Dallas Adventures: Zip Line in the Great Trinity Forest

I’m a sucker for adventure and extreme sports, so when I heard there was an aerial obstacle course with zip lines in south Dallas, I had to check it out.  Since the minimum age for participation is 6 years (my kiddos are 4 and 1), I grabbed my 12-year-old nephew in the name of “blog research”.  

We arrived at Trinity Forest Aerial Adventure Park on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon amidst the expansive Great Trinity Forest.  I wrote on this blog about my constant need to get out of the city and into nature.  This trip into the forest immediately calmed my senses.  Only 8 miles from downtown, the forest seems like a lifetime away from our usual ways of hustle and bustle.

I wasn’t sure what to expect before we arrived (I literally saw the word “zip line” and signed up), but went in over-confident thanks to my college camp staffer days as a “ropes course facilitator”.  

After a quick fitting of the (oh so flattering) equipment and demo of our new gear, we were unleashed into the adventure park for the afternoon. Essentially on our own (with safety instructors set up at various perches), we chose between six aerial courses ranging from beginner to expert.  Kids as young as six can fly high in the tree tops with a parent by their side, but I would say the best age for maximizing the course is 12 and up. 

Going at our own pace, we chose a medium-challenged course nestled 15 feet above the ground for our entry path.  It took us about an hour to get thru and we enjoyed a combination of obstacles high in the tree canopy and exhilarating zip lines from station to station.  Personally, I was slightly challenged and enjoyed the entire medium course greatly.  

We felt pretty confident after that first jaunt and so when the 12-year-old wanted to do the expert black course, we tagged along without hesitation.  

Let’s just say that the pre-teen made it thru the 48-foot-high aerial obstacle course with ease.  The rest of us either didn’t make it past the first obstacle or might have needed a rescue from an on-site staff employee.  Let’s just focus on how proud we are of that 12-year-old instead of his accompanying adult’s feats….

My point is: this course is challenging for all folks young and old.

The adventure park is open year-round on the weekends and daily during the summer.  Ticket prices range from $40-$50 and group rates or birthday party packages are available.  

Trinity Forest Adventure Park is the only aerial park situated within trees in Texas.  However, if this kind of thing is up your ally, check out other high altitude parks that use poles and towers instead. The Hawaiian Falls location near Fort Worth in White Settlement has zip lines and a ropes course. Also, Carrollton is home to the state’s biggest indoor ropes course. 

I’m already counting down the years until my four year old can do the beginner course and I can make another visit to Trinity Forest’s park.  

Note: The opinions in this post and the idea to visit this park are entirely my own, however, I did get discounted entry for our visit.