You’ve Gotta Try This: Ziplining in Florida’s Canyons

By Kevin Mims

If you’re craving a little bit of extra adrenaline in your next outdoor day trip, The Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park in Ocala is the place to go.

The setting for this destination is a 100-acre property featuring high cliffs, dense woods, and sparkling, spring-fed lakes. When you zipline over the canyon, you’ll get sweeping views of this breathtaking landscape, while soaring at heights of up to 155 feet and distances of more than 1,100 feet. Gliding high above the cliffs, lush forest, and emerald-green water, you’ll be getting some of the best and most unique views in north central Florida.

With kayaking and horseback riding also on the menu, you can explore this place by air, land, or water, or a combination of the three.

Here’s what you need to know to start planning your trip, from what to wear to how to choose the tour that’s right for you.

Time Allowance

Depending on which tour you want to experience, you could spend as little as one hour or as many as three hours on the attraction of your choosing. You will also have to figure in extra time to get ready before ziplining, kayaking, or horseback riding. The Canyons asks guests to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to their reservation time.

Distance from Big Cities

The Canyons is in Ocala, 35 minutes from Gainesville, a little over an hour from Orlando, 90 minutes from Tampa, and less than two hours from Jacksonville.

What to Bring (and What Not to Bring)

You should wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for the weather (short shorts are not recommended and hanging jewelry should be left at home).

In addition, you will need:
- closed-heel and closed-toe shoes
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- hat
- drinking water
- cell phone
- GoPro or other camera
- ID
- If your party includes a child whose parent or guardian won’t be present, you must bring a waiver signed by their parent or guardian, along with a copy of their parent or guardian’s photo ID (ID must include their signature).

Physical Demands and Cautions

Participants should be in reasonably good health. For safety reasons, people who are pregnant or have heart, leg, or back problems are not allowed to zipline. You should be comfortable with short hikes, which you will take between locations, as well as climbing stairs. For safety reasons, long hair should be worn in a low ponytail.

Experiencing the Canyons

When it comes to ziplining, you have several options, depending on how long you want to be out there and what you’d like to see and do. These tours generally start out slower and with shorter zipline flights, allowing participants to get acclimated, and progress to longer, more exciting flights.

Big Cliff Canyon Tour

This tour includes nine ziplines, two sky bridges, and a rappel at the end, during which you’ll get to drop straight down from the high platform, assisted by your ropes and harness. Allow up to three hours for this one. It’s the facility’s most popular and longest tour and the only one that allows participants to zipline over Lost Spring Lake.

Treetop Express Tour

This one lasts about 1.5 hours and includes five zipline flights and two sky bridges through Sky High Canyon. The Treetop Express Tour combines parts of the Big Cliff Canyon Tour and the Sky High Tour.

Sky High Tour

This tour includes three zipline flights and lasts about an hour. But don’t let the shorter time fool you: this is the most strenuous of all the tours and includes the highest and longest ziplines in the park. It finishes off with a fast glide over Gator Lake.

Night zipline tour

This exciting tour is the same as the Treetop Express but it happens at night once a month on the full moon.

Kayaking tour

Experience Lost Spring Lake up close with this 1.5-hour kayaking tour that takes paddlers through Big Cliff Canyon. Along the way, your guide will teach you about the property’s natural history.

Horseback riding tour

Who wouldn’t want to spend 1.5 hours of riding over beautifully rugged terrain atop a majestic steed? Horseback riding tours are led by knowledgeable guides, who take guests through the scenic property and show them the sights, which include the cliffs, lakes, Big Cliff Canyon and Sky High Canyon.

Horseback ride fireside

This one is similar to the daytime horseback riding tour, only it happens at night, once a month on the full moon. Guests get to ride through Big Cliff Canyon at sunset and end the adventure with a fireside glass of wine and s’mores by the lake.

General Info: Tour Prices, Rental Prices, Hours

Hours are 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and Tuesday, with the last tours of the day leaving around 3:30 or 4 p.m. The Canyons is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. Hours are subject to change throughout the year.

The following prices are per person and do not include taxes and fees.

Zipline tours:

- Big Cliff Canyon tour is $109.99 and includes nine ziplines, two sky bridges, and a rappel.

- Treetop Express tour is $79.99 and includes five ziplines and two sky bridges.

- Sky High Tour is $55.99 and includes three ziplines.

- Night zipline tours, which take place once a month on the full moon, are $89.99 and include five ziplines and two sky bridges.

In addition, you can document your experience with a GoPro camera rental ($35) or digital photo package ($26) or both ($56).

Daytime horseback riding tours are $75.99 and night horseback riding tours, which happen at sunset, are $90.00.

Kayaking tours on Lost Spring Lake are $45.99.

Seasonal Differences

The Canyons runs its tours rain or shine but will cancel them when the weather turns dangerous. If your tour is canceled due to dangerous weather, a raincheck or refund will be issued unless your tour is already in progress. It’s important to check the weather forecast before you go and pay extra attention in summer, when inclement weather is more common.

Restrooms

ADA-compliant restrooms can be found at the entrance inside the large red main building.

Bonuses

If you bring your own GoPro, you can mount it to one of the provided zipline helmets. The high vantage point you’ll get while flying high above the canyon will make for some great photos and videos later.

Rules

Zipline participants must be at least 10 years old and between 70 and 270 pounds. Horseback riders should be no more than 250 pounds and at least 7 years old. For the sake of your safety and others, including the horses, it’s important to heed all instructions provided by The Canyons staff. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Advice

Be sure to arrive 20 minutes prior to your reservation time. If you’re late, you will miss your tour and forfeit your ticket. While you might be able to get in without a reservation, it’s best to just book in advance online and secure a spot so you’re guaranteed to have one.

Keep in mind that shorter doesn’t necessarily mean easier. The shortest zipline tour, which is the Sky High Tour, is also the most strenuous, so you should factor that into your plans.

I also recommend that you eat a little something before you arrive—not so much that you feel sluggish or too full, but enough to get you through until you’re done here. Look online before your tour day and have a local restaurant picked out for when you’re finished.

Let’s face it: Ziplining, while a lot of fun, is not everyone’s cup of tea. You might be traveling with people with physical limitations that keep them from participating, or someone who doesn’t like heights, or kids who don’t meet the age requirements. Besides kayaking and horseback riding, there’s also “gem mining” at the property’s Zuber Mine, which can be fun for anyone. To mine, you must purchase a bag of dirt, which you will then pour onto a screened box and run under running water to sift through. You’re guaranteed to find treasures in each of the bags, which vary in size and cost between $6 and $26. Reservations aren’t required for gem mining.

Lastly, your guides will work hard to make sure you have the best time possible. While not a requirement, I definitely recommend giving them a nice tip to thank them for their efforts.

After the Adventure

By now, you’ve most likely worked up a good appetite, and this is the perfect time to check out a local eatery. Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille, Milano Italian Grille, and Braised Onion are all good choices within a 15-minute drive of The Canyons.

Steps to Enjoying the Canyons

1. Make your reservation online. Walk-ins are accepted when space is available, but making a reservation is strongly encouraged.

2. Giving yourself enough time to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your reservation time, drive to 8045 N.W. Gainesville Road, Ocala, and park in the parking area.

3. Head to the entrance at the red building and check in.

4. Complete any required forms. You can also visit the restroom there if needed and fill your water bottle.

5. The staff will get you set up for your activity, brief you on the basics, and transport you to your starting point. If ziplining, you’ll also do a “practice zip” to get used to things.

6. Enjoy your tour, whether it’s an hour or two (or three) of ziplining and crossing sky bridges, kayaking Lost Spring Lake, or ambling through the woods on horseback.

7. Staff will get you back to the entrance, where you can pick up a snack or souvenir at the gift shop before heading home.