What is a high ropes course?

Most of us get our first high ropes course and zipline experience at summer camp. If we focus hard enough, we can still see the timber post, wood platforms, rope bridges and cable guide wires elevated 20 feet above the forest floor. This is the visual of the traditional high ropes course and what RCI has been evolving in its 35-plus year history.

RCI Adventure Products has its roots in the summer camp experience. Founder Jim Liggett worked many summers during the 1980s at camps here in Michigan. On the side, he began building ropes courses, ziplines and climbing walls. His work became more and more popular and in 1989, to meet that growing demand, Ropes Courses, Inc. was founded (later rebranded RCI Adventure Products to reflect a full portfolio of adventure attractions). 

Sky Trail® by RCI is the world’s most in-demand high ropes course. We have hundreds of courses built all over the world and add dozens more to our portfolio every year. The continuous overhead tracking system not only makes Sky Trail® safe, but it allows participants to move at their own pace and select their own adventure.

The lowest high ropes course we typically build has a overhead clearance of approximately 10 feet. A one-level course can have an overall height under 20 feet, which allows it to fit into many indoor facilities. We’ve constructed courses over 100 feet in height with 8 levels as well. 

Custom Ropes Course

What has set RCI’s high ropes courses apart from competitors and traditional course designs, is our ability to custom design the course for specific environments and businesses. The high ropes course experience was once only found at adventure parks and camps. With RCI’s Sky Trail® that experience can be found at restaurants, on cruise ships,  at schools, museums, zoos, resorts, bowling centers, family farms, tourist hotspots and other unique destinations.

Low ropes course option

Sky Tykes® is RCI’s answer to the traditional low ropes course. We designed our low ropes course for kids aged 4-and-under and with the idea that a parent can stand by their child’s side to help them navigate the course.

Similar to Sky Trail®, participants on Sky Tykes® at connected to the course at all times through the overhead tracking system, making this thrilling experience also safe. Kids will have to traverse challenging ropes, bridge and beam elements, just like on a high ropes course. And just like our Sky Trail®, Sky Tykes® can include a Sky Rail®, giving kids a zipline-like experience.

Ropes Course History

Like a lot of modern-day innovations, ropes courses have their roots in the military. As military tactics and strategy evolved, so did personnel training. Think about the difference in fighting between the Civil War and World War I. Military training started to introduce obstacle courses to help soldiers prepare for battlefields riddled with trenches, carters, barbed wire, debris and other impediments. In order to push soldiers to the edge of their abilities, these challenge courses evolved over time, testing their endurance and physical capabilities under stressful conditions. 

As soldiers returned to civilian life, challenge courses began to spring up all over the world. Physical training and team building were at the heart of many of these early courses. These courses helped some get their adrenaline fix while helping others overcome a fear. As course designs evolved and started incorporating other elements, such as a zipline, something else became clear: These courses are fun and entertaining. 

Types of obstacle courses

Popular culture often latches onto obstacle courses of some variety to provide entertainment. Through the year shows like American Gladiators, American Ninja Warrior, Wipeout, Survivor and Double Dare have featured some sort of obstacle course. Crazy obstacles, including giant red balls and a huge nose filled with goo, highlight these courses.

These courses are representative of a big shift in the obstacle course world. While early courses focused on personal development, team building and training, these course are built for competition and with gamification elements.

Ninja Warrior Courses

In recent years, ninja warrior obstacle courses have been a popular trend. RCI has seen several customers incorporate a ninja-style course into their business.  These courses, like some of the early military challenge courses, are designed to test a person’s strength, agility and endurance.

One of RCI’s main goals is to continually develop courses for people of all ages and ability levels. We work closely with our customers to tailor an experience for their target demographic. We have obstacles ranging in difficultly level, allowing customer to create different pathways on our ropes courses.