Kōloa Zipline holds a 5.0 on TripAdvisor across more than 6,000 reviews as of 2026. The other two run different formats: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures builds a full interior day around the course, with a 4WD ride, a swim, and a bamboo grove lunch included in the price. Outfitters Kauaʻi at Kīpu Ranch has the widest price range, from a $69 prone-position FlyLine to a $255+ all-day safari.
Table of contents
- Comparison of all Kauaʻi ziplines
- 1: Kōloa Zipline
- 2: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
- 3: Outfitters Kauaʻi
- An introduction to ziplining
Age and weight limits differ sharply across the three operators. We’ve seen Backcountry’s mandatory 100-lb weigh-in catch families off guard at check-in. Check those restrictions before you book.
Complete list of Zipline Tours on Kauaʻi
Three operators run zipline courses on Kauaʻi, each with a different format, price, and access requirements. The comparison below covers the key decision factors: number of lines, duration, age and weight minimums, and what’s included.
| Name | Duration: | Starting Price: | Best for: | # of lines: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Outfitters Kauaʻi (Details ↓) | 3.75 hours | $69 | Thrill Seekers, Value | 1 to 6 |
| 2Kōloa Zipline (Details ↓) | 3.5 hours | $162 | Families | 8 |
| 3Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures (Details ↓) | 3 hours | $169 | Scenery | 4 to 6 |
Q: What is the best zipline for Families?
Kōloa Zipline has the lowest minimum age of the three operators (7 years old) and an optional ground school for first-timers and younger kids,
Q: What is the best zipline to see Scenery?
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures‘ zipline course descends a valley on 17,000 acres of former plantation land, with Mt. Waiʻaleʻale and multiple waterfalls visible from the lines.
Q: What is the best zipline for Thrill Seekers?
Outfitters Kauaʻi offers the AdrenaLine tour, which includes a ride in the prone Superman position on Kauaʻi’s longest zipline (the FlyLine, more than 3/4 of a mile) and a ride on the WaterZip, the only line on Kauaʻi where you release over a lagoon and land in the water.
Q: Which zipline offers the best value?
Outfitters Kauaʻi‘s FlyLine ($69) is a single prone-position line at Kīpu Ranch, over 3/4 mile long, with no full-course commitment required.
Kōloa Zipline
Best For: Families and first-timers
Kōloa Zipline has the most lines of any operator on Kauaʻi (8 total) and the lowest minimum age of the three operators (7 years old). The patented Flyin’ Kauaʻiian harness frees your hands mid-flight, so riders who want to try aerobatics, spins, or an inverted position on the longer lines can. Ground school is available for first-timers and younger kids who want more preparation before the first line.
An 8-line course, about 3.5 hours, with one line almost ½ mile long. Tandem lines let two riders zip side by side. Image: Kōloa Zipline
You walk short sections between the lines, and water and snacks are provided during the tour. Kōloa is a short drive from Poʻipū.
Kōloa Zipline on Kauaʻi: 8 Lines, Half-Mile Final Run
Eight ziplines on a 22,000-acre former sugar plantation, with a hands-free Superman harness and a final line that reaches roughly 55 mph. Open to ages 7 and up, maximum 280 lbs.
from:
$162
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.- Location: Kōloa
- Price: $162
- Tour Length: 3.5 hours
- Other Activities included in tour: Famous movie sites
- Number of ziplines: 8
- Minimum Age: 7 years old. Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Weight restrictions: max 280 lbs
- Where to Book: Kōloa Zipline
The following video by Kōloa Zipline shows several of their longer rides:
Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
Best For: Interior landscape, full-day experience
The tour starts with a 4WD ride into 17,000 acres of former plantation land, passes through seven ziplines descending a valley with Mt. Waiʻaleʻale as the backdrop, and ends with a swim in a mountain pool and lunch in a bamboo grove. This is the most restrictive operator: age 12 minimum, weight 100-250 lbs, with a mandatory weigh-in at check-in.
Guides talk about the history, culture, and environment of the plantation land along the route.
Backcountry Kauaʻi Zipline Tour
Seven ziplines zig-zag down a private valley with Mt. Waiʻaleʻale as the backdrop, followed by a mountain swimming hole and lunch in a bamboo grove. This is a full interior Kauaʻi day trip that happens to include ziplines.
from:
$169
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.- Location: Līhuʻe
- Price: $169
- Tour Length: 3 hours
- Other Activities included in tour: Swim in mountain pool, lunch in bamboo grove
- Number of ziplines: 7
- Minimum Age: 12 years old. Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Weight restrictions: between 100 and 250 lbs (mandatory weigh-in at check-in)
- Bookings: Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures
You can get an idea of the Kauaʻi Backcountry Adventures zipline adventure from the following review video, made by Hannah and Richard from Wild and Growing:
Outfitters Kauaʻi
Best For: Format variety and Kīpu Ranch setting
Outfitters Kauaʻi runs its courses at Kīpu Ranch, land that has appeared as a filming location in Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean. The format range is the broadest of the three operators: from a $69 prone-position FlyLine (over 3/4 mile, solo or tandem) to a $255+ all-day Kīpu Safari with kayaking and lunch. The WaterZip, where riders release over a lagoon and land in the water, is exclusive to Outfitters.
The FlyLine drops 400 feet in the first section.
Its Nui Kauai Zipline Tour ($170) has six ziplines, beginning with 600-foot side-by-side lines and building up to the 4,000-foot Superman-style FlyLine. The $170 Adrenaline tour includes a ride in the “Superman position” on Kauaʻi’s longest zipline (the FlyLine, more than 3/4 of a mile) as well as a ride on the WaterZip. A single ride on the FlyLine is also available for $69.
The all-day Kīpu Zipline Safari tour ($267) includes a two-mile paddle, the ziplines, a picnic lunch, a hike, and the WaterZip, and passes the Kīpu Ranch film sites.
Start with the $69 FlyLine if you want to try one line before committing to a full course.
Outfitters Kauaʻi Ziplines at Kipu Ranch: All Four Tours Compared
Six ziplines over Kipu Ranch's Jurassic Park filming locations, finishing with a face-down, 4,000-foot FlyLine that Outfitters claims as Hawaiʻi's longest single zipline
from:
$69
What is a suggested tour?Our suggested tours are hand-picked tours that receive consistent good reviews, give back to the community, and work hard to minimize their impact on the environment. Read more about these tours on our website.- Location: Kīpu Ranch, Līhuʻe
- Price: Starting at $69 for the Flyline up to $255 for the full-day Kīpu Safari
- Tour Length: 3.5 hours (main tours); full day (Kīpu Safari)
- Other Activities included in tours: WaterZip, paddling, picnic lunch, 1/2 mile hike, canoe ride, famous movie sites
- Number of ziplines: 4+ (varies by tour)
- Minimum Age: 7 years old, 4 feet tall. Safari: 5 years old.
- Weight restrictions: Between 60 and 275 lbs
- Bookings: Outfitters Kauaʻi
You can see shots of the WaterZip and the FlyLine in the following video:
What is ziplining?
Ziplining is a cable ride in which a rider clips into a harness and travels the length of a line under gravity. The rush comes from the speed and open air, but courses vary significantly in intensity: some are smooth and gradual, others reach 40-plus mph on lines close to half a mile long. On Kauaʻi, all three operators build their courses into the island’s interior terrain.
What to expect on a zipline tour
A zipline tour follows a predictable sequence: safety briefing, harness fitting, then transport or a short walk to the first line. After each line, the group moves to the next platform, either on foot or by vehicle, depending on the course layout. Some courses include extra elements between lines, like rappelling or suspension bridges.
The typical zipline tour takes 2-3 hours.
- Regardless of the company, the ziplining experience is always guided. Staff will assist you with your gear at each line.
- Some courses have “dual-track” lines, so two people can ride side by side.
- Safety harnesses are required and provided. The harnesses come in limited sizes and lines have weight restrictions, so size and weight requirements differ by company and course. Age limits also differ by company.
- No personal gear is necessary to zipline, nor is any prior experience. Helmets are provided. All you have to do is wear close-toed shoes (required by all companies).
Zipline Tours on other Hawaiian islands
Ziplining is available on all four major Hawaiian islands. Here are our operator-by-operator comparisons for each: