Travelers looking to glide through vineyards indulging in some of California’s finest wines know all about Sonoma County. But what about travelers looking to glide through the treetops and indulge in nature? Sonoma County might be known for wine, but it’s fast becoming a well-rounded glamping destination for all types of travelers – particularly when it comes to family getaways.
Photo: Jessica Peterson
This California Treehouse Adventure Combines Glamping With Ziplines Through the Redwoods
This is the driving force behind Sonoma Zipline Adventures. Don’t the name fool you. This isn’t just a zipline tour venue. It’s a one-stop-shop for treetop glamping, forest exploring, and high-flying adventure. Located in the heart of the redwood forest just 30 minutes west of Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, the company is surrounded by Northern California’s iconic Coastal Redwoods, meaning you’ll be flying under giant canopies and getting up close and personal with some of the tallest, oldest living things you’ve ever seen. And when the day is over you’ll become one with the trees, sleeping in one of the property’s treehouses that blend seamlessly into the forest.
Get up close and personal with the Redwoods
Redwood trees are among the most famous and recognizable trees in the world for a reason. Native to Northern California, these trees reach heights of 300 feet or higher and can be thousands of years old. When you visit Sonoma Zipline Adventures you won’t just be soaring through the Redwoods – you’ll be learning about them, too.
Tours begin at the Welcome Center, where experienced nature guides bring you through the redwood forest and get you acquainted with your surroundings. There’s also the Redwood Walk, which starts near the Welcome Center, where you can take a self-guided tour of the area. Along the way, you’ll find informational markers about the forest’s trees and learn what makes the forest so special.
Soar through the treetops
If there’s one way to see the massive trees that’s more thrilling than walking, it’s flying through it. From views of the forest and deep ravines to rappelling from up high to the forest floor and walking sky bridges, there’s no shortage of adventure to be had. Three separate tours are offered, each of which provides a different high-flying experience.
The Tree Tops Course is the longest and fastest, where zipliners can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. This course, with seven zip lines, two sky bridges, and a rappel experience, features stunning views of the redwood forest from 250 feet above the ground.
The Forest Flight Tour also has seven ziplines, and goes slightly slower than the Tree Tops Course with speeds up to 30 miles per hour. It also has sky bridges, a rappel, a 30-foot spiral staircase, and ends with an educational experience led by your guide.
True to its name, the Night Flight Tour is a nighttime version of the zipline course. Take the same Forest Flight Course at sunset or after dark, when you’ll be able to see the night sky, moon, and stars from our treetop platforms. And yes, you’ll still be able to enjoy a 60-foot rappel and 30-foot spiral staircase.
Sleep in the trees
Just because your day of ziplining is over doesn’t mean you have to put your feet on solid ground. One of the property’s most memorable features isn’t the ziplines at all, but the treehouses where you can spend the night. Treehouses sleep up to four people in an open concept-style glamping experience.
Booking the treehouse doesn’t just mean sleeping amid redwood canopies, though. It’s a whole experience that includes all the property’s adventure offerings as well. Starting mid-afternoon, you’ll have your Forest Flight Tour, followed by a moderate hike to your private treehouse. In the evening, a gourmet dinner will be delivered to your room (probably the most unusual room service you’ve ever received).
The next morning, you’ll wake up to a two-course breakfast, with coffee and pastries followed shortly after by a hot meal – also delivered to your room. After breakfast, you’ll greet the day with a Tree Tops Tour, bringing you right from our treehouse complex onto the property’s longest and fastest ziplines.
You can also opt for the Treehouse Itinerary without ziplining, if you prefer to simply relax and enjoy the beauty of the redwood forest. The non-zipline experience includes a “Wonder and Ponder” trail hike, dinner and breakfast served to your room, and a guided sensory activity in the woods the following morning.