Highline Adventures: check-in, ziplines and a day around them

Highline Adventures quick facts

Entrance

Highline sign on Highway 246, first right after OstrichLand; 700 E Highway 246

Check-in

Basecamp, across the river bed; arrive 15 to 20 minutes early

Zipline course

Humvee to the top; three lines back down to Basecamp

Zipline Tour

From $139 a person; varies by date

Sunset Zipline Tour

$165 a person

Hike & Fly

$150 a person; about 3 hours

Time

About 2 hours on the course; plan 2.5 hours in all

Zipline rules

75 to 275 lb; suggested minimum age 10

Wear

Closed-toe shoes; clothes you'd hike in

Skynet Playground

$20 kids, $10 adults (checked Oct 26, 2026)

Phone

(805) 556-4049

To Solvang

2.5 mi, 5 min from the Highway 246 entrance

Where do you check in, and where is the zipline course?

Highline Adventures check-in is at Basecamp, not at the sign. The sign stands next to OstrichLand, Basecamp sits across the river, and the ziplines start at the top of the ranch.

1. The turn: from Highway 101, take exit 140A toward Lompoc/Solvang and go about 1 mile east on Highway 246. Turn right onto the dirt road at the Highline sign, the first right after OstrichLand.
2. The ranch road: follow it all the way across the Santa Ynez River bed, about half a mile to three quarters of a mile.
3. Parking: back on pavement at the foot of the mountain, take the first right into the marked lot. Basecamp is a short walk up.
4. Basecamp: check in 15 to 20 minutes early for the waiver and a discreet weigh-in for harness fitting. Use the restrooms here, because the course has none. Late arrivals don't get refunds.
5. Gear-up: a short hike on a well-kept trail (10 or 15 minutes) to the Humvee pickup, where guides fit harnesses and run ground school.
6. Up and down: a 4x4 Humvee climbs more than 1,000 vertical feet to the first line. Three dual lines bring you back to Basecamp, where friends who aren't riding can watch the last line from the deck and lawn.

Heads-up: leave bags, valuables and phones in the car. Highline strongly recommends it unless you rent or buy a lanyard at the front desk, and its gloves don't work on touchscreens anyway. Lost on the ranch road? Call (805) 556-4049.

What is the Highline zipline tour like?

The Highline zipline tour is 3 dual ziplines, so you race whoever's next to you, over 1.5 miles of cable at top speeds over 50 mph, with the ranch's protea fields below. A full group of 8 spends about 2 hours on the course; plan at least 2.5 hours in all.

The Los Angeles Times put the three lines at 3,360, 1,600 and 2,650 feet and called them California's longest and fastest. Tours run in light rain. Eat before you arrive if your slot spans a meal (Basecamp sells drinks and snacks). Want better light? The Sunset tour rides at golden hour ($165), and full-moon Moonlight rides run too.

What is the Highline Hike & Fly tour?

Hike & Fly swaps the Humvee for your own legs. A guide leads you just over 2 miles and about 1,100 feet up, on fire roads and through the protea fields, to the first zipline; then you fly the same three dual lines down to Basecamp. It's $150 a person, starts at 9, 10 or 11am, takes about 3 hours and caps at 4 guests. Water is provided. You need to be fit for the hike and climb, and the zipline weight and health rules still apply. Check in at Basecamp as usual.

How much is Highline Adventures, and are there deals?

• Zipline Tour: from $139 a person; varies by date
• Sunset Zipline Tour: $165 a person
• Hike & Fly: $150 a person
• Adventure Park ropes course: from $64
• Protea Flower Tour: $65
• Skynet Playground: $20 kids, $10 adults

The best deal is Highline's own: 15% off when you book the Zipline Tour and Adventure Course together. There's also a photo discount for checking in and liking its Facebook page, plus e-gift cards; its site lists no promo code. Groupon has listed Highline deals (Skynet and the ropes course; a Hike & Fly deal had expired), and a Viator-sold zipline ticket ran $155, above Highline's starting price, so compare before you buy.

Reservations are required; book on the Highline site. All sales are final, but 48 hours' notice gets you a reschedule or store credit.

Age and weight limits, and what to wear

• Weight: 75 to 275 lb for ziplines, checked discreetly at check-in
• Age: suggested minimum 10; under 18s need a parent or guardian on the waiver
• Ability: reasonably good health, use of both arms and legs, able to climb down a 5-foot ladder
• Shoes: closed-toe only; no sandals, Crocs or Five-Fingers
• Clothes: dress for a hike: long shorts or pants, layers, sunscreen
• Hair and glasses: tie long hair back and lose loose accessories. Snug glasses are usually fine, but nothing dropped from the course comes back.
• Not allowed: pregnant guests

How do you wrap a day around Highline?

Everything below is within 3 miles of the Highline entrance, so the ride is the longest drive of the day.

• OstrichLand, the ostrich and emu farm: right next to the entrance on Highway 246. Buy a bowl and feed the birds; daily 9am to 6pm (gates close 5:45pm).
• Kaena at the Ranch, a winery tasting room: 800 E Highway 246, 0.7 mi, 2 min. Flights are $25, kids and dogs are welcome and you can bring outside food. Open 11am to 5pm, last tastings by 4:30pm.
• Firestone Walker Buellton Taproom, home of Barrelworks wild ales: 620 McMurray Road, 0.9 mi, 2 min. The gastropub menu has the 805 Smash Burger ($19), and Thursday is Tri-Tip Thursday, a $22 plate. No reservations. Sun 10am to 8pm, Mon to Thu 11am to 8pm, Fri and Sat 11am to 9pm. Its 30th anniversary weekend runs Nov 13 to 15.
• Industrial Eats, communal tables and a butcher shop: 181 Industrial Way, 1.6 mi, 4 min. Daily 12 to 8pm.
• Figueroa Mountain Brewing, the original taproom: 45 Industrial Way, 1.9 mi, 5 min, with Hudson's Grill; kids and dogs welcome. Sun to Thu noon to 8pm, Fri and Sat noon to 9pm; free trivia Tuesdays at 6pm.
• Vega Vineyard & Farm, lunch with farm animals: 9496 Santa Rosa Road, 1.9 mi, 4 min. Lunch daily from 11am, with a kids' play area.
• Avenue of Flags, Buellton's old Highway 101: 1.4 mi, 3 min. It was the main highway until the freeway moved in 1965; the flags went up in 1968, when Governor Ronald Reagan dedicated the avenue, and the wide grass medians are what's left of the highway. Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant there closed in January 2024 and was cleared for most of its demolition in July 2026; Pea Soup Andersen's Inn next door is still open.
• Solvang, the Danish village: 2.5 mi, 5 min to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum; Mission Santa Inés is 2.7 mi, 6 min.
• The Hitching Post 2, the Sideways steakhouse: 0.4 mi, 1 min. Dinner Wednesday to Monday from 4:30pm (closed Tuesdays); reserve. Its tasting room next door serves the HP 2 You lunch, Wednesday to Sunday 11:30am to 3pm.

A sample day: a 9am Hike & Fly lands around noon. Lunch at Firestone Walker or Industrial Eats, feed the ostriches, taste at Kaena before 4:30pm, then dinner at the Hitching Post 2 (any night but Tuesday).

Feeding time at OstrichLand, next to Highline's entrance on Highway 246. Open daily, 9am to 6pm.

The Skynet Playground

Skynet is a net playground for ages 2 and up, built in spring 2025, so the kids too small to zipline still get airborne. Under-6s need an adult with them. Sessions run up to 90 minutes, with at most 25 guests per timeslot. Wear closed-toe flat shoes (no Crocs); the limit is 300 lb. Coming back? There's a ten-punch pass, plus a 2-hour private party package.

The Adventure Park ropes course

The Adventure Park is an aerial ropes course in the oaks with more than 60 challenges. Highline recommends it for ages 9 and up, and riders must be at least 48 inches tall and under 275 lb. Not done yet? Highline also runs 4x4 Bronco tours, protea tours and Thursday Mountain Bike Nights (meet at 5pm).

Good to know

Where do you check in at Highline Adventures? At Basecamp, at the foot of the mountain. Turn off Highway 246 at the Highline sign next to OstrichLand, follow the dirt road across the Santa Ynez River bed, park in the marked lot and walk up.

Is Highline Adventures at OstrichLand? Its entrance is. The dirt road starts beside OstrichLand on Highway 246, but Basecamp and the ziplines are across the river on the ranch, about half a mile in.

How do you get to the top of the zipline course? After check-in and gear-up, a 4x4 Humvee drives you more than 1,000 vertical feet to the first line. On the Hike & Fly tour you walk up instead, about 2 miles and 1,100 feet.

Is there a Highline Adventures coupon or Groupon? Highline offers 15% off when you book the Zipline Tour and Adventure Course together, plus a Facebook check-in photo discount. Groupon has listed Skynet and ropes course deals; compare with Highline's own price before buying.

How old do you have to be to zipline at Highline? The suggested minimum age is 10, and under 18s need a parent or guardian to sign the waiver.

What should you wear to Highline Adventures? Closed-toe shoes (no sandals, Crocs or Five-Fingers) and clothes you would hike in, ideally long shorts or pants, with layers and long hair tied back.

How long does the Highline zipline tour take? About 2 hours on the course. Highline says to plan at least 2.5 hours in total; Hike & Fly takes about 3.

Does Highline run in the rain? Tours run in light rain, per Highline. All sales are final, but you can reschedule or get store credit with 48 hours' notice.

Don’t miss

• The Zipline & Adventure Park bundle saves 15%, per Highline. (2026-10) source
• Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early; late arrivals may forfeit without refund. source

You might also like

• OstrichLand · about 0 miles, walkable. Next door to Highline basecamp. Tip: Open daily 9am–6pm. Official site · source
• The Hitching Post 2 · about 0.4 miles, walkable. Dinner after a day on the lines. Tip: Dinner only from 4:30pm, closed Tuesdays. Official site · source

Drive times are without traffic.

Nearby: eat, taste, stay

• Things to do in Buellton: Steak, beer and goats after the ride
• OstrichLand: 80 ostriches, 70 emus, one bowl · Next to the entrance
• Buellton breweries: Firestone Walker 0.9 mi, Figueroa Mountain Brewing 1.9 mi
• Cold Spring Tavern: 1868 stagecoach stop, weekend tri-tip · 23.4 mi, 37 min over Highway 154; pair it with Lake Cachuma
• The Hitching Post 2: The Sideways steakhouse · 0.4 mi, dinner from 4:30pm
• Buellton restaurants: Butcher-shop lunch or a $19 smash burger after the ride
• Buellton: The Sideways steakhouse, off Highway 101

Quick answers

How much does Highline Adventures cost?

The Zipline Tour starts at $139 per person and varies by date, the Sunset Zipline Tour is $165, Hike & Fly is $150, and Skynet is $20 for kids and $10 for adults (official site, Oct 17, 2026; Skynet rechecked Oct 26).

What is the weight limit at Highline Adventures?

Ziplines take riders from 75 to 275 pounds. The Skynet Playground limit is 300 pounds.