Time to get off those screens and into the trees! Fall is the perfect time to check out the Houston area’s many aerial adventure courses. Test your agility and race down a zip line. With ropes courses designed for all age groups, there’s fun for everyone in your family in these treetop escapes.
Note that no phones are allowed on most courses (so you don’t drop them on anyone below) and gloves are usually required. Trust me, this is a good thing. Hanging onto the ropes without gloves is a blister nightmare!
Go Ape
Located at Brazos River Park in Sugarland, Go Ape is my family’s go-to spot for an outdoor adventure. The Level 1 course has a minimum height requirement of just 3’3″ making it accessible to even the littlest daredevils. It has just the right amount of adventure to make it nerve wracking for the kids and fun for the adults. After three times through, my 4- and 6-year-olds felt like they’d conquered something amazing, and I was so unbelievably proud of them! Got bigger kids? Go Ape has fun for them too! The Level 2 course has 70 obstacles to conquer and a 600 ft zipline. Combine it with the Zip Trek experience, including Huston’s longest zipline, for the ultimate tree-top experience! Love it so much you want to go again? Save big on their frequent flyer passes which offer a discounted rate for 5 total visits.
Location: 18427 Southwest Freeway Sugar Land, TX 77479
Price: Starting at $49.95 per person
Height Limit: 3’3″ for Level 1, 4’7″ for Level 2 and Zip Trek Experience.
Age Limit: Ages 5 and under require an adult to accompany them on the course.
Geronimo Adventure Park
Geronimo Adventure Park in Spring is the next location on our bucket list. There are 3 exciting courses to choose from with multiple ziplines, suspended bridges, and an aerial ropes course. Personally I’m looking forward to racing my kids on the “Go Long” course, or watching them take the Summit Plummet! After conquering those, there’s more fun to be had with activities like Axe Throwing, a Ninja Obstacle Course, and Rockwall Climbing. Cap off the day with lawn games, giant Jenga, and S’mores in one of their roasting pits. I’ll be out there for Night Zipping and Live Music on October 18th, enjoying one of the best family friendly adventures Houston has to offer!
Location: 6749 FM 2920 Spring, TX 77379
Price: General Admission $12.98, Ziplining starts at $54.98 for one course, Axe Throwing starts at $19.98 for 30 minutes.
Height Limit: Must be able to reach 66 inches high with arms extended to zipline solo. Shorter friends will need an adult to accompany them.
Age Limit: Minimum age is 6 and up for ziplining.
Texas TreeVentures
Texas TreeVentures in the Woodlands is the perfect spot for groups with varied skill levels. Rather than a linear course, where you have to follow each obstacle in a set order, the “challenge by choice” set-up at TreeVentures lets climbers choose their path. It’s owned and operated by the Woodlands Township Parks & Recreation Department and located near the George Mitchell Nature Preserve, a truly picturesque setting for getting your climb on! Check out their Friday Night Heights for a unique experience in the trees.
Location: 6464 Creekside Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77389
Price: Age 13+ $40; Age 6-12 $30
Height Limit: Must be able to reach 70 inches high with arms extended to climb solo.
Age Limit: Minimum age to participate is 6 years old. Ages 6-12 require one supervisor (16+) per two children. Ages 13-15 require one chaperone on-site (not necessarily climbing) per 4 teens.
Moody Gardens Sky Trail
As if Moody Gardens didn’t already have enough attractions, they went and added a ropes course! When you’ve had your fill of the Aquarium and Rainforest, head outside to the 5-tier Sky Trail, the tallest steel ropes course on the Gulf Coast. Like all the others, this one aims to test your strength and agility before having you race down a zipline, this one over Palm Beach and the Lazy River. Note, this course is definitely an add-on option – the attraction is open weather dependent, and you cannot purchase tickets in advance.
Location: 1 Hope Blvd., Galveston, TX 77554
Price: $30
Height Limit: 48 inches (There is a smaller, less challenging, Sky Tykes course for smaller friends).
Getting my kids up in the trees has definitely become a core memory for them. We started when they were just tiny tots, making it an annual tradition at Go Ape. Now that they’re a little bigger, I’m excited to take them around town to explore some more. Hope to see you there!
