Zip Lining in Alaska: The Best Cruise Excursion

Going on a cruise and want to try a zip line? Here’s what to expect when zip lining in Alaska.

During a cruise to Alaska on Norwegian Joy, we decided to try the Rainforest Canopy and Zip Line Expedition while we were in Ketchikan. I’d never done a zip line before but was game to try, and found it was a lot of fun.

The zip-line center borders the Tongass National Forest, a verdant rainforest inhabited by bald eagles and black bears. We were met at the port by bus and taken to Herring Cove, then transferred into smaller utility vehicles called Unimogs to climb through the forest via a path to the adventure center.

What Is Zip Lining

Zip lining, also known as zip-lining, is a fun activity where you are suspended from a wire, typically suspended high up in a tree, and slide along the wire while suspended. You are secured to the wire with a safety harness, and a pulley system is at either end of the wire. Wearing helmets and safety gear, you zoom through the trees while attached to the wire above the ground.

Zip lining is perhaps most famous for its use in adventure parks and wildlife reserves, where participants can travel through a forested area while suspended high above the ground.

The activity can be thrilling, providing a unique perspective on the landscape as you experience the beauty of the natural environment from another viewpoint.

The activity can be a safety concern for some people due to the potential risks associated with being suspended high above the ground and traveling at high speeds. However, the activity is regulated for safety and proper training, and safety equipment is required.

Safety First

Before zipping down our first line, we received a comprehensive orientation from our guides explaining what we were going to do and how we’d do it. Then we were helped into our state-of-the-art harnesses and issued safety helmets, and our belongings were locked away until our return.

The Zip Line Course

The adventure park has eight zip lines, ranging from 100 feet to a whopping 750 feet long. To ease you into the experience, you’re started on the shortest line, which isn’t too far from the ground, and each line becomes longer and higher. By the time you reach the longest line, which is daunting, your confidence is high and so is your adrenaline.

In addition to zip lines, there are also three hanging bridges that swing over the valley, providing you with a jaw-dropping view of the forest below. While crossing the bridges, we saw several eagles, but no bears were visible that day.

I’d never crossed a swinging bridge before, so my reaction to the first one isn’t surprising. I soon got the hang of it, though, and enjoyed the view.

The End of the Line

The last zip line ends at an extremely tall tower, and guess how you get down?

If you guessed you rappel down, you get a gold star!

Luckily for me, I’ve rappelled before, so that part wasn’t completely foreign to me. Stepping off the tower is the hardest part, but once you’ve done that, the next thing you know you’re safely on the ground and the adventure is over.

Things to Do

Aside from the zip lines, there are several other wonderful things to enjoy at the adventure center. Their raptor center features a bald eagle and a hawk that you can see up close, which was interesting. You don’t realize how large these birds actually are until you can see them up close like this.

There’s also a working blacksmith and a gift shop, where you can view photos taken of you during your adventure and have the opportunity to purchase them. A totem park and historic sawmill are also on the property, but by the time we were done with the zip lines, we were ready to head back to the ship.

Our Impressions

The equipment was new and in excellent condition, and all our guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and extremely helpful. Although I’m in my late fifties and not in the best physical condition, I muddled through and had a great time.

Was I sore afterward? Um, yes. But it was all my own fault since I tried to be a hotdog and go really fast down the lines, then slowed myself down a few feet too soon before reaching the platform. Don’t be like me!

The experience, however, was totally worth it.