Rigi Rope Park: Snowboarding and Ziplining Through the Forest

At home, we measure my middle son’s height with his shoes on: 133.5 centimeters. That puts him in the 120 to 135 cm height category at Rigi Rope Park. We measure him again when we arrive and, sure enough, he hasn’t magically grown during the drive.

He’s a little disappointed to learn that we’ll be sticking to the three easiest courses, with one adult accompanying him at all times. But the height restrictions are there for good reason. Some of the more challenging obstacles are simply too big for him just yet.

High among the trees

Off we go into the forest, where nine ropes courses stretch a combined four kilometers through the trees. There’s plenty to tackle, from a wooden horse and a leap into a barrel to a climbing wall and the towering Viper, a giant climbing snake that rises 20 to 25 meters into the air. Ziplines are everywhere, too, including one on one of the advanced courses that’s a whopping 155 meters long.

But we soon discover that the three easier courses pack in plenty of adventure, even for kids who’ve been to a ropes park before. We ride a snowboard from tree to tree, haul ourselves across in a suspended basket, balance our way over car tires and crawl through wooden tunnels.

Ziplining to Lunch

The many ziplines are a highlight, of course. One of the courses takes us all the way down to Restaurant Alpenhof, with the final zipline shooting straight through a tree. What a ride!

At Alpenhof, we settle in for lunch at one of the outdoor wooden tables. There’s a huge playground with plenty of trampolines, and getting the kids to sit down long enough to eat is no easy task. But we need to refuel: we had so much fun on the three blue courses that we’re planning to tackle them all again after lunch.

Meet the Viper

Before heading home, we decide to take a closer look at the Viper climbing wall, even if it’s only from the ground. Wooden beams fitted with climbing holds rise 20 to 25 meters up an old tree trunk. The lower section is vertical to slightly overhanging, but things get seriously steep and challenging near the top.

A father is standing below, watching his son tackle the last stretch. He tells us that the boy has tried twice before but had to take the exit zipline both times, just short of the top, because he couldn’t quite bring himself to attempt the final section. But this time, he makes it. What an achievement!

Will We Be Back for the Viper?

“If I’m taller than 135 centimeters next time we come, maybe I’ll climb that too,” my middle son announces.  I have to admit, the thought makes me a little nervous. After all, that means I’ll have to tackle the Viper too. At Rigi Rope Park, children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. But for now, we’re both more than happy with everything we’ve experienced today.

Rigi Rope Park is open daily through the end of October, then on weekends with good weather in November. Check the website for the latest opening information.