Lake-view zip-line tours debut in Big Bear

If you’ve been wishing for a zip-lining opportunity closer to home than, say, San Diego or Hawaii, you’re in luck: You can now brush elbows with the treetops in Big Bear.

Flying Bear Zip Lines, which opened to the public June 13, runs five zip-lines that will get you zooming through and above Big Bear’s natural offerings, crossing through forest and over canyons.

On the guided tours, participants get to experience “zipping toward the lake, 90 feet in the air,” said Terilynn Bondeson of Flying Bear Zip Lines, which is a division of Lodestone Adventures. You can see Big Bear Lake from all of the zip-line routes though four out of five, she said, offer really great lake views.

Participants have a choice of one of two tours: the “Black Bear” tour involves three zip-trips and runs 1.5 to two hours for $65 per person, and the “Grizzly Bear” option consists of five zip-trips and goes 2.5 to three hours for $85 per person. Prices include tax.

All tours begin with a 15-minute orientation. And first-timers might be relieved to know that a “bunny run” zip-line is available to get your feet wet before fully diving in.

Tours run year-round and are available daily. Participants must be at least 48 inches tall and weigh a minimum of 75 pounds, though those who don’t meet the requirement can zip tandem. The maximum weight is 250 pounds. Other rules and regs can be found here.

Contact: Flying Bear Zip Lines, (909) 866-3260

– Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photo: Zipping through Big Bear's great outdoors; Flying Bear Zip Lines]

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This entry was posted on Friday, June 19, 2009 at 2:22 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Family & Kids, Los Angeles, Outdoors & Adventure, Summer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.