Montgomery Whitewater expanding with rope courses, zip lines, trails

Oct 30, 2024

A new kind of thrill is coming to Montgomery Whitewater, which is out to prove there’s just as much adventure on the ground — and in the sky — as there is on the rapids.

“It’s fun. It’s very exciting,” said Wilson Calhoun, land sports manager for Montgomery Whitewater.

He’s been trying out a new ropes and zip line course there called the Canopy Ridge Traverse. It opens Nov. 9, as does a new set of multi-use trails for hiking, running and biking.

“We are thrilled to create new ways for people to get outside and stay active at Montgomery Whitewater Park,” said Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Gustin. “By adding new attractions like these, we are becoming a go-to destination for locals and visitors to enjoy a wide range of activities as part of a healthy outdoor lifestyle, making Montgomery more attractive to travelers and a better place to live.

“We’ve got 16 high ropes elements that are up in the trees, traversing through different challenges — rope bridges, cargo nets, stuff like that.”

As guests make their way through, they’ll also go flying on seven zip lines set in between the rope challenges.

There are two separate courses guests can travel, plus the zip line segments range from 50 to 165 feet long. The courses end with a tandem zip line that's approximately 150 feet long.

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“At the highest point, you’re probably about 40 feet off the ground,” Calhoun said.

Imagine the scenes as you climb and soar alongside the Alabama River.

“You get a good view while you’re traversing up high in the trees and going down these zip lines,” Calhoun said.

While the amount of time to make it through the course depends on each person’s ability and the size of the group, Montgomery Whitewater is booking 2 hour trips.

“Something like this course is a great opportunity for groups to get out and get out of their comfort zone a little bit, and do some team building,” Calhoun said.

While there’s no age limits for the ropes and zip lines, there are weight requirements. Calhoun said the course manufacturer recommends a minimum of 75 pounds and maximum of 275.

“That weight range is not because the course won’t support people outside of that weight range, but rather for the safety of the people on the zip lines,” Calhoun said. “If you’re under 75 pounds, you might not get to the bottom of the zip line. On the other hand, you don’t want to gain too much speed going down the zip line.”

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Though the rope courses and zip lines open Nov. 9, booking access to will begin Nov. 1 at montgomerywhitewater.com. The process is similar to booking a rafting trip. Calhoun said that once the course officially opens Nov. 9, guests can also purchase access in person at the facility. Calhoun said group rates will be available.

While Montgomery Whitewater provides all the safety gear, like helmets and harnesses, there are some personal clothing requirements for guests. They must wear shoes with closed toes.

“We also ask that you wear clothing that is not very loose,” Calhoun said. “It must be secure on the body. Things like dresses and skirts won’t work on this.”

Down on the ground, Montgomery Whitewater has about three miles of trails for hikes, runs, and mountain bikes that are open to everyone — no limits on weight or age, plus they’re free to use.

“No charge to hike on the trails. You can bring your own bike on the trails, go running on the trails for free,” Calhoun said.

For guests who want to rent a mountain bike to ride there, Calhoun said they’ll be available from Montgomery Whitewater.

“They’re not challenging,” Calhoun said of the trails. “They’re very beginner friendly.”

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They’re also very scenic, with some trails leading near the Alabama River.

“It’s a wooded area and it’s really pretty,” Calhoun said. “One of the trails in particular, you’re up on a bluff next to the Alabama River, so you get a chance to see all types of wildlife on the banks of the river and all types of plant life as well. There’s really cool oak trees and sycamore trees.”

One trail goes up near a swamp with cypress trees.

“I’ve been back there, and I’ve seen all types of wildlife like deer, birds, small fox squirrels, raccoons, that type of thing,” Calhoun said.

There’s no age limit for the trail, but young children should be accompanied by an adult.

In November, Montgomery Whitewater has plans to open a 5,000-square-foot ice rink on the property. They’ve also previously announced plans for a small water trail area for children, a hotel, and a brewery on the property.

It currently has a restaurant and bar, and frequently hosts live music acts.

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The 120-acre facility opened in the summer of 2023, with artificial whitewater channels, one of three such systems in the U.S. Along with rafting and kayaking by the general public, it has been used for canoe and kayaking competitions, and as a trial area for the U.S. Olympic kayaking and canoeing team.

The grounds have also been used for activities like 5K races and fun runs, events designed to keep people active.

For those not getting on the water, or not going through the rope and zipline course, Montgomery Whitewater is open to the public to explore for free.

Follow events there online at montgomerywhitewater.com.

Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at [email protected]