Traveling Ted is a blog that takes readers along on my adventures hiking, canoeing, skiing, and international backpacking. Many blogs focus on one aspect of backpacking, but I tackle both the outdoor adventure side and international exploration as well.

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Red River Gorge zipline tour

Guides Sam, Don, and Erica give us the low down on our Red River Gorge zipline tour

Red River Gorge Zipline Tour as a wake up

During a Mother’s Day excursion to Kentucky, I was fortunate to experience a Red River Gorge zipline adventure. I once wrote a piece about adventure travel activities that do not really appeal to me. Ziplining was one of the five I chose.

I was staying in a Red River Gorge Cabin Rental, and they have a zipline tour on site. It was too convenient to pass up. I had driven all night from Chicago, and it turned out to be a great way to wake up after a groggy morning.

Red River Gorge zipline tour

All strapped up and ready for my first zipline course

Getting geared up

I was geared up by guides Don, Sam, and Erica at the office and given the necessary straps and a helmet. The manager of the zipline offered a GoPro video camera to strap on to my helmet to augment this post. Once appropriately attired, we got in the truck and headed off to the course, which was no more than a mile from the office.

Red River Gorge zipline tour

The guides go over first – Our guide Don at zipline 1

Red River Gorge zipline course

The Red River Gorge zipline tour consists of five runs. Each run gets better than the one before it. The first two are rather short, but a great start, especially if like me, you have never done the activity before. The guides did a great job of keeping everything light with humor to deflect any nervous feeling participants might have had.

Red River Gorge zipline tour

The guides did a great job of keeping it light with humor

Don was especially hilarious, and I think he doubles as a standup comedian. I should have used my GoPro and just filmed his routine, and I would have made him an internet star.

The third zipline is when the course really starts to get interesting. It flies through a beautiful tree canopy. After spring rains, the Red River Gorge area was quite lush with a powerful green tree cover. I really enjoyed sailing through the forest and seeing it from a completely different perspective.

Zipline adventures Red River Gorge

A little time lapse zipline at course 3

Red River Gorge zipline tour Kentucky

Zipline through the forest at run number 3

Red River Gorge zipline tour

Flying through the woods at zipline 3

The fourth zipline is longest course at almost 2,000 feet in distance. You have to squint your eyes to see the other side. We climbed a high platform to get up to the cable. It was a little daunting starting so high, but Don cracked a few jokes and eased everyone’s apprehension.

Red River Gorge zipline adventure

Climb on the platform was a little daunting

Red River Gorge Zipline Tour

Race is on at course 4 on the Red River Gorge zipline tour

The fourth and fifth course had two lines, so you could race your partner and us zippers got over to the other side twice as fast. After four zips, I was completely energized. The wind hitting your face, laughing with Don, and just being out in the beautiful scenery was invigorating.

The last course was also long, but it was the highest above the trees as it traversed a canyon and ended up over a rocky cliff. We were instructed to turn right for a beautiful view. It was breathtaking as we saw distant hills covered in a verdant forest.

Red River Gorge ziplining

Two zippers take off as Erica gets the next tandem ready

Discovering that ziplining is a fun adventure

After over two hours zipping through the Red River Gorge, it was time to call it a day. A good time was definitely had by all. The answer to the question of why did the zippers cross the gorge was answered: to hear Don’s joke(s) of course.

As I mentioned at the start of this post, ziplining has never been a priority on my adventure travel agenda, yet I really enjoyed the experience and would do it again. If you are even mildly curious about the adventure, I believe you will enjoy it. If you have done ziplining and liked it elsewhere, I am sure you will love it here.

If you live in the Midwest, the south, or in the east, I highly recommend the course at the Red River Gorge. I have never been on another course, so I cannot compare it to other places; however, I am sure you would be hard pressed to find a more exciting five courses. They range from 330 feet in length to 2,000 feet and range from 75 to 300 feet off the ground.

The cost for the tour is $89.00 per person, and you can rent a GoPro for $39.00. The author had his experience sponsored by the zipline tour, but in no way did this fact color my opinion. I enjoyed it , and I think you will too.

Adventure on!

The goal of Traveling Ted is to inspire people to outdoor adventure travel and then provide tips on where and how to go. If you liked this post then enter your email in the box to get email notifications for each new entry. Daily travel photos are excluded from your email in order to not flood you with posts. There is no spam and email information will not be shared. Other e-follow options include Facebook (click on the like box to the right) or twitter (click on the pretty bird on the rainbow above).

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