Where to Go Winter Ziplining
Ziplines aren't just for warm weather
 A rider on the canopy tour at Bretton Woods. Photo Courtesy of Bretton Woods |
If you’re a seasoned adventurer, you may have already tried your hand at ziplining — perhaps at an indoor facility or during the summer and fall months at one of New Hampshire’s touring spots. But if you’re ready to take your thrill-seeking to the next level, then winter ziplining may be just the thing for you. Braving the heights in combination with braving the cold is an exhilarating experience for many people, and New Hampshire is one of the coolest (pun intended) places to try it. For those not yet familiar, a zipline (also known as a zip wire, aerial runway or aerial ropeslide) is, in its simplest form, a pulley on a cable situated on a slope or mountain, which uses gravity to get you from point A to point B. You don’t need to be an athlete in particular to enjoy this activity.
While all the necessary safety gear, such as helmets and harnesses, will be provided to you for your tour, you will need to come prepared for cold and unpredictable weather. Breathable, wicking layers are always best; hats, gloves, boots and a change of clothes for after your zip is not a bad idea either. If you are new to ziplining, pay close attention to instructions and heed all signs and safety precautions so that you can enjoy your snowy descent.
Where to go:
Alpine Adventures
Alpine Adventures is located in Lincoln, and offers year-round zipline canopy tours for different abilities and comfort levels at Barron Mountain. They can outfit you or your group for a snowy excursion. During the winter season, they are open Friday-Monday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
In an effort to appeal to a broader range of snow lovers, many ski resorts are offering more winter activities, from tubing and cross-country skiing to snowshoe tours and, yes, ziplines. The following resorts all offer zipline adventures through the winter.
Bretton Woods
The three-hour canopy tours take place on the slopes of Bretton Woods at the Mount Washington Resort. The tour zips above the trees at speeds up to 30 mph along nine different lines, two sky bridges, three rappels and 16 tree platforms. All told, you will descend 1,000 feet. They operate in most weather conditions, so long as it remains safe. Tours begin at the Bretton Woods base lodge. Other offerings include tubing and old-fashioned sleigh rides.
Cranmore Mountain Resort
This ski mountain in North Conway features the zipline “anyone can ride”— the side-by-side seated, 700-foot Soaring Eagle zipline. Stay for some snow tubing and check out the mountain coaster and giant swing for some more wintry thrills.
Loon Mountain Resort
Like Cranmore, Loon in Lincoln has expanded its winter fun activities far beyond skiing and riding. In addition to ice skating, guided snowshoe or cross-county ski tours and more, they also have a winter zipline that soars more than 700 feet across the Pemigewasset River, and then back across to the Adventure Center.
