Wilderness Adventure Forest
Family of 4
$100-$180 (approximately $25-$45 per person; pricing tiers by course difficulty level)
Duration
2-4 hours
Best Ages
Best for ages 5-17
About
Wilderness Adventure Forest at the Wilderness at the Smokies resort complex is an aerial adventure park — platforms, bridges, rope elements, and ziplines suspended through actual forest at real height. This is not a single zipline experience; it's a multi-course challenge where families work through progressive difficulty levels, each requiring more skill, strength, and nerve than the last.
The format is what makes this experience distinct from other outdoor activities in the area. Kids don't passively receive the experience — they earn it. Navigating a swinging bridge 30 feet off the ground, pulling yourself across a rope traverse, completing a course section that genuinely scared them for a minute — these create a different kind of memory than riding in a go-kart or watching a show.
The confidence that comes from successfully completing something difficult is real and immediate.
The safety system is a continuous-belay harness — you clip on at the start of a course and can't unclip until you reach the end. This takes a few minutes to feel comfortable with but is genuinely reassuring once understood: there's no way to fall out of the system. Staff orientation covers the harness thoroughly before anyone goes up.
Age range is broad but the experience skews toward the athletic and adventurous. A 5-year-old who meets the minimum requirements and has a confident, outdoorsy personality can do well on the beginner courses. The advanced courses are genuinely challenging for adults, not just kids.
Book in advance for summer — the park has limited daily capacity for each course difficulty level and walk-up availability on peak weekends is unreliable.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
No
Nursing / Changing
Limited
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Outdoor
Rainy Day
Not ideal
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Morning opening; book in advance especially for summer weekends
Wait Times
15-30 min for orientation; course access is self-paced
Nearby Food
On-site food options at the Wilderness at the Smokies resort. Sevierville restaurants nearby.
Why Kids Love It
Wilderness Adventure Forest is a high-ropes aerial course park — think suspended bridges, rope ladders, zip lines, and elevated platforms through actual forest — where kids clip on a safety harness and navigate progressively harder courses at height. The self-paced format means kids can challenge themselves at their own level and the satisfaction of completing a harder course is genuine and hard-won. This is physical challenge with real consequence (real height, real exertion) that builds actual confidence.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Courses are tiered by difficulty — start on easier courses to build confidence before harder ones
- The safety harness system is continuous-belay (you can't unclip while on course) — safe but takes getting used to
- Allow more time than you think — completing all desired courses takes longer than estimates
- Rest periods are natural between courses — bring snacks for a mid-course energy break
- Kids who are initially scared of heights find a strong sense of accomplishment at completion — encourage them through it
What to Bring
- Closed-toe shoes required (sneakers are best)
- Athletic clothes without loose elements
- Gloves if you have them (ropes can be rough on hands)
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$100-$180 (approximately $25-$45 per person; pricing tiers by course difficulty level)
Tips to Save
- Book online in advance for best availability and sometimes better pricing.
- Wilderness at the Smokies resort guests may have discounted access — ask if staying there.
Hours & Contact
Hours
- Saturday
- 8:30AM-11PM
