by Christy Solo – Editor
Let’s get zippy!
This week we’ll explore three of Oregon’s zipline attractions, the three closest to our area.
Before we zip in, what is a zipline (Zip Line or ZipLine)? It’s a pulley suspended on a cable, usually made of stainless steel, mounted on a slope. It is designed to enable people to be propelled by gravity – AKA “zip” – from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable by holding on to, or being attached to, the freely moving pulley.
Our first zipline attraction is just a hop, skip and a zip away. Rogue Valley ZipLine Adventures is right here in Central Point. The shuttle picks visitors up on Old Stage Rd. to begin their adventure of a lifetime.
Oh, and they are open year-round so you can book your reservation as soon as you’re done reading! Book here.
Not only is RV Zip super close, but it’s highly rated (nearly perfect Yelp reviews) and perfect for folks with all (or no) levels of ziplining experience.
The RV Zip tour has five different lines, each getting longer and higher so visitors build their confidence as they go along.
Not only is RV Zip close, but they have spectacular views, you can look over and down at the Table Rocks, get a very unique view of Mt. McLoughlin and you can even see the rim of Crater Lake.
A full tour will take between 2.5 and 3.5 hours for just the zipline tour.
Why “just?” Because come summertime, there’s more! If you want your summer houseguests to have the best day ever and brag about the amazing time they had visiting you – take them on the Zip, Dip and Sip tour. The ZDS is a full day, starting with ziplining, then some white water rafting down the Rouge and the day finishes up with wine tasting at Del Rio Vineyards. Sign me up!
Final fun fact about RV Zip: While they aren’t ADA “compliant” they are ADA “friendly”, this means they will do whatever they can to ensure anyone and everyone can zipline. Do call ahead (versus just making a reservation online) as special accommodations/instructors etc. will need to be lined up depending on your ADA needs.
Next up are the ziplines at the Out ‘n About Treesort in Cave Junction. In a previous All Things we explored all the various treehouses you can stay in but only mentioned the zipline in passing.
Like the RV Zip, the Treesort zipline is very highly rated. Of course part of that may be the bonus Tarzan Swing, which is “Take a big leap, swing from a rope, land in a net.” Visitors seem to like that as much or more than the actual ziplining. If you go, you’ll have to let us here at the URI know which you preferred!
The Treesort has a couple different zipline options. One features five ziplines and two sky bridges. The five lines go from easiest to most difficult ending with the “most thrilling” zipline the Big Dipper. This option is $120 per person.
For the big “OutBack” private tour you need to pay a base price of $800, that includes 4 people. So if you only have two friends, you’ll pay more per person. If you have a lot of friends or relations, you can have a group of up to eight people. It’s $100 per person over four once you’ve met the base price.
The big tour is five ziplines, five bridges and a repel at the end.
Whether you go big or small, the Tarzan swing is an extra $30 – which gets you two back-to-back swings.
Of course both tours come with a 30-minute orientation, they don’t just strap you in a harness and send you on your way! Safety is very important.
The Treesort and Treesort Ziplines are open year-round, though there is more risk of a weather-related cancellation in winter.
Learn more and make your reservation here.
Our last zippy spot is Crater Lake ZipLine, which is, in fact, on Hwy. 140 just at the edge of…Klamath Lake. As the crow flies it’s a teeny bit closer to Crater Lake than Rogue Valley ZipLines, but if you are expecting views of Crater Lake as you zipline over a pumice desert or past a Whitebark pine, nope.
This is not to say CL Zip isn’t in a stunning location, it is. That stunning location is just Klamath Lake.
As with our two other zipline adventure spots, CL Zip has excellent reviews. They also have kayak tours. Oh…and axe throwing!
Don’t panic. The axe throwing is completely separate from both the ziplining and the kayaking (unless that disappoints you, then…panic away, but know you probably shouldn’t be throwing any axes any time soon anyway).
While it’s a bit more of a drive to CL Zip, and you have to wait for spring because they are closed in winter, it’s worth it.
CL Zip offers two zipline adventures for adults and has an entire zipline adventure park for the kiddos. Prices for long zip, short zip and kiddy park are: $130, $105 and $55.
The longer trip (two-three hours) is 1.5 miles of zippiness, two sky bridges and two rappels. A bargain! You also get breathtaking views of the forest, Mt. McLoughlin (the other side!) and Upper Klamath Lake.
The shorter adventure (one to two hours) is four zips, two bridges and two rappels.
Or you can order yourself an adventure combo platter. No. Really. For a base price of $110 and four hours of your time you can pick a package or make your own by combining ziplining, kayaking, hiking and/or a UTV adventure.
Fun fact: The kayaks are crystal clear, you’ll get a picture perfect view of what lies below in Malone Springs or Spring Creek.
CL Zip also has food on site with wraps, nachos, rice bowls and quesadillas as well as a variety of beverages.
Peruse the options and make your spring or summer plans here.
