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Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park

Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park
5
Thursday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
About
Go Ape is an unparalleled outdoor adventure experience in Rockville, Maryland. Guests tackle dangling obstacles, explore the trees from a new perspective and fly around on multiple ziplines from exciting heights. The Treetop Adventure ropes course blends in with the forest environment, fostering a sense of natural wonder.
Rockville, Maryland

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles196 reviews
Excellent
166
Very good
22
Average
5
Poor
1
Terrible
2

Nikita A
Laurel6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Family
This was our first time visiting and the experience didn't disappoint at all! My daughter enjoyed all sites and had the time of her life. The staff was extremely efficient and remarkable providing exceptional customer service! We can't wait to return!
Written September 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Reema J
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2016 • Family
I was cocky. Not entirely cocky, just mildly cocky. I felt like this activity would be a breeze. "I skipped the gym in the morning to come to the forest and climb trees?" is what initially went through my head--as if to say that the gym would have been a better workout. It was awesome, and an awesome workout. I became fanatical about which lines needed to be tethered where and when, and how you were supposed to hold only the blue line when doing the zip line at the end of each segment. Incidentally, that was my first time on a zip line--never to be forgotten. I can't tell you how oddly thrilling stepping off of a perch some 50 feet or so up in the air was--especially when, for a split second--you believe you are about to plummet to the ground below. Not a chance of that though.

Chris, our instructor, was awesome about drilling us with the ins and outs of the course. Once you are in your harness and learn how to use the carabineers, you are completely safe.

There are 6 segments, the last two are pretty quick, the first one is deceptive--Tarzan swing into a net is not as easy as it looks. That said, this was one of the best workouts, and best weekend activities we have done as a family in a long time. Be prepared to get dirty. Don't get a manicure before coming out. DO wear gloves (my three blisters and bruised thumb from my own carelessness are proof of why gloves will be in my backpack next time). DO bring your GoPro--this is the type of activity that is made for those cameras. You will leave everything on the course and go home a happy camper.

A bit of advice for parents of young children--any child under 15 needs to have an adult with them throughout the course, so if you are making this a family outing, remember to allow time to pace yourself--that's more for you than your child as the kids could almost run through the course. Anyone 16-17 has to have a parent there, but you don't need to necessarily pace with them (because good luck trying). I was amazed by everyone that was on the course--and although there were moments of wanting to stop (can't if you're on a perch), it felt like a great accomplishment to take the last zip line back to the check-in cabin.

A LOT of climbing--lots of pulling up your own body weight, and then many moments where you check yourself because you realize you are perched on top of a tree about to descend on a zip line (I always landed backwards, but it didn't hurt--just got really dirty--but who cares).

Finally, don't show up during the peak season without making a reservation--they book fairly quickly. Bring your own snacks or a cooler for afterwards as there are many picnic areas to hang out after your done. The staff will stow keys and loose items for you--you don't even need to carry water as there are water coolers at each leg.

Thank you to the staff--we are definitely coming back (though not for a few weeks as I need to go lift some more weights)!
Written July 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robin R
Germantown, MD2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2015 • Family
What a great adventure we had with our teenage sons, who usually do not want to spend time with boring parents! I coined the phrase "forced family fun" for our outings. However, Go Ape was not forced at all!
When we arrived, our reservation was in order and they quickly checked us in. Expect a little bit of waiting for everyone to complete waivers - they are very safety conscious. Once we were set, our group leader Jacob oriented us to the equipment and the course. He was very friendly, professional, and patient.
It takes about 2-3 hours to complete the course, depending on how much fear people must overcome. Some people zip through it while others require a bit of coaxing. My husband and I are mid-40s and we loved it as much as our sons. Although the course requires some strength and balancing skills, it is not too difficult. Warning: once you get past the first site, you're pretty much on your own. Staff members do walk around on the ground and are within ear shot if you need help, but there is no guide up on the platform, which is different than the one we did near Harpers Ferry years ago. I actually like the independence.
Expect to get dirty. Expect to be tired at the end. Expect to laugh and have fun. Take potty breaks before you start. You might want to take gloves, like football, gardening, or golf gloves would be fine. We did not wear any; it just would have been a bit more comfortable while climbing rope ladders. They do sell gloves for $6 I think. Guys should wear 'sturdy' shorts, not gym shorts because the harness grips the crotch quite snugly. I wore workout type capri pants and they were perfect. At each station is a water jug, so you don't need to take water with you on the course. Packing a picnic for afterward would be nice because Needwood Park is beautiful. You also should take a change of clothes and shoes if you don't want mulch in your car on the way home.
It was SO FUN! No complaints at all. Well worth the time and money.
Written August 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

williamjacobs
williamjacobs24 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2016 • Family
I went to Go Ape having gone to Sandy Spring Adventure Park.

I went Father's Day weekend, Saturday for the last appointment figuring there'd be some room to maneuver around slow people.

Not so much.
At Sandy Spring Adventure Park (SSAP), three courses diverge from a single departure platform. You can see which of teh three courses is least crowded and you'll need to do less waiting behind rookies.
Go Ape is in linear format. You do six courses one after the other. It's not possible to know which course is less crowded. You can't see one start point from another. We tried skipping crowded courses only to find every course has a line.

One thing I like about SSAP is their safety equipment. At SSAP, you largely cannot disconnect from teh safety cables up high in the trees entirely. One clasp is always engaged. At Go Ape, teh safety instructors do a fine job telling people teh importance of having one clasp attached to safety cables at all times. Still, those with children may enjoy teh extra peace of mind SSAP can offer.

Go Ape has water at each starting platform, but there are only two or three of them. That may help them keep the water stocked.
Go Ape has water at all six, but they have to stock twice as many places. The six courses all had water jugs, but no cups. This may have been due to it being late Saturday?

Given teh crowds and the lack of cups, a weekday is a better choice for Go Ape. Furthermore, teh attendant told us they sometimes let people repeat courses they like if they aren't buys. That'll likely only happen during weekdays. On weekends. You do the six courses then you go. (Which is enough climbing for many people. It's still a good time. SSAP, you can do a favorite course as much as you like since it's time dependent, not six in a row and out.

Courses at SSAP also allow you to choose based on difficulty. Not feeling up to a blue or black course? Take a green again.
With teh six in a row format, Go Ape warns you away from course #4 if you're tired. So skip ahead and do it first.
Be warned, by teh time you walk ahead to course #4 then backtrack? If you go at teh end of teh day, they may have hauled the rope ladder up to course 1 and you'll miss a course or two.

Course 4 is rough because it has narrow, vertical ladders. Your center of gravity is outside teh ladder so you need to use upper body strength to just stay still. Pull in tight to put most of the force on your feet.
Further up is a ladder carved into a telephone pole like structure. Rock Climb style holds on teh sides are a help, but if not for teh safety ropes, this could be pretty scary. I felt better once I wrapped my arm around the pole and used just one hand and my feet for teh climbing with my right arm used to hold me against the pole.

So, SSAP has it all over Go Ape, right?
Almost. Do you like zip lines? Go Ape is for you.
Zip lines at SSAP are short. They're a fun finish, but not teh event-in-themselves that the finishing ride of Go Ape provides. Each course ends in a lengthy, often speedy ride. If the zip line is your favorite part, you may find Go Ape the better outing.

When you get to the landing area of Go Ape Zip Lines, prepare to use upper body strength to lift your body up a little, and drag your feet in teh mulch HARD. These two measures may save you from an otherwise humiliating fate. Ending up lying down in the mulch bed, untidy from stem to stern. It's not dangerous, just messy. You can dust off easily enough, but I consider it a challenge not to get mulched.

All teh same, I'd rather get Sandy (Spring'd) than mulchy. If you like zip lines, though? Go Ape is very much worth trying.
Written July 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WanderingRosa
Washington DC59 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2013 • Couples
We decided to try Go Ape in preparation for our trip to Costa Rica where we anticipate doing zip lining. The first three stops went fine. I did not realize that I had fear of heights until I realized that I had reached a point of no return - that is I just have to swing forward because I cannot go back....
My husband had no problem at all and had a blast. Most participants seem to have a ball and I may be a minority. Just be careful if you are one of those who have a fear of heights ... this is not for every one.
Written November 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

linzydc
Germantown, MD7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2015 • Friends
A friend and I booked our GoApe adventure through Groupon and had an excellent time yesterday. The course was indeed a challenging workout, but it had built in options to skip portions if you didn't feel up to them because of fatigue or fear. ;) The instructors had great attitudes- very friendly, approachable, supportive, and encouraging. Will definitely book again to introduce more friends (and my husband!) to this great activity.
Written June 14, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GentlemanBadger
Vienna, Virginia, United States8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2013 • Friends
This place is EPIC!

My sister and I heard of this place when it was mentioned in the news about a month ago, and being new to the area we figured we would try something adventurous. Therefore, we went the other day to Go Ape!

This place is perfect for pretty much anyone who is interested in having a little fun, exhilaration, and a minor work out (or major if you're a tad out of shape :)). Go Ape! is literally a giant outdoor treehouse adventure where there are ladders to climb, ropes to swing from, miniature obstacle courses to cross all while suspended up to 4 stories in the air, and the best part is that each course ends with a zipline finale.

When you first sign up you will be lead by an instructor who will go over all the safety features as well as the different clips and where they go. The 30 minute instruction is helpful because it contains both a verbal lesson followed by an actual practice session. The information is very simple and they make it very easy for you to remember which clip goes on where - it's color coded. When I went there were a few thirteen year olds who had no problem following direction so don't worry, you won't get lost or confused.

After the practice you are sent to the first course with one of the instructors watching from the ground. After you complete that course you, and whoever else you're with, will be on your own to complete the rest of the courses. There are a total of five courses...or maybe six.

The average time to complete the whole course varies on the speed at which you rush through it. Some people take their time while others like to race the clock. The instructors say it can take about 2 - 3 hours for the whole thing, which is pretty accurate. My sister and I got started around 12 and we finish just before 2pm. We were racing the clock.

Also, there's no need to bring water bottles because the beginning of each course has a water jug with paper cups. In addition, if you have family members who just want to watch, there are dirt trails all over the place where friends and family can watch their loved ones hop and swing all over the place.

It's a very safe place and very fun. Anyone can do it. As long as you don't have any issues with climbing a ladder you will have the physical ability to complete the rest of the courses. My sister and I are definitely coming back here in the near future. It's a great place for team building, a first date ;), or just with a bunch of friends or family members. As long as you are feeling up to a little adventure and some risk I'd recommend you check this place out. It's definitely an experience you won't forget, and unless you're afraid of heights, it's one you absolutely will not regret.
Written September 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Picacho
Falls Church, VA54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
I took my 10 and 13 year olds on a weekday morning. Great time to go, with only 3 other people on the course. Instructions were thorough even my 10 yr old felt ready for the course after the orientation. We had a great time and loved the entire course!
Written July 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jeffrey H
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021
This is not just a zipline experience; ziplining took up maybe 5% of the 3 hours it took to go through the course. Most of this is a challenging series of vertical climbs and traverses at varying heights. It's not an obstacle course, rather, a series of challenging traverses involving moving or unsteady cables, planks, meshes, etc. I am a middle aged Dad and to do this well, I needed (1) no fear; (2) average or below average weight; (3) above average upper body strength; and (4) very good balance. I have none of these qualities! Parts were fun, parts were terrifying, parts were frustrating. The training and safety demo/culture were well done. The staff were friendly. All of them young, athletic and trim, of course. The training station is a bit misleading...it's a simple, low elevation cable crossing and a very short zipline. You learn the proper safety procedures. But beyond this first station, you are essentially unsupervised for the rest of the 2.5 hours. The five remaining stations become progressively higher and more challenging. Nothing is said about the nature of the escalating challenges that lie ahead (you can't even see the other stations, they are buried in the woods) . At the training station you are given the opportunity to "quit now for a full refund" but the training station is so easy and simple, you think the rest will be a cakewalk. Not so! I was a miserable, trembling, sweating, anxiety-ridden, sore wreck at the end of it all. Once you are up on a platform, you are committed to pressing on. I think the staff need to do a better job advertising the true, difficult nature of the challenges up front - especially to patrons who are not in the best of shape and body composition. This is a message to all of us middle aged moms and dads taking your kids on this course - beware - this "treetop adventure" might not be for you!
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

agxnes
United States136 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Friends
Pros: Great equipment, great obstacle courses, friendly staff rounding. great location. Would come back again! Great for bonding.

Was hesitant at first but when I saw a grandma and her grand kid do it, I couldn't back out. I have fear of heights and being able to finish this was great!! There's safety harnesses that are built for this. You MUST be attentive with the training because you will be on your own up there. Simple rules- Hook yourself to safety all the time and transfer hooks one by one.
If you have sensitive skin, bring garden gloves or those cheap cloth gloves.
The course lasted about 3 hours and was well worth it :) There's free water in every pitstop too!
Written September 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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