By Rachel Anderson
Explore Big Sky Contributor
WEST YELLOWSTONE – What goes up must come down, but Yellowstone Aerial Adventures is allowing visitors to ascend to new heights.
The West Yellowstone business, which opened at the end of June, offers an active attraction for groups and families of all physical abilities and ages with its European-style aerial ropes course and zip line adventure park.
Stimulating all senses, the technical maneuvers intensify as individuals reach pinnacles of the course. Advancing high above the ground visitors get a rush of adrenaline whether zip lining the perimeter of the park or pushing through the challenging course elements.
Yellowstone Aerial Adventures is owned by Geyser Whitewater – located on Highway 191 south of Big Sky – and according to principal owner Eric Becker, the idea has been in production for a couple of years.
“Business has been good, but the most important thing is people are having a blast,” said Becker, who began constructing the course in March. “It’s an interesting concept … being the first self-navigating zip line and ropes course in a downtown vicinity.”
The main adventure course consists of three levels. Routes are marked green, blue and black, organized like a ski area, to denote different ability levels. The Junior Ranger Course allows 4 year old children to participate with an adult or sibling over 8, while the Saferoller belay system allows those 5 years of age and older to embark alone.
“It’s the only organized adventure activity for kids under the age of 6 in the area,” Becker said.
With Yellowstone National Park in the background, visitors can test their limits with more than 1,000 feet of zip lines and 49 gravity-defying features including rope bridges, climbing nets and log bridges, among others.
Packages are available for the adventure park and combinations of whitewater rafting and/or horseback riding.
Additionally, Bear Country Burrito Company has a location within Yellowstone Aerial Adventures and serves food to visitors spending time in the park.
Yellowstone Aerial Adventures is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through mid-September or October, weather dependent. For more information call (406) 646-5171, or visit yellowstoneparkzipline.com to book online.
