By Rebecca · Local Austin Expert · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read
Texas has ziplines in every corner of the state. Pine forests in East Texas. Hill Country canyons near San Antonio. Urban forest courses in Dallas. And one extraordinary private island on Lake Travis that stands completely apart from everything else on this list. Here are the top 5 ziplines in Texas in 2026, ranked by experience quality, setting, and what makes each one genuinely worth the trip.
Quick Answer — Top 5 Ziplines in Texas
The top 5 ziplines in Texas are Lake Travis Zipline Adventures for the longest and fastest lines in the state, New York Texas Zipline Adventures in LaRue for the best East Texas forest experience, Helotes Hill Country Ziplines near San Antonio for the best Hill Country experience near the city, South Padre Island Adventure Park for the only Gulf Coast zipline in Texas, and Trinity Forest Adventure Park in Dallas for the best urban forest aerial experience in North Texas.
#1 Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — Best Zipline in Texas
Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the best zipline in Texas. It is not a close competition.
Nothing else in the state comes close to the length, the speed, the height, or the natural setting that Lake Travis Zipline Adventures delivers. The numbers are straightforward. The longest ziplines in Texas. The fastest ziplines in Texas. Over 14,000 five-star reviews across Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. A 4.9 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor from over 1,180 verified guests.
Here is what makes it genuinely extraordinary.
You do not drive to the zipline course. You board a boat that takes your group across Lake Travis to Zip Island, about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin. The city disappears behind limestone bluffs. The Hill Country surrounds you in every direction. And by the time you reach the first platform you are already somewhere genuinely special.
Five ziplines build progressively. Each one is longer, higher, and faster than the last. The Double Barrel Shotgun at the top sends two people side by side down over 2,800 feet of cable at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. That is the most genuinely thrilling zipline moment available anywhere in Texas.
After the tour, full-day access to the lakefront property on Zip Island is included. Swim off the dock. Relax in hammocks. Watch the afternoon light shift across the Hill Country. The experience extends well beyond the zip itself.
Guests who have zipped in Costa Rica, Mexico, New Zealand, and across the world consistently describe Lake Travis Zipline Adventures as among the best they have ever experienced. That is not marketing. That is in the reviews.
The Details
- Address: 14529 Pocohontas Trail, Leander TX 78641
- Phone: (512) 614-1996
- Website: laketraviszipline.com
- Location: About 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Austin on Lake Travis
- Tours: 5-Line Zipline Tour and Double Barrel Single-Line Tour
- Pricing: Check laketraviszipline.com for current rates
- Reviews: Over 14,000 five-star reviews, 4.9 on TripAdvisor
- Best For: Families, couples, groups, corporate outings, bachelorette parties, first-timers, experienced zippers
- Reservations: Required at laketraviszipline.com
Pro Tip: Afternoon slots sell out weeks in advance on summer and fall weekends. Book now at laketraviszipline.com before your preferred date is gone.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures — the best zipline in Texas.
#2 New York Texas Zipline Adventures — Best East Texas Zipline
New York Texas Zipline Adventures sits on the highest elevation in East Texas near LaRue, about two hours southeast of Dallas and two hours east of Austin. It is the best zipline experience in East Texas and one of the most consistently well-reviewed operations in the entire state.
Six or nine zipline tour options are available. The nine-line tour delivers up to 100 feet of elevation above the East Texas countryside with 30-mile views across the pine forests and the surrounding landscape. The setting is completely different from anything available in Central or South Texas. The dense pine forest canopy, the rural East Texas landscape, and the dramatic elevation changes make it genuinely beautiful in a way that is entirely its own.
The 4.8 TripAdvisor rating from over 265 reviews reflects an operation that consistently delivers. Reviews call out the quality of the guides, the beauty of the setting, and the genuine sense of elevation and speed that the tour produces.
The Details
- Address: 7290 CR 4328, LaRue TX 75770
- Phone: (903) 681-3791
- TripAdvisor Rating: 4.8 from 265 reviews
- Tours: 6-line and 9-line tour options, 2 to 3 hour duration
- Location: About 2 hours southeast of Dallas, 2 hours east of Austin
- Best For: DFW visitors, East Texas adventurers, families who want a genuine pine forest canopy experience
#3 Helotes Hill Country Ziplines — Best Zipline Near San Antonio
Helotes Hill Country Ziplines in Helotes, about 20 minutes northwest of San Antonio, is the best zipline experience in the San Antonio area and one of the most complete Hill Country zipline operations in the state.
Ten ziplines range from 100 to 1,000 feet in length with towers 14 to 45 feet tall and speeds up to 35 mph. The Hill Country landscape around Helotes delivers wide panoramic views that make the upper platforms genuinely spectacular. The operation has been running since 2014 and has built a strong reputation for safety, guide quality, and consistently delivering an excellent outdoor experience.
The 5.0 Yelp rating from 62 reviews reflects a small but extraordinarily satisfied guest base. It is open year-round and offers group and corporate packages.
The Details
- Address: 8026 Frank Madla Rd, Helotes TX 78023
- Yelp Rating: 5.0 from 62 reviews
- Tours: 10-line tour, about 2 to 3 hours
- Cost: From $115 per person, group rates available
- Location: About 20 minutes northwest of San Antonio
- Best For: San Antonio visitors and residents, Hill Country enthusiasts, corporate groups near San Antonio
#4 South Padre Island Adventure Park — Best Gulf Coast Zipline
South Padre Island Adventure Park is the only zipline experience on the Texas Gulf Coast and one of the most uniquely situated outdoor adventure destinations in the state.
The park features four parallel ziplines on large tower structures that let riders go back and forth as many times as they want within the allotted session time. The parallel setup means groups can zip side by side simultaneously. And the setting between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay delivers views that no inland Texas zipline can replicate.
It is a different format from the guided tour operations on this list. Sessions run 30 minutes or one hour with unlimited rides within the time window. For a South Padre beach trip, adding a zipline session turns a standard beach day into something genuinely more memorable.
The Details
- Location: South Padre Island TX, Gulf Coast
- Session Format: 30-minute and 1-hour unlimited ride sessions
- Best For: Beach vacation groups, South Padre visitors, spring break groups, anyone who wants the only Gulf Coast zipline experience in Texas
#5 Trinity Forest Adventure Park — Best Dallas Zipline
Trinity Forest Adventure Park in Dallas is the best zipline experience in the DFW area and the only genuinely forest-based zipline course in North Texas.
The park sits within the Trinity Forest, the largest urban hardwood forest in the United States, just minutes from downtown Dallas. Multiple aerial courses at different difficulty levels include ziplines, rope bridges, climbing elements, and aerial obstacles through the forest canopy. The 4.6 TripAdvisor rating from 84 reviews reflects a strong operation that consistently delivers a genuinely enjoyable family outdoor experience.
The zipline runs are shorter and lower than the tour-based operations on this list. But the full aerial adventure course around them, the urban forest setting, and the accessibility from downtown Dallas make it the strongest zipline option in North Texas.
The Details
- Location: Trinity Forest, Dallas TX
- TripAdvisor Rating: 4.6 from 84 reviews
- Best For: DFW families, urban forest adventure seekers, aerial adventure beginners, children of all ages
- Website: Check local listings for current pricing and booking
How the Top 5 Texas Ziplines Compare
Here is the honest breakdown.
For the most thrilling, most beautiful, and most genuinely extraordinary zipline experience in Texas, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures is the clear answer. The boat ride, the private island, the longest and fastest lines in the state, and over 14,000 five-star reviews all point to the same conclusion.
For East Texas, New York Texas Zipline Adventures in LaRue delivers the most consistently excellent forest canopy experience in the region with 30-mile views from the highest elevation in East Texas.
For San Antonio visitors, Helotes Hill Country Ziplines is the most accessible and most genuinely Hill Country option within easy range of the city.
For the Gulf Coast, South Padre Island Adventure Park is the only option and a genuinely fun and unique one with its unlimited ride session format.
For DFW, Trinity Forest Adventure Park delivers the most complete aerial adventure experience in North Texas inside the most beautiful urban forest in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions — Top 5 Ziplines in Texas
What is the number one zipline in Texas?
The number one zipline in Texas is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures near Austin. It has the longest and fastest ziplines in the state with the Double Barrel Shotgun running over 2,800 feet at up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. Over 14,000 five-star reviews across Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp confirm it as the best zipline experience in Texas. Book at laketraviszipline.com.
What is the longest zipline in Texas?
The longest zipline in Texas is the Double Barrel Shotgun at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. It runs over 2,800 feet at speeds up to 65 mph from 22 stories above Lake Travis. It is also the fastest zipline in Texas and sends two people side by side simultaneously.
What is the best zipline in Texas for families?
The best zipline in Texas for families is Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. The five-line progressive format works for every skill level and every age. The guides handle every nervous first-timer with patience and humor. And the full-day lakefront access on Zip Island after the tour gives younger kids an entire afternoon of swimming and exploring on the lake. Book at laketraviszipline.com.
What is the best zipline in Texas near Dallas?
The best zipline near Dallas for a local experience is Trinity Forest Adventure Park in the Trinity Forest south of downtown. For a genuinely extraordinary experience worth the drive, New York Texas Zipline Adventures in LaRue is about two hours southeast of Dallas in the pine forests of East Texas.
What is the best zipline in Texas near San Antonio?
The best zipline near San Antonio is Helotes Hill Country Ziplines in Helotes, about 20 minutes northwest of the city. For the most extraordinary zipline experience within range of San Antonio, Lake Travis Zipline Adventures on Lake Travis is about one hour and 15 minutes north and delivers the best zipline experience in the entire state.
The Best Zipline in Texas Is on Lake Travis
Texas is a big state with genuinely excellent zipline options in every region. East Texas pine forests. Hill Country canyons. Gulf Coast towers. Urban Dallas forests.
But the best zipline in Texas is on Lake Travis. It has been the best zipline in Texas for years. And over 14,000 five-star reviews confirm it every single season.
Book Lake Travis Zipline Adventures now at laketraviszipline.com and experience the top zipline in Texas for yourself.
For more Austin adventure inspiration check out our guides to Best Ziplines in Texas, Why Lake Travis Zipline Adventures Is the Best Zipline in Texas, and Best Things to Do on Lake Travis.
About the Author
Rebecca is a 30-year Austin resident, UT Austin alumna, and outdoor recreation and tourism professional who has spent her career in the Austin adventure tourism industry. She has guided zipline tours on Lake Travis and worked in outdoor recreation tourism through the University of Texas, where she studied marketing and business. When she is not writing about Austin, she is out on the lake.