This is NOT a sponsored post - if Treetop Trekking sees this, hook me up with some free tickets!
After five trips Treetop Trekking and Zip Lining I decided to write an in depth review for people looking to partake in this challenging but extremely fun summer activity. Likewise, below you'll find a list of my personal tips and tricks for making your trip run super smooth!
So what is Treetop Trekking?
Treetop Trekking is a summer activity that is offered seasonally throughout the year by the company Treetop Trekking. They're a Canadian based company with many locations throughout Ontario and Quebec that offer outdoor enthusiasts an unforgettable experience that is both physically strenuous and mentally stimulating! I was fortunately able to visit the Ganaraska, Stouffville and Barrie locations however my latest trip was to Brampton's Heart Lake Conservation Area in early July this year. To find out about their locations, requirements and to buy tickets, you can find out more by checking out their website here.
How does it work?
Participants check in upon arrival at the park and undergo a short orientation course once being fitted with a helmet and harness. After successful completion of the orientation - which requires a trust fall suspended solely by your harness - you are then guided to embark on a series of obstacle courses in the trees. They are grouped into 5 courses ranging from beginner to advanced and consist of both obstacles and zip lines. While you climb, your harness tethers you to the obstacle course using climbing rope, cables and carabiners. The courses have to be passed in increasing difficulty thereby you have to take the easiest courses before you attempt the hardest ones. Generally if you complete all the courses, it takes you approximately 3 hours!
Tips & Tricks:
Here are my personal tips on treetop trekking that I've found most useful and will make your experience more smooth:
BOOK ONLINE
This prevents you being turned away at the front desk especially after traveling from far to get to them as they tend to book quickly. You can reschedule once after you've booked but be careful, once you do, the tickets become non-refundable!
ARRIVE EARLY
Try to arrive 30-40 minutes early so you have time to find the registration desk, check in and sign the waiver. Bring your ID or parental permission if under 18! Arriving early also applies to booking - try to book for the earliest times in the day so you can enjoy climbing through a cool forest, not a hot afternoon forest.
WASHROOM
Arriving early also includes hitting the loo before you get harnessed up otherwise you'll be stuck in the trees until you finish a course to get back on the ground - you'll have to take off your harness too.
DRESS ACCORDINGLY
Prepare to sweat A LOT. Even though you're in the shade, it's still summer! I suggest dressing like you would for a hike in the woods, an off road run or a hot yoga session - don't forget closed toe sneakers for grip!
HYDRATE
3 hours is a long time to go without water - add sweaty exercise to the mix and you'll be dehydrated well before your finish. Grab water with you and keep it in your backpack (which you can leave on the ground while you climb) which you can take sips of in between courses.
GLOVES
Using your hands to grip trees, zip lines and constant carabiner adjustment can leave your hands sore by the end of the course. Don't let this slow you down by bringing gloves of your own like these ones from Amazon or you can buy them on site!
TIE IT DOWN
Attach everything you plan to bring with you on the actual course - glasses, your water, your phone, your camera, etc. You won't have hands to hold them and will have to look through the forest to find them if they fall (especially off the zip lines - some of which go over water). Alternatively you can keep these necessities in a bag close to the guides but be mindful that they'll be on the forest floor unattended.
MEDIA
Charge your media the night before and make sure you have extra storage space for the long activity. I suggest strapping a GoPro to your helmet if you have one. You can always bring someone to shoot some pictures of you from the forest floor and follow down below (this might be hard to do if they want to climb too!)
Pro Tips:
GAUGE YOURSELF
You should take into account your fitness level and endurance strength. If you're athletic, stick to the front of your group. This will motivate stragglers behind you and will prevent you from having to wait behind stragglers. If you're like me and lack endurance, stick to the back of the pack and enthusiasts won't bug you for your slow pace from behind you (it's more relaxing this way and you can take some cool pictures from back there anyway!)
FOOD
Bring food with you for after the trekk (in a cooler or thermos bag) because you'll be hungry and will probably end up cranky or buying the first fast food you see, let's be honest.
SAVE MONEY
Many of the courses are located in conservation areas requiring an admission fee for park use. Show them your Treetop Trekking tickets at the gate and you can most likely get away without paying for the fee! AND as of July 2019, if you check in at one of their sites on social media and tag them, they will give you $10 off your following climb!
HAVE FUN
As long as you follow the rules and love the outdoors - it's definitely a unique and satisfying summer activity! Here are some of the photos from my most recent trip with my close friend Ena - we chose to enjoy the experience as opposed to taking too many photos:
If you found this review helpful or have any more tips to add to my list, please comment below. Subscribe to Linda's corner and get more curated content like this straight to your inbox.
Happy Climbing!
Linda Kamaev