Top 9 Tips about the best Zipline Tour in Brainerd
We put things on our bucket list for all kinds of reasons. To face fears, to challenge ourselves, for the adrenaline rush, to recapture our youth, and even because it looks fun. I had going zip lining on my list for all of those reasons. The nice folks at Minnesota Zip Line Adventures could help with their Brainerd Zipline Tour.
*Minnesota Zipline Adventures sponsored this adventure, but as always my opinions are all my own.
My first mission was to find a partner in crime. My sister was the first person I thought of since we had done similar adventures growing up.
This was a little out of her comfort zone, but I managed to convince her we’d be just fine. I started to get concerned that she was getting cold feet when I texted her the morning of and she didn’t respond. Thankfully she showed up on time and we were off for our adventure.
The Brainerd Zipline Tour Tips
The Brainerd Zipline Tours is brought to you by the same company that offers the Kerfoot Canopy Tour in Henderson MN. The Kerfoot location also offers a ropes course for younger thrill-seekers that may not be ready for the full experience.
Get Ready for Ground School
Before you can do anything, you must attend ground school. Don’t worry, they provide this training before all their trips. This was the most comprehensive ground school training I have ever completed.
They have a practice line set up a few feet off the ground to try. The guides go over all maneuvers and hand signals used on our adventure. Then you get to try it all out. Once you are comfortable, you move on to your first zip line.
Tip #1: Have your pockets empty before getting in your harness.
The Brainerd Zip Line Adventure
The first zip line run is always the worst. You have no idea what to expect. Once up there, I got dizzy. It took me a minute to realize that it was the tower swaying in the wind and not me. I was afraid I was having vertigo from the nerves. After watching the people in front go, the fears fell away.
The only fear I had was if I would remember how to break when I got to the end of the Brainerd Zip Line Tour. I stood up to the edge, the guide did a quick hand position check to confirm I remembered how to break and I pushed off.
Below me was nothing more than the trees. It was completely freeing and exhilarating. It has an amazing view of the Pillsbury State Forest and Gull Lake.
My sister, on the other hand, did not have the same freeing experience. She was the last person left to go in our group. As she got in position, after 10 seconds, she would say, “Um, no, I can’t do this”.
The guide just waited patiently and told her she could do it. As her sister, I was already on the next platform and there was nothing I could do to help her.
After about 3 or 4 attempts, and some cheering from the rest of the group, she finally did it! I was so proud of her. I knew it was something she wanted to do but was terrified. She made it to the platform with no trouble. After that, she was hooked.
Tip #2: Make sure you don’t leave your terrified partner behind
Safety
At no point did I ever feel unsafe. You are connected to cables on every single tower or tree stand through 2 connection points.
The guides will never force you to do something you are uncomfortable with and there wasn’t peer pressure to do anything. The group was incredibly supportive.
Even if asked, the guides will not push you off a platform. It’s all at your own pace. The only pressure was peer pressure from those we told before we left let, we were going zip lining.
Neither of us wanted to back and having to tell our family we chickened out.
Tip #3: Trust the guides, they have your back
The Free Fall
The Brainerd zip line course has 15 miles of zip lines, broken into 7 zip lines, a 65-foot Indiana Jones-style bridge, and a 50-foot free-fall tower jump.
I may have mastered the zip lines but when it comes to stepping off a ledge into a free fall, that is another story. After watching the demonstration, my sister sat this one out.
I felt I needed to face this fear myself. They call it a controlled fall. Using a fan and magnet system, the harness gives you the sensation of a free fall for 3-5 seconds before slowing your descent to the ground.
On my first attempt to jump, I stood at the edge of the platform in total fear. I convinced myself to do it, but instead of leaping from the platform, my nerve had me collapsing and backing away.
I could barely stand. All I needed to do was take a step, or jump. After about 3 failed attempts to make myself step off an edge, I finally did it. It was the most terrifying, but exhilarating thing I have ever done.
Tip #4: Make sure to face your fears! You won’t regret it.
Other Things to Know
Cost
It typically costs anywhere between $75 – $89 per person. The price includes all 7 ropes, the Indiana Jones-style bridge, and the free-fall experience. Throughout the year you can score a lot of deals by following their Facebook Page.
Getting there
The Zipline facility is located back in the woods of Brainerd at the Mount Ski Gull Resort. It was very easy to find. They have a parking lot right out front. After getting set up, you’ll hop in a van and be transported to the ziplining course.
For me, getting to Brainerd was the hardest part, especially on a Saturday morning close to a holiday weekend. It literally took us 2x as long as the GPS was predicting. So make sure to pack in some extra time into your schedule if you aren’t staying in the area.
Tip #5: Give yourself plenty of time to get there.
Who can Zip Line?
There really are only a few requirements. You must be 10 years old and your weight has to be between 70-250lbs.
What should you bring?
Closed-toe and covered-heel shoes. Dress for the weather. Make sure your clothing covers the skin where the harness will touch. Otherwise, you may be left with marks.
No handheld cameras are allowed. This includes cell phones. They make you empty your pockets before you leave just to make sure. You will need your hands the whole time.
Go Pro’s or Action Cameras are the only option for photos or videos. They are available to rent for $20 or you can bring your own. The only camera attachment you can use is the head straps.
The hand glove and chest mounts will not work. The Brainerd Zipline provides straps for guest that wish to bring their own camera.
#Tip 6: Get some Video. Seriously it was so fun to watch everything again.
Bring a bug repellent with Deet. They have mosquitos and ticks in the area. You are spending 2.5 hours in the woods and you don’t want your reminder of the day to be from all the bug bits left behind.
#Tip 7: Dip your clothing in a permethrin soak to stop ticks and mosquitoes in their tracks.
Other Things to Do Around the BRAINERD ZIPLINE
Other Attractions to Visit
Some of the biggest draws to the area are Paul Bunyan Land and Brainerd International Raceway. Paul Bunyan Land is home to an enormous Babe the Blue Ox and a talking Paul Bunyan. The Brainerd International Raceway is home to some of the best motorsports in the states. Races run all summer long with their biggest race, the Lucas Oil Nationals in August.
For more great adventures in the area check out: 38 FUN Things to do in Brainerd Minnesota
Where to Stay
If you’re looking to stay overnight to do more in the Brainerd Lakes area, there are tons of places to stay. Part of what’s great about Brainerd is the resorts.
One of the biggest is the Grand View Lodge Spa and Golf Resort. If you’re looking for a more traditional hotel that the kids will love, stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Brainerd. They have a waterpark inside.
There is also the Crow River State Park for those wanting to camp. It’s just a few miles south of the Brainerd Zipline Tour, near the Welcome Center.
Tip #8: Staying in Brainerd will allow you to not stress about getting there on time and let you do some of the other great things to do nearby.
Would you do it?
I am already looking through my calendar to see when I can go again. This was one of my favorite trips of the summer and definitely the best zip line tour in MN.
They are offering Fall Colors tours where you zip line over the canopy of colors and will be adding Moonlight runs soon, so watch the Brainerd Zipline booking site to find out more.
They also have a location in Henderson Minnesota which is a little closer to the Twin Cities. The Henderson location runs courses in winter too. If you want to do an extreme adventure in MN, I would recommend trying out zip lining!
Tip #9: Make sure to reserve your tickets online. They get busy on weekends!