A Day Trip to Zip the Canyons in Ocala, Florida
With the cooler temperatures finally upon us, it’s the perfect time to plan a fun day trip to just about anywhere. If you’re the adventurous type like me, you should try Zip the Canyons in Ocala, the only true canopy tour in all of Florida.
We live in a flat state yet somewhere close to the middle is this incredible 94-acre canyon. The canyon is an abandoned limestone quarry left behind by miners in the 1930s. The four lakes and two canyons making ziplining an incredible adventure surrounded by beauty that you thought you would never see in the State of Florida. Zip the Canyons tours have become famous for its 1100 foot zip across Lost Spring Lake while Sky High Canyon zips you straight over Gator Lake. It’s truly spectacular scenery!
At Zip the Canyons you can choose from four different zip adventures with different amount of zips depending on the amount of time you want to spend on the lines. These ziplines are considered to be the highest, longest and fastest lines over water not just in Florida but in the United States as well.
I have zipped these lines three times with my most recent trip being June 2022 and each time gets better and better. On top of becoming more comfortable with my slight fear of heights, it’s always been a great escape from the norm and stepping out of comfort zones. The team and zip guides have always been incredibly encouraging, fun and extensively knowledgeable. I personally love the full experience of the Big Cliff Canyon Tour of 9 zips, 2 rope bridges and 1 rappel. I don’t want to miss a thing and I want to see it all. For those with less time or don’t want to experience the higher zips, there is also the Tree Top Express with 5 zips along the tree tops within the canyon.
Ziplining is not all they do at Zip the Canyons. It’s also an adventure park where you can experience the canyons on horseback. Anyone else immediately think “Yellowstone?” Guides will lead you on a scenic horseback tour through the nearly 100 acres of Big Cliff Canyon and Sky High Canyon. The horseback tour is also offered once per month at night during the full moon when you can enjoy the nighttime adventure to include fireside smores and wine by the lake.
Last, but definitely not least, there’s a kayak tour! You can paddle along Lost Spring Lake through Big Cliff Canyon to experience this one of a kind canyon in Florida. You’ll paddle under the zips across the spring fed lake while your guide points you in the direction of fossils and provides all the interesting facts that bring this unique property to life.
If you’re looking for a fun day trip, I highly recommend The Canyons Zipline & Adventure Park. So much to do and so much fun! Zip the Canyons is located at 8045 Northwest Gainesville Rd, Ocala, FL 34475.
About the Author
Jenn Heller is the Operations Manager for The Volen Group, Keller Williams Luxury International, with over 18 years experience in Real Estate. She is an Atlantic Beach resident via Long Island, NY since 1991, a book worm, and loves sports, dogs and the beach.
