The Vertical Trek – Roundtop Mountain Resort

On a recent vacation to Costa Rica, we discovered the thrill of zip lining.  It was a blast!  Upon returning home we were determined to find another zip line adventure close to home.  We were delighted to find that Roundtop Mountain Resort, near York PA, has a zip line tour called the Vertical Trek so we decided to check it out.

We were able to book our reservation on-line which was really convenient.  The website had lots of pictures and a video so we had an idea that this would be good.  Our guides were ready and waiting upon arrival and they helped us get fitted with helmets and harnesses.  After a relaxing chairlift ride to the top of the mountain and a thorough safety presentation, we were faced with the first zip lines.  Let me tell you, this thing is for real!  The first lines were over 300 feet long and ended on a tower about 40′ high.  You control your own speed, so unlike the tour we took on vacation, you are really involved.

After the first zip line, there was a series of elements on the side of a cliff including swinging bridges, a cable with ”vines” to hold onto and a really cool Tarzan swing (yes they encourage a good yell from everyone).  This area really feels wild and it is hard to believe that you are at a ski resort. Then came my favorite part – a long zip line that leaves from the cliff face.  It’s really a thrill to run off the edge and fly through the trees over 40′ up.  That zip line ends at a very high platform connected by a swinging bridge to another zip line. After that, the course settles into a series of zip lines, a couple of short sections of boulder hopping and another interesting feature or two.

When it was all said and done, the Vertical Trek took about 3 hours and we enjoyed every second of it.  The guides were personable and very safety conscious.  The price tag may seem a little steep at $62.00, but it was worth every penny!  I definitely recommend it if you like outdoor adventure.  Be sure to bring some bug spray as the majority of the Trek is in the woods.

The day we were there they had a live band on a huge deck and small bar/restaurant.  It was a great way to wrap up the day.  For more information, visit skiroundtop.com/trek.htm.

Screaming Hawk - Seven Springs Resort
We recently had the opportunity to experience the Screaming Hawk zip lines at Seven Springs Resort near Pittsburgh.  It was a lot of fun, but very different from the Vertical Trek at Roundtop.

Screaming Hawk consists of 4 long zip lines with some climbing elements and takes a bit over an hour to complete.  Most of the course is out in the open so you get some long views while you zip, but you don’t get the sense of flying through the treetops like you do on the Vertical Trek at Roundtop.  Even though the zips at Seven Springs are probably faster, the Roundtop zips feel faster because the closeness of the trees gives you better perspective.

Compared side to side, they are both very worthy activities.  The Vertical Trek is a much more immersive experience with more variety and a very woodsy natural setting.  The Trek takes you over natural terrain from the summit of the mountain, some of which would be impassable other than on a zip line.  Screaming Hawk has long, fast lines out in the open.  It is a cross between a short canopy tour and an amusement park ride.

The bottom line is that if you have the 3 hours and want a true adventure, opt for the Vertical Trek at Roundtop Mountain Resort.  If you are short on time or are looking for a pure zip line rush, try Screaming Hawk at Seven Springs.  Or better yet – take a weekend and enjoy them both!

ZipRider - Sno Mountain
I must start by saying that I experienced ZipRider a few summers ago and I am not sure of the operating status of Sno Mountain at this time.  They seem to be having some operational challenges there so definitely check at http://www.snocove.com/index.php/ziprider/ before going.

ZipRider is a completely different animal from the Vertical Trek or Screaming Hawk.  This is a pure amusement park style ride that only requires you to sit back and go. Unlike the Vertical Trek or Screaming Hawk, you need zero physical ability – you are simply cargo! It is long (about a half mile) and fast. On the top platform, you are strapped into a harness that is more like a chair than a climbing harness.  A unique feature is that they have 4 lines so you can race down with up to 3 friends.  Once you are all ready, they open the gates and off you go.  The view is expansive and the ride is surprisingly fast!  As you approach the landing platform, the lines are designed to provide braking so all you have to do is enjoy the ride and trust that you will stop.  It is certainly fun, but I prefer zip lines that are part of a high tour rather than just a ride – just my personal preference.  If time is short and you are looking for a pure adrenaline rush, check out ZipRider!

The Full Monty – Spring Mountain
Spring Mountain is a small ski resort located just north of Philadelphia, PA. They offer a surprisingly entertaining canopy tour with a good selection of zip lines.

The full tour takes between 2 and 3 hours, but you can opt to do a shorter version if time (or money) is tight. The entire course is called the “Full Monty” and that is the tour we chose. A visit to their website makes it clear that reservations are required.  Unfortunately, they do not have on-line reservations so a phone call is required.  You can download release forms however. The reservation and base area staff don’t exactly go out of their way to welcome you, but they are adequate.

After checking in, you are given a short, but thorough safety briefing before heading to the top of the course. The guides appear to enjoy their work and are personable, but pretty low-key – which is just the way I like it!

At the top of the course you do a little bit of walking through some rocks before you reach the first zip line tower. Unlike some courses, you dive in right away with a series of 3 zip lines that are very enjoyable. After the first set of zip lines, you cross a fairly long bridge that delivers you to a platform with some options.  You can either choose to do another zip, or rappel off the platform, take a short walk and then climb a cargo net to rejoin the course. As I knew there were a good number of zips yet to come, I opted to rappel and climb. After the climb, it’s back to the zip lines. One fun zip and a pretty challenging swinging bridge bring you to the final 3 zip lines on the course. In my opinion, they saved the best for last.  The first one is fast and runs through a narrow cut in the forest so you really get the feeling of flying through the trees that I love. The final two zips are also fun and fast. This final section also includes a Tyrolean crossing, which is a rope traverse that climbers use to bridge gaps between rock faces. It is probably the one place on the course where newbies may have doubts. However, it is all bark and no bite – anyone can do it! The course ends with a rappel to the ground.

The Full Monty is $89.00 on weekends. They do have some lower priced, shorter options available.  The are now advertising a self guided tour that sounds very promising, but that was not available at the time of my visit. All things considered, they are a bit expensive for what you get and the attitude of the ground staff is a little off-putting, but the course is fun if your wallet can handle the price tag. While the Full Monty is good, the overall vibe of the place is just weird. The Vertical Trek at Roundtop (about 80 minutes from Philly) offers a better experience for less money. If you have the time to travel a bit, you will have a better experience at Roundtop.

To make reservations, call 610-287-7900 ext. 100 or e-mail  info@springmountainadventures.com. Their website is not going to win any awards, but you can check it out at https://springmountainadventures.com/.