At Colorado Adventure Center in Idaho Springs
By Patsy Popejoy
Climb, jump, balance and face your fears at Colorado Adventure Center’s new Colorado Sky Trek. The aerial adventure park located just west of Denver at Idaho Springs is challenging visitors to get out of their comfort zone and have some sky-high fun along the way.
There’s a towering new attraction in town. Easily visible from I-70 in Clear Creek Canyon near Idaho Springs is a three-story labyrinth of ropes, wobbly bridges, a floating raft and other elements that make up the Colorado Sky Trek course. The aerial park, which opened in June, is the latest outdoor adventure offering from industry specialists, Colorado Adventure Center.
“Our goal in building the Colorado Sky Trek was to give visitors another opportunity for an action-packed adventure,” Kevin Schneider, owner of Colorado Adventure Center, said. “Almost everyone has a fear of heights; it’s an empowering experience to work through the course and face those fears head on. Kids are amazing at it!”
The mining-themed Colorado Sky Trek features 63 elements along three routes. Climbers can decide how much challenge they want to face and test their mental and physical abilities by choosing to go on easy (Copper), intermediate (Silver) or advanced (Gold) routes. All guests start out on the easiest levels and as their skill and confidence grows, they move through the course which increases in difficulty. Because guests are secured to a zipline that runs throughout the entire course, if an element is too challenging, guests have the option of zipping through it and on to the next one.
Not sure where to place your foot or what to hang on to? Colorado Sky Trek guides located on the three levels as well as on the ground, help guests navigate their next move by encouraging and coaching them through the various elements. “When people get off the course, they say they feel like they’ve been on an episode of American Ninja Warrior,” Ayla Graehl, Guide and Gear Supervisor for Sky Trek, said. “No flips or hardcore parkour though, please,” she added.
In a season when the state’s rivers are running lower than average due to a mild winter, Colorado Sky Trek provides an alternative outdoor group-centered activity to rafting that’s equally engaging. Navigating the course, organizations from businesses to sports teams and schools to faith groups have a chance to interact and bond over a thrilling shared experience.
Visitors and groups can enjoy Colorado Sky Trek on its own or combine it with the company’s other offerings of rafting trips and zipline tours. Colorado Adventure Center packages that bundle two activities include a delicious lunch served at a scenic creek side picnic area. A Happy Hour package allows visitors to participate in the activity of their choice (Sky Trek or Zipline Tour or Raft Trip) late in the day and enjoy a free beer at a local brewery in Idaho Springs afterwards.
Colorado Adventure awaits. To make reservations for the new Colorado Sky Trek, rafting trips or zipline tours, visit Colorado Adventure Center in Idaho Springs.
About Colorado Adventure Center – Colorado Adventure Center is located in Idaho Springs, Colorado just 35 minutes from Denver (Exit 239 at Idaho Springs) and 45 minutes from Summit County (Dumont Exit 234) along I-70 in Clear Creek Canyon. Colorado Adventure Center is one of the largest outfitters in the state and has nearly 30 years of experience providing guided outdoor adventures for individuals and groups. In addition to rafting trips and ziplining tours, the company opened the new Colorado Sky Trek aerial park in 2018.
Colorado Sky Trek Fact Sheet
What is it? Colorado Sky Trek is an aerial adventure park and the newest outdoor offering by Colorado Adventure Center located in Clear Creek Canyon near Idaho Springs, Colorado. Colorado Sky Trek gives visitors an exhilarating new way to play outdoors. Participants challenge their physical and mental limits in a safe environment as they navigate the course suspended high in the air by climbing, jumping, ziplining, shimmying and balancing, all while having an amazing and memorable experience. It’s ideal for anyone who is up for an adventure, as well as for groups of all kinds.
Distance: Colorado Sky Trek is easy to get to via I-70. It is 35 minutes from Denver, 45 minutes from Summit County, 60 minutes from Vail and 45 minutes from Winter Park.
Number of elements: Colorado Sky Trek has 63 different elements, all suspended high above the ground to challenge visitors.
Types of elements: a bottomless raft, wobbly bridges, a pick ax swing, monkey ropes, Swiss cheese, a spider’s web, and a tight-rope (considered to be one of the most mentally challenging elements).
Difficulty: The aerial park features three levels of difficulty. The easiest is the Copper level, intermediate is Silver, and the most difficult level is Gold. All participants begin on Copper, the easiest level, and work their way to more difficult elements. As visitors grow in skill and confidence, elements become more challenging.
Safety: All participants are secured via a zipline for the duration of their Sky Trek experience and move through the course in one direction. If an element is too difficult or “scary,” participants can simply zip through the element and move on to the next one. Should a climber “fall,” they will only drop a few inches.
Guides: Even though Colorado Sky Trek is self-guided with visitors traversing the course at their own pace, guides are on site to coach and encourage climbers as they navigate through the aerial park. Guides are located at each of the three platforms as well as on the ground.
Age guidelines: Colorado Sky Trek is appropriate for most ages and fitness levels, from beginner to experienced. Children must be four years or older. Minimum height is 46 inches. Maximum weight is 270 pounds.
Length of Trip: Most visitors complete the course within a two-hour time frame.
Packages: Visitors can combine Colorado Sky Trek packages with other Colorado Adventure Center excursions including rafting trips and zipline tours. There is also a Happy Hour package that begins with a Sky Trek tour at 5 p.m., afterwards guest can enjoy a craft beer at a local brewery in Idaho Springs.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/colorado_raft
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoAdventureCenter/
Address/Contact:
2697 Stanley Road, Idaho Springs, Colorado 80436
Phone: 877-947-7238; Website: www.raftingcolorado.com