Best Zip-Lining and Outdoor Adventures in the Poconos
If your idea of a great vacation involves more adrenaline than hammock time, the Pocono Mountains are built for you. This region has quietly become one of the best outdoor adventure destinations in the Northeast, with zip lines, whitewater rapids, mountain coasters, aerial obstacle courses, paintball fields, and ATV trails scattered across the mountains and valleys. The best part is that most of these experiences are set against a backdrop of genuine Appalachian wilderness, not a manufactured theme park landscape.
Our team at Pocono Pads hosts a lot of adventure seekers, from bachelor parties looking for thrills to families with teenagers who refuse to sit still. We have tested most of these adventures firsthand, and this guide covers the best ones along with the practical details you need to plan your trip.
Where Can You Go Zip-Lining in the Poconos?
Zip-lining has become one of the signature Poconos experiences, and several operators offer different styles of courses across the region.
Camelback Mountain Adventures Zip Line
Camelback Mountain in Tannersville operates one of the longest zip lines in the Pocono region. Their Zip Line Canopy Tour features a series of lines that run through the forest canopy and down the mountain, with the longest individual line stretching over 4,000 feet. The experience takes about two to two and a half hours total, including the shuttle ride to the top and safety briefing.
Riders must weigh between 70 and 250 pounds and be at least 48 inches tall. The tour is guided, meaning a trained instructor is with your group throughout the experience, clipping you in and managing the equipment at each platform.
The views from the Camelback zip lines are outstanding. You are riding across the face of the same mountain that operates as a ski resort in winter, which means you are looking out over miles of forested valleys from several hundred feet in the air. The speed builds gradually across the course, with the final lines being the fastest and longest.
Pricing for the Camelback zip line experience typically falls in the $50 to $80 range per person, depending on the specific package and any combo deals available. Booking online in advance is strongly recommended, as slots fill up on summer weekends.
Pocono TreeVentures
Pocono TreeVentures in Scotrun offers a different style of aerial adventure. Rather than traditional point-to-point zip lines, TreeVentures is an aerial ropes course with zip line elements woven throughout. The course moves through the forest canopy at heights of up to 50 feet, with obstacles that include rope bridges, swinging logs, cargo nets, and zip lines connecting the platforms.
TreeVentures offers multiple course levels. The Beginner Course is suitable for kids as young as 7 and adults who want a less intense experience. The Intermediate and Advanced courses increase the height, difficulty, and length of the obstacles. There is also a kids' course designed specifically for younger children.
Pricing runs approximately $30 to $55 per person depending on the course level. The experience takes about two hours. What sets TreeVentures apart is the interactive nature of the course. Instead of just riding a zip line, you are actively navigating obstacles, problem-solving your way across bridges, and using your whole body. It is a genuine physical workout disguised as fun.
Skytop Lodge Treetop Adventures
Skytop Lodge, the historic resort in Skytop, Pennsylvania, offers a zip line and aerial adventure course on its 5,500-acre property. The setting is exceptionally beautiful, with the course running through mature hardwood forest overlooking the property's lakes and golf course.
Skytop's adventure course is available to both resort guests and day visitors, though availability for day visitors may be limited during peak periods. The experience includes zip lines, bridges, and climbing elements at various heights. Pricing varies, so check the Skytop Lodge website for current rates and booking requirements.
The advantage of Skytop is the overall atmosphere. This is a more refined adventure experience compared to the high-volume operations at Camelback. If your group includes people with mixed comfort levels, Skytop's approach tends to be a bit more personal and accommodating.
What Other Outdoor Adventures Are Available in the Poconos?
Zip-lining is just the beginning. The Poconos have an impressive range of adventure activities that cater to every level of thrill-seeker.
Whitewater Rafting on the Lehigh River
Whitewater rafting in the Lehigh Gorge is arguably the premier adventure experience in the entire Poconos region. The Lehigh River runs through a dramatic gorge of forested mountains between White Haven and Jim Thorpe, and the rafting experience varies dramatically based on water release schedules.
Dam release days create the most exciting conditions, generating Class II to Class III rapids that provide genuine thrills without extreme danger. These releases are scheduled on specific weekends throughout the spring and summer months, and the outfitters build their calendars around them. On non-release days, the river offers a gentler Class I to Class II experience that is better suited for families with younger children or first-time rafters.
Major outfitters include:
Pocono Whitewater Adventure Center, one of the largest in the area, offering rafting, biking, and other activities. A half-day rafting trip typically costs $40 to $65 per person.
Jim Thorpe River Adventures, located right in Jim Thorpe, with similar pricing and the convenience of a downtown location.
Whitewater Challengers, which operates trips on the Lehigh and offers tandem kayaking options for more experienced paddlers.
A typical half-day rafting trip runs about three to four hours on the water, with the total experience including check-in, gearing up, shuttle ride, and the rafting itself taking about five to six hours. Full-day trips covering a longer stretch of the gorge are also available.
What should you wear? Quick-dry clothing, water shoes or old sneakers that can get wet, and sunscreen. The outfitters provide helmets, life jackets, and paddles. Bring a change of dry clothes for the ride home.
Camelback Mountain Coaster
The Mountain Coaster at Camelback is a gravity-powered coaster that runs over 4,500 feet through the forest on the mountainside. Each rider controls their own speed with a hand brake, so you can cruise gently through the turns or send it full speed for maximum thrills.
The coaster operates year-round, and summer rides offer lush green forest scenery compared to the snow-covered runs in winter. Kids as young as 3 can ride with an adult, and children 48 inches and taller can ride solo.
Individual rides are typically $15 to $20, or you can purchase a wristband that includes multiple activities. Lines can be long on summer weekends, so arriving early in the day or visiting midweek makes a significant difference in wait times.
Paintball at Skirmish
Skirmish Paintball in Jim Thorpe operates one of the largest paintball facilities in the world. With over 50 playing fields spread across 700 acres, it offers an experience that goes well beyond your typical suburban paintball park.
The fields range from open woodland scenarios to elaborate built environments with buildings, bridges, and fortifications. Skirmish hosts regular scenario events with hundreds of players, as well as private group outings for smaller parties.
A standard day of play including equipment rental, paintballs, and all-day access typically runs $40 to $70 per person. Groups can also book private sessions. Skirmish is particularly popular for bachelor parties, corporate team-building events, and birthday celebrations.
Minimum age is typically 10 years old, and players under 18 need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver.
ATV and Off-Road Adventures
For those who want motorized adventure, several outfitters in the Poconos region offer ATV and UTV tours through private mountain trails. Pocono Outdoor Adventure Tours and similar operators run guided excursions on off-road vehicles through forested trails, mud pits, and mountain terrain.
A typical ATV tour runs about one to two hours and costs $75 to $150 per person depending on the duration and vehicle type. UTV tours, where you ride in a larger side-by-side vehicle, are a good option for couples or parents with older children who want to ride together.
Riders usually need to be at least 16 to operate an ATV independently, with younger riders able to participate as passengers on UTVs.
Rock Climbing and Bouldering
The Poconos have natural rock formations that attract climbers, particularly in the Delaware Water Gap area. The cliffs along Mount Tammany and Mount Minsi offer multi-pitch climbing routes for experienced climbers.
For beginners and families, indoor climbing walls at Camelback Adventures and various recreation centers in the area provide a safer introduction to the sport. Outdoor guided climbing experiences are also available through local adventure companies that provide equipment and instruction.
Mountain Biking
The Lehigh Gorge Trail is the most popular biking route in the Poconos, running 26 miles from White Haven to Jim Thorpe along the former railroad bed beside the Lehigh River. The trail is mostly flat to gradually downhill, making it accessible for casual riders while still being scenic enough to satisfy experienced cyclists.
Several outfitters in Jim Thorpe rent bikes and provide shuttle service to the top of the gorge, so you can ride downhill back to town. Expect to pay $40 to $55 per person for the bike rental and shuttle combo. The ride takes two to four hours depending on your pace and how many stops you make.
For more technical mountain biking, Big Bear Mountain in Lackawaxen and other locations offer singletrack trails with varying difficulty levels. The Poconos mountain biking scene is growing, and new trails are being developed regularly.
Horseback Riding
Several stables in the Poconos offer guided trail rides through mountain forests. Carson's Riding Stables and similar outfitters provide one-hour and two-hour rides suitable for beginners and experienced riders.
A one-hour guided trail ride typically costs $45 to $70 per person. Most stables have minimum age requirements, usually 6 to 8 years old, and maximum weight limits of around 225 to 250 pounds.
Trail rides in the Poconos take you through genuine mountain forest, along streams, and through meadows. It is a peaceful contrast to the high-adrenaline activities and a great option for groups with mixed adventure preferences.
How to Plan an Adventure-Packed Poconos Trip
If adventure is the focus of your trip, here is how to structure it for maximum fun:
Day One: Arrive and settle into your property. Spend the afternoon exploring the immediate area, trying out the hot tub or fire pit, and planning the next few days over dinner.
Day Two: Whitewater rafting on the Lehigh River. This is a half-day commitment, and you will want the afternoon to dry off and relax. If you have energy left, explore Jim Thorpe's downtown in the evening.
Day Three: Zip-lining and mountain coaster at Camelback. Arrive early to beat the crowds. The adventure park offers enough activities to fill a full day, or you can combine a morning at the adventure park with an afternoon at the waterpark.
Day Four: Choose your own adventure. ATV tours, paintball at Skirmish, mountain biking in the Lehigh Gorge, or a challenging hike like Mount Tammany. This is the day to tackle whatever you could not fit into the first three days.
Day Five: Recover with a mellow morning, a state park swim, or a scenic drive before heading home.
Where to Stay for an Adventure Trip
The right property makes a difference when your days are full of physical activity. You want somewhere you can sprawl out, soak sore muscles, and refuel.
The Green Monster sleeps 16 and has an indoor bar area that is perfect for post-adventure gathering. Its proximity to Camelback means the adventure park and waterpark are just minutes away, which saves valuable time on activity-heavy days.
Spring Getaway handles 16 guests with a jacuzzi that becomes the most popular amenity in the house after a day of rafting or zip-lining. The fire pit is where the group swaps stories about the day's adventures.
Rustic and Modern sleeps 10 with a hot tub and fire pit, and its location 15 minutes from Camelback makes it an efficient base for adventure-focused smaller groups.
For groups that want on-site adventure, Creekside sleeps 15 and offers trout fishing on the property and a treehouse that feels like an adventure in itself. After a day of mountain biking or paintball, fishing the creek in the evening is the perfect wind-down activity.
The Poconos adventure scene has something for everyone, from mild to wild. Whatever gets your heart pumping, these mountains deliver it in a setting that is hard to beat this close to the city.
Browse our properties and book direct at poconopads.com. Our team can help you plan an adventure trip that fits your group's style and thrill tolerance.
