Ziplining Away in North Georgia

Nearly everywhere you go in the South, whether it’s Branson, Mo., St. Cloud, Fla., or Lansing, WVa., you’ll find a zipline tour. And in April, you’ll be able to take in the North Oconee River and more, in north Georgia at leisurely speeds up to over 30 mph from up high.

The North Georgia Canopy Tours (map) is introducing two guided zipline tours in Lula, Ga., near Gainesville, on the I-85/I-985 corridor, a little over an hour northeast of Atlanta.

The two-plus hour Skybridge tour ($69) includes nine zips (one crosses the North Oconee River three time), two sky bridges and nature hikes. The final dual zip measures 700 feet.

The Adventure tour ($89) is an hour longer and features 12 zips, two sky bridges, nature hikes, a 20-foot rappel and a dual zip.

Located on 136 acres near the headwaters of the North Oconee River, the tours zip you over forests, ponds, pastures, rivers and more. The tours also take full advantage of the scenery as well since it’s located in a valley between two ridges at the transition point between the Appalachians and the Piedmont Plateau.

Don’t worry if you’ve never done this before, because thorough instructions are provided prior to the first zip.

The North Georgia Canopy Tour will be opened 7 days a week during daylight hours. The first tour, beginning in April, will start at 8:30 a.m. Reservations are strongly recommended.

photo credit: Girl on zip up close, courtesy of Pineapple-PR and North Georgia Canopy Tours