7 Tree-Top Tours You Should Take In Illinois Before Winter Comes
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published September 22, 2017
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
There are no limits to the incredible adventures you can have in Illinois. For a unique perspective of the state only the most daring get to see, take one of these seven tree-top tours. The adrenaline rush of your life is waiting in the skies.
Though most might consider zip lines and canopy walks to be summer activities, autumn might just be the actual best time to go. Keep scrolling for the best ways to view fall foliage.
One of the best places to view the changing leaves in the state is near the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers at 800 Timber Ridge Drive in Grafton. There you'll find a zipline that takes you 200 feet above ground for two miles and nine lines. It is open daily April through November.
This wonderland of tree-top fun is open April through early November on the weekends. Saturday and Sunday tours are given at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at 7859 State Route 37 in Kinmundy. Activities include a 40-foot climbing wall, a spiral staircase, three ziplines, two sky bridges, and kayaking.
One of the best tree-top tours in the state is this epic adventure. Guests enjoy six ziplines, a UTV ride, a sky bridge, and hiking through some of the most gorgeous forestry in the Midwest. The longest line is over 1,200 feet and speeds can reach 40 miles per hour. Tours are available by reservation through the end of October at 3247 W Longhollow Road in Elizabeth.
Take in the best views fall has to offer at 635 Robinson Hill Road in Makanda where there are eight ziplines and three aerial bridges. Guests can explore this 83-acre course in the Shawnee National Forest through December.
This epic journey takes you on five ziplines which include dual racing lines and double-decker lines which are up to 1,000 feet long and 65 feet above ground. Located at 4402 Larson Avenue in Rockford, you'll only be able to enjoy summer greenery here as the adventure is only available Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Part of a network of tree-top tours, the Illinois location is located in Bemis Woods at 1100 Ogden Avenue in Western Springs. Guests enjoy five ziplines and 39 unique crossings spanning five different sections. Tours are available through the end of November on weekends. There are also bike trails and hiking paths.
Beautiful fall foliage can be found at 2681 E US Route 6 in Marseilles where there are eight different lines, including dual racing lines. The guided tour takes guests up to speeds of 45 miles per hour, and it is available by reservation through October with some dates in November.
