The Berkshires offers some of the most radical aerial adventure in the East. Here's some insight into a non-traditional adventure by finding the right zip line and aerial adventure for your visit.
Ramblewild
Ramblewild Aerial Adventure park
Zoar Outdoor
The first zip line course in the state of Massachusetts was built at Zoar Outdoor in Charlemont. Inspired by zip lines in South America, it was one of only 20 in the whole country. Since that time, in the Berkshires alone, there are a plethora of aerial adventure opportunities, though each area has its own character and challenge. In Charlemont, you can experience a continuous 3 hour trip at Zoar where you are going from platform to platform in the canopy. At this site, it is a truly unique experience where you are in the trees the whole time with 11 zip lines, 2 sky bridges and 3 repels.
Berkshire East
If you are looking for something with even more adrenaline, the Valley Jump Tour at the nearby Berkshire East offers one of the highest, fastest (up to 55mph!) and longest zip line in North America. For those feeling less adventurous there are two other more mellow options at Berkshire East or for the younger ones, there is the Tree House Trail (ages 3 and up) at the base of the mountain or the more challenging Aerial Adventure Park (ages 9 and up). Regardless of which route you take, it is certainly a great way to experience the forest and see the valley.
Photo: Ramblewild
Ramblewild berkshires aerial park
Ramblewild
On the other spectrum, there is a newer venture that opened up in Lanesborough on the backside of Brodie Mountain that has captured the attention of many hearts and minds looking for an aerial adventure. The place is a true aerial adventure destination with a large visitors lodge and 10 acres of aerial adventure courses. This makes it an ideal spot for team-building activities which the area customizes to help participants focus on communication, problem solving and brainstorming.
The aerial adventure park features elements not commonly found in other parks, most notably one of the very few “skyaks” which is a kayak rigged to run 140 feet above the forest floor. You can even climb around at night, with the forest lit up by LED lights and a bonfire. There is a reason both the Boston Globe and Yankee Magazine recently named Ramblewild as the number one recreation attraction in New England.
Aerial Adventure Courses Berkshires Ma
Other exciting zip lines and aerial adventure parks include those at Catamount, Jiminy Peak and Bousquet Resorts.
Catamount’s park has graded their 12 courses according to the level of difficulty to make the park accessible to all visitors. There are over 50 zip lines in this park with over 170 elements that challenge the adventurer.
Bousquet has a smaller, more contained park, but also offers other activities on site such as disk golf, waterslides, a climbing wall and more.
Jiminy Peak’s park which features the popular “Leap of Faith,” is of a similar nature to Bousquet and is smaller and contained while offering other features on the mountain such as an alpine slide, trampolines and a mountain coaster.
These aerial adventure courses thrive on perceived risk rather than actual risk. The adventurer can expect to stay safe while being challenged psychologically and physically as well.
