Canopy Zip Line Tours – High Wired for Adventure!

Visit the Zip Line and Ropes Challenge Course built for C Lazy U Ranch by Adventure Más.

Click here to visit Timberquest at Magic Mountain, VT, an Aerial Adventure Park and Zip Line built by Adventure Más, Summer 2012.

Welcome to our Canopy Zip Line Tours division, Zip Trip Tours™. Thank you for visiting our site to learn more about our company and the services we provide, and the zip line industry. If you have further questions and would like to discuss the prospect of building a zip line on your site, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.

Zip line courses are a new trend in the adventure industry, offering an exciting, thrilling, money making business opportunity for entrepreneurs or established organizations that want to offer the public a high-flying, affordable adventure. Some courses average upwards of 15,000 to 40,000 participants on an annual basis, and these numbers are increasing.

We believe that Adventure Más is uniquely qualified to build you a quality, handcrafted, thrill-filled, high-anxiety, zip line installation!

  • We are an award-winning, peer-reviewed, adventure-based company with more than 35 years experience in the industry.
  • We began our careers in adventure-based, experiential education by directing programs in schools and other organizations, giving us a rare insight into the problems and financial concerns facing our clients. In other words, we’ve stood in your shoes!
  • Adventure Más has built courses all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and internationally, which means we are intimately familiar with the latest national and international industry trends.
  • We excel in craftsmanship, training and risk-management/safety services and are members of multiple professional organizations. At this time, we are the only company in our industry that is a member of all three industry associations. We are a board member of the Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA) and a PRCA-accredited vendor, an associate member of the Association of Challenge Course Technol­ogy (ACCT), a member of the European Ropes Course Association (ERCA) and a former assessor for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in their Certificate Accreditation Program. As a member of these organizations, we stay current with all building and training safety practices.
  • We have an impeccable safety record, with no accidents since our company’s inception. Our comprehensive liability insurance policy, valued at $2 million, covers construction, equipment, training and annual safety inspections. The policy complies with all local and federal safety regulations for our industry.
  • We offer customized designs based on your specific market, the programming desired and the site utilized. We also build zip lines and custom-designed tree houses for private individuals.

Innovative Zip Line Courses – Out-of-the-Tree Solutions!

Adventure Más Specializes in Canyon-to-Canyon Zip Line Courses with Ground Landings, as well as Hill-to-Hill and Pole-to-Pole Courses.

We are experienced in constructing zip lines using ground-based sending and receiving sites anchored from canyon walls, hills, poles, wooden structures such as towers and of course trees. The canyon-to-canyon and hill-to-hill zip line experience is just as exciting, plus you have the bonus of not having to climb a tree to get altitude because you are crossing a naturally occurring expanse. On a commercial site, this could amount to significant savings in construction costs because the platforms are minimal and don’t need to be built in the air. We can also build contemporary, quality ground platforms and long-lasting, faux stone (concrete) ground areas which help to prevent erosion.

Our experience building zip line courses in a variety of natural settings has resulted in the design of creative, cost-saving courses and out-of-the-tree solutions for our clients. The result is an exciting zip line adventure using the resources available for this type of terrain.

Specialized Services

  • Site Visit and Evaluation of Location
  • Feasibility Study
  • Guidance for Obtaining Permits
  • Site Layout and Design
  • Planning and Design of Reception Center
  • Park Roads and Access
  • Preparation of Building Site, such as Tree Pruning and Preparing Pathways
  • Delivery of Building Materials and Equipment
  • Business Plan and Forecasting of Revenue
  • Insurance and Liability Concerns
  • Construction of Canopy Zip Line Tour
  • Course Testing of Materials Installed
  • Staffing Advice
  • Staff and Guide Training
  • Operations Manual Development
  • Zip Line Equipment Sales
  • Marketing and PR Strategies
  • Staff and Operations Evaluation
  • Use of Special Events and Team Building to Increase Attendance
  • Ongoing Maintenance Programs
  • Annual Canopy Zip Line Tour Inspection

Construction

Adventure Más exceeds industry standards when it comes to construction and materials. Although the aesthetics of your course and zip line platforms are important, we take great care in the engineering of our structures. Our station-to-station platforms are installed at the beginning and end of each tree by a noninvasive system designed to protect the trees from harm. Other protective devices are carefully constructed to prevent cables from cutting into the bark.

We offer many choices in materials that are specific to your climate and usage that can also be custom-adapted. Equipment is selected to have a minimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs., but often we exceed this standard. We work very closely with our manufacturers to custom-design equipment when the need arises. It is selected to be user-friendly, yet practical and durable.

Our design team has international experience, which has exposed them to many varieties of canopy zip line tours not seen before in the United States. We use this knowledge to assist you in making the right choice, based on your environment, budget and goals. Zip line courses can cost between $15,000 to $500,000, depending on the size and number of zips and platforms, training of staff, equipment, materials chosen and difficulty in accessing your site.

Innovative Equipment

Adventure Más prides itself on using the newest, safest cutting-edge devices:

  • Gripple™ Movable Connection Device: 94% of full cable strength when applied.
  • Spike Grid Timber Connectors: Helps with the connection and shear loading of the wood platforms. It reduces the shear load of the platforms by increasing friction, preventing platform supports from sagging over time.
  • The RodeoStop™: A vertical ascent, self-belay fall arrest, with state-of-the-art materials and practices for use in the design, construction and installation of your canopy zip line tour. Adventure Más is the Exclusive Distributorship agent for sales of the RodeoStop device and all materials necessary for its operations in the whole of North America (Canada, United States and Mexico). Anyone in North America constructing a canopy zip line tour who wants to purchase the RodeoStop, can purchase this device at retail rates from Adventure Más.

All zip line platforms, constructed by Adventure Más, have been approved by and stamped by a licensed structural engineer.

Our staff constantly keeps abreast of the newest innovations for the industry and includes experts in:

  • Usable and marketable canopy zip line tour design
  • The building, installation and maintenance of canopy zip line tours
  • Fall protection
  • Risk-management
  • Research and the coordinated development of safety devices for the industry

Green Materials and Practices

We believe that “being green” is more than providing our clients with environmentally sound materials. It is also about superior construction practices and careful planning in order to minimize waste. As a practice, Adventure Más offers the following:

  • Lumber and utility poles purchased from certified, sustainable forests
  • Specialty hardware of the highest environmental standard
  • Environmentally beneficial and durable building materials
  • Metal materials recycled
  • Sites designed to minimize environmental impact
  • Low-maintenance, low water, ecologically balanced landscape design if possible

Site Visit and Evaluation

A site evaluation is one of the first steps you should take when determining whether to build a zip line course. A typical evaluation with Adventure Más can be completed over a period of one to two days.

Inspections

Adventure Más offers annual safety inspections to satisfy your risk-management and liability concerns. We also teach four levels of safety inspection that meet Adventure Más Operations Standards.

  1. Annual or Bi-Annual Complete Zip Line Course Inspection: The entire course and equipment are inspected by Adventure Más. The cost of an annual inspection varies depending on the number of days onsite and how many minor repairs are needed.
  2. Weekly Complete Zip Line Course Inspection: The entire course and equipment are inspected by the course manager. This is part of the training curriculum provided by Adventure Más and part of the periodic ongoing training.
  3. Daily Complete Zip Line Course Inspection: The courses and equipment to be used are inspected at the beginning of each day by the instructors. This is part of the training curriculum provided by Adventure Más and part of the periodic ongoing training.
  4. Ongoing Zip Line Course Inspection: As the instructors begin the zip process with their clients, they are constantly inspecting and monitoring the course as they traverse it. This is part of the training curriculum provided by Adventure Más and part of the periodic ongoing training.

Safety Training Program

A safe and successful canopy zip line tour business is only as good as the people that operate it.

Although a minimum of 40 hours in safety training is required by the industry, Adventure Más offers its clients the option of a comprehensive 80-hour training program. It’s one of the many ways we invest in the success of your company. Other ways we can support your business are by customizing our safety trainings to meet the specific goals of your tour, environment and budget. We use effective hands-on experiential education techniques, which we have taught for more than 35 years, to teach your staff problem-solving, competence, and intrapersonal and communication skills. Our in-the-field years as practitioners in education, psychiatric and mental healthcare have given us a unique set of skills that we are able to share with your staff. In addition, our experience in risk-management will be of great use when considering the liability of building and operating your course.

Adventure Más Zip Line Training Program Includes:

  • Adventure and Experiential Education Philosophy
  • Personal Equipment, such as Helmets, Hardware and Harnesses
  • Zip Course Materials, such as Cables, Fixed Hardware and Pulleys
  • Instructor, Guide, and Facilitation Skills
  • Guide Training Techniques, which include Shadowing, Co-Instructing,
    and 360 Degree Feedback Survey, and Instructor Skills Verification
  • Eco-Goals; Stewardship of the Land and Environment
  • Forestry Skills
  • Standard Operations Procedures
  • Risk-Management, Liability Concerns
  • Emergency Plans
  • Accident Prevention
  • Safety Briefings and Instructor Presentation Skills
  • Ropes Skills, such as Belaying, Rappelling, Knots and Climbing Techniques
  • Procedures for Different Populations such as Youth-Adult, Groups and Special Needs
  • Rescue Techniques on Zip Line Cables and Structures
  • Zip Line Inspections
  • Course Record Keeping and Equipment
  • Effective Group Leadership Skills
  • Staff Hospitality Skills
  • Zip Line Canopy Tours Sequencing, Time Management and Program Delivery
  • Zip Line Daily Maintenance and On-Going Maintenance
  • Ongoing Quality Assurance ToolsThe Adventure Más Ecological Goal

Our ecological goal is to operate in a fashion that has a low impact on the land, to support and participate in conservation efforts, and to contribute in financially meaningful ways to the preservation of the natural environment and our local community.

Types of Canopy Zip Line Tour Courses

By definition, a canopy zip line tour/course is comprised of two or more zip lines, installed in various formats, with lengths usually longer than 400 feet (122 meters). Zip lines can utilize existing trees at your site and/or be built on utility poles, steel structures, buildings or other natural features at your location. Tours will typically move participants in groups along a course rather than just individuals.

Adventure Más offers several options when considering zip line installations. The following is a list of the most common types of canopy zip line tours/courses:

The Eco-Canopy Zip Line Tour

A Canopy Zip Line Tour is a new and growing trend in the adventure field, which utilizes much of the same equipment and hardware as ropes challenge courses. Zip line tours are unlike traditional ropes challenge courses located at a summer camp or university. They consist of hikes or ecology tours, with zip-line elements incorporated along the trail or course. Interpretive signs may be added on the various elements at each station, which inform participants about the local history or nature such as indigenous plant life or native wildlife. They offer the public a unique opportunity to mix adventure with exploration in areas that are typically inaccessible. They are one of the most popular eco-tourist attractions.

Ground Landing Zip Lines

Ground landing zip lines are typically longer, faster and full of thrills, and constructed of tower-to-ground or ground-to-ground installations. Topography and terrain that will enable this type of zip line is critical. Back-up braking will most likely be required for a ground landing, speed-seeking zip adventure.

Gravity-Brake Zip Lines

This type of zip line is a slower-paced experience. Participants are fitted with their own cable and typically proceed unencumbered along the zip line. These types of zip lines may be built over a body of water, in the canopy or over a canyon where participants can experience the beauty of the terrain.

Mechanical Braking Zip Lines

Mechanical braking zip lines are typically built to provide the participant with a fast-paced, thrilling, zip line experience. These systems are helpful on long zip lines where weather, wind and a variety of naturally occurring factors can interfere with the speed of descent. There are many options for controlling your costs for high-speed descents, such as the installation of spring compression systems or the use of bungee brakes.

Belly-Brake Zip Lines (used in ropes challenge course and camp settings)

Belly-brake zip lines are among the least expensive type of zip lines to construct. They can be installed on level ground with modest anchors. They generally begin from a tree or utility pole and may run a few hundred feet to another tree or pole. The participant typically zips to the end of the cable and gently settles to the lowest point. This type of zip line is often installed as a means to exit a ropes challenge course or climbing tower.