Hot Springs is one of Arkansas’ busiest areas for tourism. It is well-known for it’s historic downtown National Park area as well as Oaklawn Park Horse Racing and Casino. It is also an outdoors paradise. With three recreational lakes, several floating rivers, and lots of hiking and biking trails, there is plenty here for outdoors lovers. Did you know there is also a zipline canopy tour here? That’s right. Ziplining at Adventureworks in Hot Springs is one more thing you can add to your agenda when visiting the state’s first National Park.
I first visited Adventureworks in 2015. Although I had been on a zipline before, I had never done a canopy tour like this. You might be asking, “what is a canopy tour?”. Well, it is a series of ziplines that takes riders from one tree or platform to another. These ziplines are raised high above the forest floor in the treetops, also known as the forest “canopy”. So you’re getting a tour of the forest…from the treetops. Cool, right? I thought it was cool enough to make a return visit. But this is more fun as a group activity. So I recruited my good friend Quentin May and his son Adrian to go fly through the trees at Adventureworks.
Directions
From the I-270 Bypass, southeast of Hot Springs, use the map below or navigate to this address: 1700 Shady Grove Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71901. From there, take the road into Catherine’s Landing RV Resort. You’ll actually go past the gatehouse/check-in shack and into the campground. Just past the clubhouse and pool, turn right. Follow the signs that say “Zip Lines”. The road will bend around to the right and you’ll eventually see a gravel parking lot on the left. That’s it. You should see the Adventureworks signs there.
What to Expect
Safety
Before any of the fun begins, the crew here first makes sure everyone is safe. After signing in, we were lead to the equipment tent where we were fitted for harnesses and helmets. Our guides, Braxton and Garret, showed us how get into and adjust our harnesses. Then they went over some ground rules. And lastly, some instructions on how to leave the platform and more importantly, how to land on the next one.
The harness has leg loops and shoulder loops, so body weight is evenly distributed across the harness. It is snug but not uncomfortable. Don’t worry, there’s no chance you’ll fall out of it. It has a main pulley that attaches to the zipline. Then there is a safety tether rope that clips to the zipline as an extra precaution. When you are on the top of each platform, you are tethered off until your harness is securely clipped to the zipline. So if you’re worried about falling off the platform or zipline, don’t. You’re not falling off this thing.
Zipline Canopy Tour
The zipline canopy tour consists of ten ziplines of various lengths and heights. Some are less than 100 yards, while others are several hundred yards long. Some are only 20-30 ft off the ground, while others are nearly 100 ft off the ground. And then some start off not so high, but get higher when the ground drops below you as you fly across a valley. The ziplines will take you through the trees, over valleys and creeks. And one line takes you over a long stretch of a deep creek. If you get enough bounce in the line, you can dip your foot in it as you fly by.
There is a short walk between ziplines. And each new zipline usually means walking up a flight of stairs. In some cases, several flights of stairs. And there is one segment between ziplines that’s a pretty good uphill hike. It’s not bad, but I’m telling you this in case anyone has issues with walking up stairs or hills. There are some drinking water stations along the way to quench your thirst. And our guides had plenty of funny stories and kept us entertained in between ziplines. I thought the guides here were really great. Along with ensuring your safety, they are engaging and fun, and make sure everyone has a good time. To get a look at what it’s like to fly through the treetops, check out the video below. We even have the ZIP CAM for you to ride along a few ziplines.
Aerial Adventure
There is more than just ziplining at Adventureworks. They also have a Treetop Aerial Adventure Course. This is a new addition since my last trip. The Treetop Aerial Adventure is kind of like an obstacle course in the treetops. It consists of 16 elements, including swinging bridges, hanging vines, cargo nets, and other challenges. I wasn’t aware of it until we got there, so I didn’t plan enough time to do it. But it’s definitely worth mentioning here. And I’m sure I’ll be back one day to do this part.
Plan Your Trip
If you’re planning to go ziplining at Adventureworks in Hot Springs, there are a few things you need to know. First, it’s best to make a reservation. Typically, tours start every 30 minutes. And yes, there is a chance that you can show up and walk on. But there’s also a chance that large groups will be there and the whole schedule will be full. So reserve online or call ahead. The next thing is, wear sturdy shoes. Don’t wear flip-flops or anything that will fall off your feet. You’ll also do a bit of hiking, so make sure your shoes are comfortable for that. Finally, leave your phone in your car or make sure it can be secured in your pocket.
The zipline canopy tour takes around an hour and a half to complete. Both the canopy tour and the Aerial Adventure have a recommended weight limit of 250 pounds. But I recommend calling them to see how much wiggle room there is with that. If you’re looking for another activity to fill out your day, there is a nice easy waterfall hike at nearby Lake Catherine State Park. There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Hot Springs. But if you want to get outside for something different, give Adventureworks a look.
