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Extreme Zip Lines: Some of North America’s Longest Zip Lines

Published: 17/08/2009 by Zipline Directory

Many zip line tours claim to have the longest zip line in their state or in North America, but which tour really does offer the longest zip line?

At 3,100 feet, the Heavenly Flyer at Heavenly Ski Resort in Lake Tahoe, California claims to have the longest zip line in the lower 48 states. In addition to the length, the zip line also features a drop of 525 feet.

Heavenly Flyer was outdone with the creation of the Icy Strait Point ZipRider zip line in Juneau, Alaska. At 5,300 feet, this zip line is almost a mile long and claims to be the longest zip line in the world. Riders also experience a drop of 1,300 feet during the ride. In total, the ride lasts approximately 90 seconds.

ZipTrek in Whistler, British Columbia boasts the longest zip line in Canada. The longest zip line on its 10 line course is 2,000 feet long and allows riders to reach speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on descent.

However, just because a zip line is long does not mean it will be the most challenging or exciting. Several elements factor in to what makes a ride thrilling. These zip lines mentioned above combine extreme length with steep drops that allow riders to reach high speeds, which is what makes them so exciting. So, if you cannot make it to one of these zip lines, look for zip lines in your area that feature steep drops and high speeds in addition to length.