Sky High Opens This Weekend
Sky High Opens This Weekend
Aerial Adventure Park to kick off 2025 season with Mother’s Day special
Sky High Adventure Park at Holiday Valley Resort is gearing up to open for the 2025 season this weekend, inviting guests to experience an exhilarating mix of high-flying thrills and open-air adventure. As the largest aerial park in New York State - and the third largest in the country - Sky High features 13 treetop courses designed for ages 7 and up, with challenges ranging from easy to expert. First-time visitors will be captivated by the park’s creative layout nestled in the forest next to Tannenbaum lift, where every obstacle not only offers a challenge with every visit, but delivers a view that will get your adrenaline pumping.
The park boasts an impressive 170 elements - including but not limited to, suspended bridges, balancing logs, and climbing nets - spread across 5 acres. Each course provides a unique combination of fun, fitness, and fresh air, and ziplines let guests soar through the treetops, with the final flyaway leading you back to familiar ground in front of Tannenbaum Lodge. The Lodge will be open for food service.
“Sky High is such a fantastic component of what Holiday Valley has to offer during the summertime,” said Dash Hegeman, Marketing Director at Holiday Valley. “It adds a totally different element of adventure and excitement to what people can do here in Ellicottville. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get active, and make memories with family and friends.”
In addition to the treetop courses, the park also boasts a Climbing Forest - a vertical playground where climbers can test their strength and strategy on a range of climbing trees, each offering varying levels of difficulty. Perfect for younger adventurers or those seeking a different type of challenge, the Climbing Forest allows participants as young as 5 to ascend trees equipped with color-coded handholds. Each climber is harnessed and attached to a belay system, ensuring a safe descent from heights up to 45 feet.
All necessary safety gear is provided for both the aerial park and climbing forest, and trained staff are on-hand to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience. If you find yourself frozen in the trees, don’t fret - there’s assistance available every step of the way. “The Sky High Staff is exceptionally trained on every route that Sky High has to offer, and they do a great job of being able to talk people through any feature that someone might be struggling on,” said Hegeman. “In the rare occasion that someone is just stuck and cannot get through a feature, the staff is awesome at getting up to them very quickly and helping them get back onto solid ground.”
Speaking of solid ground, for a more “grounded” activity, the Gem Mining Station at Sky High offers a hands-on activity that lets kids and adults alike uncover sparkling treasures, just like real prospectors. Sift through the sediment, find colorful rocks and gems, and take home your own collection of earthly souvenirs. It’s the perfect mix of education and excitement.
On Mother’s Day (this Sunday!), moms climb free with the purchase of a full-priced ticket at the ticket booth. Other notable dates to keep in mind: Locals Day is May 16th (and June 24th) this year. Locals can climb for $15 with proof that you are a Cattaraugus County resident. And on May 23rd (weather pending), the Sky Flyer Mountain Coaster will open.
With the trees budding and temperatures warming, NOW is a great time to head outdoors and enjoy one of the region’s most unique recreational experiences. The forest canopy is filling in nicely, making Sky High an ideal escape from screens and daily routines. Whether you’re looking for a weekend adventure, a team-building activity, or a unique birthday outing, Sky High promises something for everyone. So grab your harness and get ready to climb, zip, and explore - the trees are calling!
For more information about Sky High, including hours, safety guidelines, and to purchase tickets, visit www.holidayvalley.com. Reservations are highly recommended, especially on weekends and holidays.
