing down 250 to 1,800 feet. Take in great views of the Seven Falls and the canyon beneath you. They have 10 ziplines available over two courses: The Woods Course and The Fins Course (which includes a 180-foot rappel to the canyon floor at the end). You can also do a combination of the two courses, which is the ultimate experience. All courses include five ziplines that get progressively longer. That tour is four hours versus three hours. Ready to experience “The Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado?” Visit http://www.broadmoor.com/adventures/soaring-adventure.

Along with white water rafting, backpacking, fishing and other experiences available at Noah’s Ark in Browns Canyon, they also have an Aerial Park where you can take one of seven ziplines. Here you can climb across high rope bridges (66 elements in all), get a thrill in a giant swing and more. It is good for the whole family, but kids must be at least 7 years old. When you are racing down the zipline, you can get a great view of the area below. Noah’s Ark is located on the banks of the Arkansas River and it overlooks the Collegiate Peaks. For night owls, they have a Glow in the Park Adventure, where you can experience the fun at night on a lit-up course. Ask about their packages combining ziplining with other experiences. Ready to take a leap of faith and jump into the fun? Visit www.noahsark.com/aerial-park.html.

Prepared to get your heart racing? Try the ziplines at Denver Adventures. Located in the Rocky Mountains only a half hour away from Denver, these are the longest ziplines in the state, ranging from 850 to 1,900 feet. Here you can careen down at speeds up to 60 mph from a height of more than 250 feet. They have six different ziplines. Depending on your choice, your adventure could run 1 ½ to 2 hours or up to 4 hours. Bring the little ones along, but they have to be at least 5 years old. They also have sunset adventures if you want a whole new perspective. When you are done for the day, grab a tasty brew and a snack at the nearby Colorado’s Best Beers. They also have axe throwing there. Ask about the Zip & Sip package. Up for the challenge? Visit https://denveradventures.com/zipline for more information.

Ready to soar like an eagle? Head to Manitou Springs and experience the zipline course at Adventures Out West. Perched  on top of Gregory Gulch, this adventure is for extreme zipline enthusiasts, as their elevation is at more than 6,500 feet with ziplines as long as 225 to 650 feet. Their highest line is 130 feet up. It provides a great view, as it is located at the foot of Pikes Peak. Strike a pose while gliding over the canyon below. You don’t need to do a lot of climbing here, just jumping from cliff to cliff. There are short nature hikes in between, however. Instead of using artificial platforms, they use cliffs and forests for a real au naturale experience. Bring the whole family, but kids must be at least 6 years old. Come during the summertime for a package which includes a campfire. Find out more at https://advoutwest.com/ziplines.