Zip Lines and Adventure Parks in New Hampshire

The White Mountains are best known for hiking, but there is another way to see the forest: from a cable high above it. New Hampshire's mountain resorts and adventure operators have built zip lines, canopy tours and aerial parks that range from gentle family rides to fast, high crossings over ravines. This guide covers the main zip line NH options in the White Mountains, what each one is like, and a few nearby adventures that round out a summer day.

Requirements, seasons and schedules vary by operator and change from year to year. Each business below lists current age, height and weight rules on its own website, and most tours require reservations. Check before you go, especially in peak summer and foliage weeks.

Choosing the right zip line

The options below fall into three broad types.

• Guided canopy tours move a small group through a series of tree platforms, zip lines and bridges with trained guides. They take a few hours and feel like a short expedition.
• Big single zips are about speed and height: one long, fast ride across open terrain.
• Adventure parks combine short zip rides with other attractions such as coasters and swings, and suit families who want variety over a single big thrill.

Think about who is coming. Younger children usually have more options at adventure parks and beginner canopy tours, while the fastest rides have higher minimum ages and weights.

Bretton Woods Canopy Tour

The Bretton Woods Canopy Tour is the classic White Mountains canopy experience. It runs year-round on the slopes of Bretton Woods, across from the Mount Washington Hotel, and connects a network of platforms high in old hemlock trees with nine zip lines, two sky bridges and three rappels.

According to the resort, the zip lines range from 120 to more than 1,000 feet long and run up to about 165 feet above the forest floor. The course has 16 tree platforms between 10 and 70 feet high, and over the course of the tour participants descend about 1,000 feet in elevation, from the top of Rosebrook Canyon to the base of the resort. The system uses dual cables, and the platforms and bridges are milled from locally harvested wood. Two guides lead each group, and along the way they talk about the native plants and wildlife and the natural history of the White Mountains. Views take in Mount Washington and the Presidential Range.

Plan for time. The resort says tours run roughly two to three hours depending on group size, reservations are required, and there are short hikes on unpaved paths between sections, so closed-toe shoes are required. Participants must meet minimum age, height and weight requirements, which are listed on the booking page.

Alpine Adventures in Lincoln

Alpine Adventures is at 41 Main Street in Lincoln, home to Loon Mountain Ski Resort and much of the recreation-centered development around it. It offers two zip line experiences, and they are very different.

The SkyRider Zipline is the big thrill. The company says it crosses a 1,500-foot ravine 240 feet above the forest floor at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, which it describes as one of the fastest zip lines in New England. The Tree-Top Canopy Tour is gentler, with five separate zip lines from 250 to 1,000 feet long through the forest canopy, and the company recommends it for families and beginners.

Beyond zip lines, Alpine Adventures runs off-road tours in six-wheel-drive Swiss Army Pinzgauer vehicles up Barron Mountain and Thrillsville, an aerial park with multi-level obstacle courses and a BigAirBag jump. Zip line tours run spring through fall, and the business operates year-round with other activities in winter. Age and weight minimums differ for each tour, and the company weighs every participant before the tour, so read the requirements before you book.

Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park in North Conway

Cranmore's Mountain Adventure Park is the choice for a family that wants a little of everything. Cranmore is a ski area in North Conway that began operating in the winter of 1937 to 1938, and in summer it runs the Mountain Adventure Park.

The park's attractions include the Soaring Eagle Zip Line, a Mountain Coaster, a Giant Swing and a scenic chairlift ride, with smaller attractions for younger kids. Each ride has its own height and age rules. For the Mountain Coaster, for example, Cranmore says drivers must be at least 9 years old and 54 inches tall, and riders at least 3 years old and 38 inches tall. Cranmore publishes a ride guide showing which attractions each height group can use, which is worth a look before you go if you have small children.

The resort sits close to North Conway village, so a morning at the park pairs easily with an afternoon of shopping or a drive up the valley.

Nearby: the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway

Not every high-altitude thrill involves a harness. The Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway in Franconia Notch State Park carries passengers up Cannon Mountain, and Cannon has the only aerial tram in New Hampshire. Cannon is a state-owned ski area, and it has the largest vertical drop of any ski area in the state, 2,180 feet.

The tram is a good fit for anyone in the group who would rather not zip. It is also an easy add-on to a day in Franconia Notch, home to the Flume Gorge and Echo Lake.

Nearby: Polar Caves Park in Rumney

For a different kind of adventure, Polar Caves Park in Rumney lets visitors scramble through glacially formed caves instead of flying above the trees. The park has nine granite boulder caves connected by boardwalks, a boulder maze, an animal exhibit with fallow deer and ducks, and a mining sluice for kids. The caves stay naturally cool in summer, which makes them a welcome stop on a hot August day.

The caves were found in 1922 and have welcomed visitors since the 1920s. Polar Caves is on Route 25, about 5 miles west of Interstate 93 in Plymouth, so it fits neatly into a drive between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. The park is seasonal and has closed for some seasons, so check its website for current status before you plan a visit.

Tips for a zip line day

Book ahead. Summer weekends and holiday weeks fill quickly, and most guided tours have small group sizes.

Know the limits. Every operator sets minimum ages, heights or weights, and some also set maximum weights. Several weigh participants at check-in. Read the rules before you pay, since some operators do not refund participants who do not meet them.

Dress for the woods. Wear closed-toe shoes, clothes you can move in, and layers. Mountain weather changes quickly, and it can be cooler and windier on the course than in the valley.

Leave loose items behind. Sunglasses, hats and phones can fall from a zip line. Secure them or leave them in the car.

Watch the forecast. Some tours run in light rain but stop for lightning or high wind. Each operator explains its weather policy on its website.

Plan a second activity. A tour takes a few hours at most. Pair it with a hike, the Cannon tram, Polar Caves or a meal in Lincoln or North Conway.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the fastest zip line in New Hampshire?

Alpine Adventures in Lincoln says its SkyRider reaches speeds up to 60 miles per hour, 240 feet above the forest floor.

Which zip line is best for younger kids?

Adventure parks such as Cranmore's offer more options by height, and Alpine Adventures recommends its Tree-Top Canopy Tour for families and beginners. Check each attraction's age and height rules.

How long does the Bretton Woods Canopy Tour take?

The resort says roughly two to three hours, depending on group size. Reservations are required.

Can you zip line in New Hampshire in winter?

Yes. The Bretton Woods Canopy Tour runs year-round, and Alpine Adventures lists winter zipline experiences. Schedules are reduced in winter, so book ahead.

Sources

• Bretton Woods Canopy Tour, Omni Mount Washington Resort (nine zip lines, two sky bridges, three rappels; 16 platforms; up to 165 ft; 1,000 ft descent; dual cables; local wood): https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington/canopy-tour/about
• Bretton Woods Canopy Tour, Bretton Woods (year-round; 2 to 3 hours; reservations; closed-toe shoes; requirements): https://www.brettonwoods.com/experiences/canopy-tour/
• Bretton Woods Mountain Resort, Wikipedia (location across from the Mount Washington Hotel): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bretton_Woods_Mountain_Resort
• Alpine Adventures (41 Main St, Lincoln; SkyRider and Tree-Top Canopy Tour details; Pinzgauer and Thrillsville; seasons): https://alpinezipline.com/
• Lincoln, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Loon Mountain): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_New_Hampshire
• Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park (attractions; Mountain Coaster rules): https://cranmore.com/mountain-adventure-park
• Cranmore ride guide: https://cranmore.com/assets/documents/Ride-Guide.pdf
• Cranmore Mountain Resort, Wikipedia (North Conway; began winter 1937 to 1938): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranmore_Mountain_Resort
• Cannon Mountain Ski Area, Wikipedia (state-owned; Franconia Notch State Park; only aerial tram in NH; 2,180 ft vertical): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannon_Mountain_Ski_Area
• Cannon Mountain (Flume Gorge and Echo Lake under Franconia Notch attractions): https://www.cannonmt.com/
• Polar Caves Park, Wikipedia (nine caves, boulder maze, fallow deer, discovered 1922; Route 25, about 5 miles west of I-93): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Caves_Park
• Polar Caves (attractions; seasonal): https://www.polarcaves.com