Hike Through The Trees At These 11 Incredible Canopy Walks Across America
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Sarah McCosham
Author
There’s something magical about trees. Wandering through a forest, surrounded by a lush tree canopy, the tall, towering giants simultaneously grounding and aspirational. We’re all for tried-and-true treks in nature, and the U.S. has some of the top hiking trails in the world. But for those looking to truly immerse themselves in the forest, it’s best to take your adventures higher. Canopy walks are man-made footpaths designed to work in harmony with their surroundings. Often constructed around old-growth giants and between sprawling branches and trunks, these treetop treks offer an experience in nature that’s truly unrivaled. Below you’ll find some of the most incredible aerial adventures in America.
Mount Hermon Adventures, 17 Conference Dr, Felton, CA 95018, USA
There's no place in the world that compares to Northern California's redwood forests, and on a canopy tour with Mount Hermon Adventures, you'll have the unique opportunity to wander these ancient forests -- from 30 to 80 feet up in the air! The adventure outfitter offers a mix of zip line tours and aerial adventure courses, ensuring the perfect treetop trek for everyone. The Aerial Adventure allows participants to explore the redwood forest in a series of obstacle courses set high in the trees. There are all sorts of next-level elements to these courses, but the main attraction here is, of course, the canopy walk. There's something truly amazing about walking among the giant redwoods at these incredible heights, and it's something you'll carry with you long after completing the course.
Leach Botanical Garden, 6704 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97236, USA
Leach Botanical Garden - Oregon
Forests are a place for healing and reflection, and Leach Botanical Garden has long been an urban escape for Portlanders. The park's grounds are the former estate of John and Lilla Leach, devoted botanists who, in the 1930s, built the Manor House and began work on the eponymous gardens. Today, the 16-acre park offers visitors a refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city -- and life -- as well as the unique opportunity to traipse among the treetops. The aerial tree walk was literally constructed around the trees, seamlessly blending in with the forest surroundings, for an immersive experience that's truly unrivaled.
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Arbor Day Farm, Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE, USA
Did you know Nebraska is where Arbor Day began? It's true! And you can experience that legacy at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City. This 260-acre farm includes the 140-room Lied Lodge, Apple House Market, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, and the one-of-a-kind canopy walk that might be the most marvelously unexpected attraction in Nebraska. The Tree House Trail is where the Tree Adventure begins; you'll pass by numerous immersive play areas on the way to the Treetop Village, and we highly recommend taking the time to explore them all. The canopy walk, meanwhile, is the only one of its kind in the entire country. It spans more than three acres and passes 11 unique treehouses along the way, each offering a different arboreal aspect. And since Arbor Day Farm is full of gorgeous trees, there's no shortage of sights at which to marvel.
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Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain, 2339 US-65, Walnut Shade, MO 65771, USA
Those looking for a "world class eco-adventure" need only visit Missouri. For it's here where you'll find Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain, a one-of-a-kind adventure park with one of the best canopy walks in the country. Ozark Explorer is Branson's most scenic zip line tour and gives flyers a little taste of everything. The tour features seven zip lines and 10 sky bridges, and lasts between 1-2 hours. This is most definitely an aerial adventure for adrenaline junkies and those not afraid of heights, but the scenic rewards and once-in-a-lifetime thrills make it an opportunity worth seeking out!
Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures, N3232 Co Rd H, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA
Spanning 100 acres in one of the most objectively beautiful regions of Wisconsin, Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures boasts several opportunities for high-flying fun, including a zip line canopy tour and a high ropes course. Both options offer incredible excitement and experiences, along with the opportunity to take in Lake Geneva’s natural beauty from a perspective normally reserved for the birds. For this reason, this canopy walk is especially popular in the autumn, when fall foliage sweeps across the Dairy State in a sublime and sensational explosion of color.
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Dow Place, Dow Pl, Saginaw, MI 48602, USA
Fun fact: the nation's longest canopy walk is in... Michigan! Dow Gardens is home to a 1,400-foot-long canopy walk that takes guests on an enchanting excursion through the treetops. Situated 40 feet above the ground, this amazing walk is the longest of its kind in the United States, a fact that, in and of itself, makes the attraction worth seeking out. Add in the scenic splendor of the Great Lakes State, however, and the experience is positively sublime. Whether snow is falling or leaves are changing, you’ll be enchanted at Dow Gardens, a place that's peak #PureMichigan.
The Holden Arboretum, 9550 Sperry Rd, Kirtland, OH 44094, USA
Another superlative canopy walk in the Midwest, Holden Arboretum is an Ohio treasure that features a treetops twofer: the Kalberer Emergent Tower and the Murch Canopy Walk. The tower is 120 feet tall (approximately 12 stories) and offers unparalleled views of the surrounding region. After admiring the views from above, venture *into* the trees on the 500-foot canopy walk. This magical, elevated walkway rises 65 feet above the forest floor. Walking across this unique bridge, you'll find yourself immersed in the mature forest of Northern Ohio, a place as close to Narnia as it gets.
Treetop Skywalk at Anakeesta, admission to Anakeesta required, 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738, USA
At a quarter of a mile long, the Treetop Skywalk at Anakeesta is the longest of its kind in North America; and, with 16 suspended bridges with 14 platforms suspended up to 60 feet in the air, it's quite literally an arboreal playground. Anakeesta is located on 70 acres of glorious Tennessee terrain, a mountainous and forest-filled region that's breathtakingly beautiful. A mountain coaster, challenging adventure course, and sky-high observation tower round out the experience, guaranteeing a bucket-list aerial adventure for all ages.
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Ramblewild Adventure Park, 110 Brodie Mountain Rd, Lanesborough, MA 01237, USA
There is a canopy walk in Massachusetts that will take you soaring through the treetops, no experience or wings needed! At Ramblewild, visitors can explore over 1,400 acres of gorgeous New England forest from a canopy walk or an exciting aerial ropes course. No need to be nervous, either; everything at this Massachusetts adventure park is perfectly safe, and the experience is open to tots as young as seven. You’ll start by taking a scenic drive to the canopy walk site. There, you’ll set off on your aerial adventure: high wires, zip lines, balancing logs, rope ladders, cargo nets, suspended bridges -- the sky is quite literally the limit! Of course, you can opt to simply stroll along the 200-foot suspension bridge high above a gurgling stream, and this experience is no less bucket-list worthy than the adrenaline-pumping options. With so many different adventures, Ramblewild is perhaps the best all-around canopy walk in the country.
Vermont Institute of Natural Science Forest Canopy Walk - Vermont
Vermont is known for its lush and abundant foliage, and there is perhaps no better place to revel in this natural paradise than the Forest Canopy Walk in Vermont Institute of Natural Science. Located on 47 forested acres in Quechee, Vermont, this ADA-compliant canopy walk allows people to gain elevation without the need for stairs or steep ramps. Because the land drops in elevation as it slopes toward the backwater of the Ottauquechee River, the boardwalk remains relatively level while the land magically drops away beneath. At the highest points, visitors are over 50 feet above the forest floor, getting eye-to-eye with the delightful flora and fauna of the Green Mountain State.
Hawaii Forest & Trail Kona Headquarters, 73-5593 A, 73-5593 Olowalu St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
There's simply nowhere more beautiful in the world than Hawaii. With its diverse flora and fauna, as well as myriad biomes and terrains, the Aloha State has peak canopy walk conditions. As the only full canopy tour on Hawaii Island, the Kohala Canopy Tour operated by
Hawaii Forest & Trail is certainly one-of-a-kind. Zip lines, canopy walks, and rappels make for quite the aerial adventure. While you might want to stay away if you’re wary of heights, this tour is a perfect activity for anyone who wants a little adventure in their life -- or just some incredible aerial views of the islands. In fact, for this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you might be tempted to conquer your fears!
“Into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.” John Muir said this, and it so perfectly sums up an experience in the natural world. Go and have a bucket-list-worthy adventure high in the treetops on one of these glorious canopy walks across America. It’s an experience sure to fill your bucket — and feed your soul.
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