Smoky Mountain Ziplines

Smoky Mountain Ziplines is a guided canopy tour on a wooded mountainside in Pigeon Forge, just a couple of miles off the Parkway. You ride up the mountain in an old military truck, then zip back down through the treetops from platform to platform, with views of the Great Smoky Mountains along the way.

It's a classic Smokies zipline experience. The guides are hands-on, the lines run deep in the forest canopy, and the tour is built for first-timers as well as riders who have zipped before. If you're looking for ziplining in the Smoky Mountains without driving far from your Pigeon Forge cabin, this is one of the easiest to fit into a vacation day.

The canopy tour

Every tour starts at base camp on Mill Creek Road. After check-in and gearing up, your group climbs into a six-wheel-drive military truck for an off-road ride up the mountain to the first platform. It's a bumpy, open-air ride, and for a lot of families it's as memorable as the ziplines themselves.

From the top, you work your way back down the mountain on a series of lines strung between trees and platforms. Some lines are short and easy, a good way to get comfortable in the harness. Others are long, fast runs that carry you well above the forest floor. Because the course runs through the canopy instead of across an open ridge, the ride feels like flying through the woods, with glimpses of the mountains opening up between the trees.

Plan on about two hours on the mountain, plus a little extra time at base camp before and after for check-in, gearing up and getting out of your harness. Groups in the off-season are often smaller and move faster.

Guides and safety

Two certified zipline guides lead every tour. One guide rides each line ahead of you and waits at the next platform to catch you, while the other gets you hooked up and sends you off at the right speed. They'll coach you on braking and steering as you go, so you never have to figure it out on your own.

Every rider wears a fitted harness, a helmet and leather gloves, which you use to brake and steer on the cable. Your carabiners stay clipped to the cable the whole time, so you're always attached. The lines themselves are heavy steel wire rope, anchored to trees and platforms and built with a wide safety margin.

Who can ride

The tour is designed for riders ages 8 and up, and minimum and maximum weight limits apply so the harnesses fit properly. Ask about the current requirements when you book, especially if you're bringing younger kids.

Ziplining isn't recommended for anyone who is pregnant or has heart trouble, back or joint problems, epilepsy, a fear of heights or a history of panic attacks. If you're unsure, call ahead and talk it through with the staff.

What to wear and bring

Closed-toe shoes

Wear sturdy shoes with backs, like sneakers or hiking shoes. Sandals and flip-flops aren't allowed.

Pants or longer shorts

Jeans or khakis with a t-shirt work well. Skirts and dresses aren't allowed because they interfere with the harness. On cool mornings and in spring and fall, dress in layers, since it's cooler up on the mountain.

Cameras and phones

You can bring a camera if it has a neck strap or another way to secure it. The guides carry a pouch for each group for phones and small essentials, and anything else of value is best left locked in your car.

Rain or shine

Tours run in light to moderate rain, so a cloudy Smoky Mountain day doesn't have to cancel your plans. Lightning, high winds and heavy downpours can delay, shorten or cancel a tour, and the staff will reschedule when weather forces a change.

Mini golf at base camp

Smoky Mountain Ziplines also has a mini golf course at base camp. It's a nice way to round out the visit, and it gives anyone who isn't zipping something to do while the rest of the group is up on the mountain.

Great for groups and celebrations

A zipline tour is an easy way to get the whole group doing the same thing at the same time. It works well for family reunions, milestone birthdays, church and youth groups, and friends traveling together. Call ahead to book a larger group so everyone can ride together.

Traveling with a big crew? Our large cabins sleep the whole group under one roof, so you can plan the zipline trip around the dining table the night before.

Plan your visit

Reservations are required, so book your tour before you go and arrive about 30 minutes early for check-in, waivers and gearing up. In the busy summer and fall seasons, allow extra time for Parkway traffic on the way there.

More ziplines in the Smokies

Comparing courses? See our guide to the best ziplines in Pigeon Forge, or read about Legacy Mountain Ziplines, Wahoo Ziplines, Adventure Park Ziplines and CLIMB Works. For more ideas, browse our Pigeon Forge attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Smoky Mountain Ziplines?

At 509 Mill Creek Road in Pigeon Forge, less than two miles off the Parkway.

How long is the zipline tour?

About two hours on the mountain, plus time at base camp for check-in and gearing up. Arrive about 30 minutes before your tour.

How old do you have to be to zipline?

The tour is for riders ages 8 and up, and weight limits apply. Confirm the current requirements when you book.

How do you get to the top of the mountain?

By military truck. Your group rides up a rugged off-road trail before the first line.

Can you zipline in the rain?

Yes, in light to moderate rain. Lightning, high winds or heavy rain can delay or cancel a tour.

Do I need a reservation?

Yes. Reservations are required. Call 865-429-9004 or book online.

What should I wear?

Closed-toe shoes with backs and pants or longer shorts. Skirts, dresses, sandals and flip-flops aren't allowed.