Ziplines

The Ozark hills give Branson better zipline terrain than most of the country – real elevation change and long sightlines over wooded valleys rather than a few cables strung between platforms in a field.

Three courses are listed. The Vigilante Extreme ZipRider at Shepherd of the Hills is the headline ride: you sit in a harness rather than hang from a trolley and cover the better part of a mile downhill at speed. The 8-Lines Zipline Canopy Tour, at the same site, is the slower guided option – eight shorter runs through the tree canopy with a guide talking you through each one. Branson Zipline’s Ozarks Explorer Canopy Tour takes a similar guided approach on its own ridge.

Worth knowing before you book: all three carry weight minimums and maximums, closed-toe shoes are usually required, and the guided canopy tours run considerably longer than the single-ride ZipRider – budget two hours or more. Both sites also operate other adventure attractions, so a zipline pairs easily with a coaster or ropes course in the same visit.