Top Places to Go Zip Lining in Michigan With Kids

Fly over the trees and through the woods with your family.

Is your family daring to be a little more adventurous? Somewhere between the thrill of a roller coaster at an amusement park and the pee-your-pants terror of skydiving is zip lining. And let us tell you, there’s nothing quite like flying above the ground and through the woods or city to give you and the kids the rush that any novice adrenaline junkie is seeking — with some great scenery to soak up, too.

If it sounds like the right amount of fun for your family, check out this list of the top places to go zip lining in Michigan. Some are local and others are better for weekend trips, but all promise treetop thrills for families in and around Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Note: For the safety of their guests, some parks enforce age, height, weight and other physical restrictions. Check with your chosen park for more information – and also to find out if reservations are required.

Allegan Event

  • Address: 439 River St., Allegan
  • Hours: Zipline is reserved some weekdays for groups only; open zipline hours are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday

Offers two 600-foot zip lines that take riders over the river and back again for a 20-minute experience. This spot also has an indoor aerial course and an outdoor free-fall simulation for the super daring.

Binder Park Zoo

Michigan families searching for a new high-flying adventure can soon visit the $2 million dollar ropes course making its way to the Binder Park Zoo. The Charles and Lynn Zhang SkyLark Ridge will feature a three-story rope course with five zip lines. A smaller version for visitors under 48 inches tall is also in the works. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2022.

Boyne Highlands

  • Address: 600 Highland Drive, Harbor Springs
  • Hours:
    • Zipline Adventure Tour: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday-Sunday, May 27-June 1, 
      10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 13-Sept. 5
    • Twin Zip Ride: 3-7 p.m. Saturdays May 28-June 11, 4-8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, June 12-Sept. 5 
      Saturdays 3-7 p.m.; June 12-Sept. 5

The guided two-and-a-half-hour Zipline Adventure Tour features eight lines that take you up 1,325 feet with a descent of more than 50 stories. A Twin Zip Ride is also offered for those looking for an exhilarating, but shorter, experience.

Camp Dearborn

This line takes thrill-seekers on a 1,400-foot ride from the six-story tower on Elm Circle over the lake down to the Main Beach. A signed waiver is required to ride. COVID has forced some closures due to staff shortages at least temporarily, including the zip line, so call in advance.

Cannonsburg Ski Area

Start at the top of the ski hill (a driver will take you up!) It offers five stations that take you under trees and over varied terrain. Plan for a 1.5-hour adventure.

Crystal Mountain

The zip line and elevated rope course is 20 feet about the outdoor pool with four challenges, including a rickety bridge. Each ticket allows two laps.

Frankenmuth Aerial Park

  • Address: 1375 Weiss St., Frankenmuth
  • Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 13-June 5 and Sept. 10-Oct. 30; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday June 10-Sept. 5 

This park in Michigan’s Little Bavaria offers six courses full of bridges, ladders, zip lines and other climbing elements for every skill level. Try the FrankenZip for seven zip lines ranging from 15 to 35 feet high.

Howell Nature Center

This nature education hub offers an exciting zip tour over the glacier-formed pond. Plus, it features a half-mile nature hike and encounters with live animals regularly. All guests 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

John Ball Zoo

This four-story, 600-foot zip line takes riders over a waterfall. It also offers a ropes course. Kids must be at least 75 pounds and 48 inches tall.

Mt. Holiday

Experience eight unique zip lines that take you through the trees and across the hills of Mt. Holiday. All participants must be between 60-260 pounds.

Snow Snake

Soar along 10 different routes through the trees of central Michigan for a ride that lasts more than an hour. The longest zip line offered is more than 800 feet and the tallest is more than 70 feet. Participants must be at least 7 years old, and kids ages 7-15 must be accompanied by an adult.

TreeRunner Grand Rapids Adventure Park

  • Address: 2121 Celebration Drive NE, Grand Rapids
  • Hours: 3-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 22-June 2; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 3-Aug. 21; 3-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday Aug. 22-Dec. 18

The TreeRunner Park offers 2.5 acres of aerial obstacles, including the 365-foot zip line. Check out the Junior Park for lower-to-the-ground zip lines, rope bridges and other aerial obstacles for kids ages 4-7. Kids must be at least 7 years old to climb the adult course and must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required.

TreeRunner West Bloomfield Adventure Park

  • Address: 6600 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield
  • Hours: 3-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, March 19-June 14; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 15-Sept. 9; 3-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6-Oct. 30; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 31-Nov. 21

Guests start on the main platform and choose from 10 routes, which includes six beginner, two intermediate and two expert courses. Most courses include a zip line and all offer different obstacles of varying levels of difficulty, including tunnels, rope swings, trapeze elements and more. Reservations are required.

TreeRunner Rochester Adventure Park

  • Address: 7553 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester
  • Hours: 3-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 9-June 15; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, June 16-Sept. 5; 3-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6-Oct. 30; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 13 

This zip line on the campus of Oakland University offers more than 60 obstacles and zip lines, four difficulty levels and seven trails.

Are you a fan of other spots that offer zip lining in Michigan? Let us know in the comments.

This post was originally published in 2018 and is updated regularly.


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