You don’t need to travel to Costa Rica or Hawaii to fly through the air on an adrenaline packed zipline tour; they are popping up all over the greater Inland Northwest, including new tours in Nelson, B.C, Wallace, Idaho, and the super close-to-home Mica Moon Zip Tours above Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley.These five zips offer some of the best cable-fueled thrills in the Northwest.
Mica Moon Zip Tours (Liberty Lake, Wash.)
This new zipline and canopy tour sits above the Liberty Lake area in the mountains of Mica Peak. Taking its name from the area’s reputation as a once-upon-a-time moonshine hotspot, the Mica Moon Zip Tours began offering zipline canopy tours on around 300 acres of private forest this May. The tours include the thrills of a traditional zipline along with a historical experience with a visit to remnants of old moonshine camps. The two-and-a-half-hour tours will eventually include as many as eight zips up to 75 feet above the forest floor that will send guests flying through the air over the trees at up to 45 mph, plus two hikes, seven tree top platforms, and a UTV 4×4 ride to and from the tour. The longest zip is in the 1,500 foot range, with exceptional views along the way. Mica Moon prides itself in connecting with both families looking for a bonding experience and thrill seekers. “We want our guests to feel that they had a truly amazing time, and in the process, learned as much about themselves as they did the secrets hidden in our backyard wilderness,” says co-owner Rik Stewart. Guests check in at the Mica Moon Zip Tours office at the Liberty Lake Portal building (23403 E. Mission Ave., Suite 100) before hopping into a van shuttle to the base of the mountain for the final off-road vehicle ride to the start of the tour. Micamoon.com.
Kokanee Mountain Zipline (Nelson, B.C.)
Located near Nelson, B.C., between Kokanee Creek Provincial Park and Kokanee Glacier Mountain Park, this new zipline tour, which is currently in the construction phase with a mid-July, 2015 planned opening, will include six ziplines with a total of 1.5 kilometers of ziplines. The longest zip will run 2,300 feet at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour. The tour will also include four elevated platforms suspended in the trees at heights of up to 55 feet and a short hike between two of the lines. The fully guided tours will take two hours. Guests will soar above the trees with stunning views of the Nelson/Kootenay region’s mountains and forested canyons. Zipkokanee.com.
Silver Streak Zipline Tours (Wallace, Idaho)
Ride a zipline 2,000 feet above the Silver Valley. Silver Streak offers two separate zipline courses with a total of 10 zips on 250 acres of private mountainside. Tours started in 2012, with a second course following in 2013. The West Course has six zips, including heights over 300 feet. The East Course has four zips, including the longest zip “Big Daddy,” which is 1,800 feet long and reaches speeds over 55 mph. The East Course also has two dual zip lines, which lets you ride beside a partner, and a “super hero” zip where you can ride face first. Plan ahead as many weekends sell out in advance. Reservations are required. Silverstreakziplinetours.com.
Schweitzer Mountain Resort (Sandpoint, Idaho)
Schweitzer’s zipline stretches over 700 feet down the mountain. You’ll start your ride just outside the village, cruise through the air towards Lake Pend Oreille, and finish up just below the Musical Carpet. Enjoy an adventurous ride, great views of the lake and tons of fun with friends. The dual zipline feature allows two people to go down side-by-side so you can ride beside your friends from top to bottom. Open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. beginning June 26, rides are $12 each or $35 for an unlimited pass. Schweitzer.com.
Whitefish Mountain Resort (Whitefish, Mont.)
Soar hundreds of feet above the trees on Montana’s longest zipline tour with big views out towards Glacier National Park. WMR has a total of 1.7 miles of zipline action on either five or seven zip tours, with speeds that can reach 50 mph. The longest lines span 1,900 feet over the valley floor. The zipline features were built with natural materials when possible, which enhances the beautiful surroundings and makes for a wild feeling ride all around. Side-by-side zipping is available on all lines. Reservations are strongly recommended (call 406-862-2900) once summer operations open June 20. More info: Skiwhitefish.com/summer/zip-line-tours. //
