Brittany and me during our zip lining tour, with Hill Country in the background
In the Texas Hill Country, we’re spoiled beyond measure. Few places on earth compare to the natural beauty in our area.
Most drive through Central Texas and get the perspective from the ground. But everyone does that, right?
Why not see the majesty of the Hill Country in a way that you’ll never forget? It’s time to zip line in Wimberley, Texas!
Wimberley Zipline Adventures
I’ve had a pretty adventurous life, but soaring over the Texas Hill Country on a zip line was one of the most exhilarating things I’ve ever done. Definitely checked this one off my “bucket list,” and I highly recommend you do too!
Gearing up for the tour
Wimberley Zipline Adventures is located between Austin and San Antonio, just south of Wimberley on the Four Winns Ranch. It’s less than an hour away from Austin.
Allow me to set the stage.
Imagine over a mile of zip lines, with stunning views extending 15 miles. You glide safely and effortlessly at speeds of up to 30 MPH from one end of zip line to the other. The experience is something you’ll be talking about for the rest of your life.
Everyone wishes they had Sarah’s unicorn helmet
Each zip line differs in length, ranging from 150 feet to over 900 feet. All of the zip lines are designed to hold 26,000 lbs, and the anchoring system and harness are designed to hold 5,000 lbs. Highly trained and experienced guides provide a fun instructional session at the base camp which they call Flight School.
Sarah teaching us the ropes during Flight School
Our guides were Sarah, Andrew and Tesia. They were not only professional, but hilarious and kind. It’s obvious that they love what they do. By the time the training session was done, anyone who was previously concerned about the adventure was completely at ease. Not an easy task for these guides, but they really did make everyone feel confident about the upcoming journey.
Our group stands in line, awaiting the next zip lining cruise
Once Flight School was complete, our group hopped into an all-terrain vehicle that took us to the top of the hill for the first of 10 zip lines. Once there, we got ready for the ground underneath our feet to start slipping away.
Don’t let the chill look fool you – Austinot Brittany is travelling a lot faster than you might think
More Than Just Zip Lining
We learned about the Texas Madrone during our tour
At the first launch point and throughout the tour, the guides took the time to talk about the ecosystem of the area. This perspective helped us to appreciate the area even more, as we learned about fossils found on the land and the Balcones Fault Line nearby. You can see a large collection of fossils that have been found by the guides back at base camp. But if you find a fossil on your tour, it’s yours to keep!
The most interesting natural element to me was the Texas Madrone tree that’s found on the Four Winns Ranch. Some of the trees are 250-300 years old. The Texas Madrone has a colorful spiral pattern on the trunk, and it’s said that its berries are hallucinogenics.
How Wimberley Zipline Adventures Started
Mike Robinson and Jim Turner are the owners of Wimberely Zipline Adventures. The two tried several business ventures over time, but nothing captivated them both. That all changed in 2006, when Mike and his wife took a cruise to Belize and tried zip lining as part of a tour package. He was hooked (pun intended).
Upon Mike’s return, he shared the experience with Jim who knew several ranchers in the area. The duo approached various ranchers, and the owners of the Four Winns Ranch were interested. It was an ideal location for constructing zip lines, so construction began on the project in January 2007. By March 2008, Wimberley Zipline Adventures opened for business.
Zip line stretching across the Texas Hill Country Landscape
Tours originally opened with five ziplines. Since that time, they’ve expanded to ten. Even with the expansion over time, Mike and Jim have done their best to keep their surroundings naturally beautiful and rugged.
When I had the opportunity to sit down with Mike, I asked him what separates Wimberley Zipline Adventures from other zip line companies. His response was quick and simple, “The experience itself is like no other. The attitude, enthusiasm and concern for the customers that our guides have makes the experience [with us] more than worthwhile.”
Wimberley Zipline Adventures can accommodate up to 125 people per day. They have five time slots and can hold up to 25 people in each time slot. Spring, summer and fall are very busy seasons, and it’s recommended that you reserve your spot early.
Tips for Zip Lining in Wimberley
- Use the restroom before you arrive. The only options on site are port-a-potties by the parking lot. Once you’ve started your adventure, it’s just you and nature.
- Weight limits are 250 lbs for men and 200 lbs for women. A minimum weight of 70 lbs is required to zip line.
- Everyone zip lining must be 10 years of age or older. Pregnant women may not zip line, and persons with neck, back, joint or heart problems are advised not to participate.
- Wear closed toed shoes. Avoid short shorts (which can be uncomfortable with the harness) and avoid extra baggy clothes. Leave your jewelry at home and your cell phone in the car. Also, no smoking is allowed on tours.
- Though there isn’t too much walking, only about half a mile total, it’s on rugged, uneven and uphill terrain. So be prepared. They’ll provide you with water. Take it!
- Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your tour time. If you’re more than 10 minutes late, you’ll miss your tour and there are no refunds given. This is in consideration of the other guests in your party.
- Don’t be afraid to try it. We absolutely loved it and would go back in a heartbeat! Any questions, hit us up with a comment. We’re happy to share about our personal experience.
There I go!
For location, pricing, availability and more information, check out the Wimberley Zipline Adventures website.
Update: Night Tours
All ready for the Night Tour
We got to return to Wimberley Zipline Adventures in July 2013 for a Night Tour. Night Tours are only available to those who have visited for a daytime tour, but they’re amazingly fun! Begin the night by snacking on appetizers and beer, then don chem lights sticks and glow necklaces and hit the trail in the dark.
On this visit, all 10 lines were open, and we even got to go back and do some of the longer lines twice. Because it was too dark to see the ground beneath us, we looked up to see all of the constellations above the beautiful Hill Country. The night breeze was refreshing, and we even got to enjoy a lightning show as a storm rolled in.
We highly recommend the Night Tour at Wimberley Zipline Adventures. It’s completely different from zip lining in the daytime. If you haven’t been zip lining yet, make sure you try both experiences!
@EricHighland asks:
What is the most adventurous thing you’ve done in Austin or the Texas Hill Country? Please comment and let me know. If we haven’t tried it yet, we’d love to check it out!
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