Frequently Asked Questions
Sections
01
General
Arrival & Check In at Basecamp
If you are running late, we will do our best to accommodate you on another tour that same day, depending on availability. However, if we are unable to accommodate no refunds will be issued.
All participants must sign a waiver prior to starting an activity. We recommend signing prior to arrival by following the link in your confirmation email. Alternatively, arrive onsite early to sign at Basecamp.
There are baskets available at Basecamp for guests to leave personal belongings in to avoid the risk of losing or damaging items like phones, keys, wallets, purses on the tour.
There are no restrooms on the course or up in the hills, so checking in early and taking care of business at Basecamp is highly recommended.
There will be plenty of opportunities for photographs throughout the tour. Due to the high risk that personal devices will be dropped and/or broken, we have universal lanyards available for rent or purchase at the front desk. Without a lanyard we HIGHLY recommend leaving your device in your vehicle. Staff will be unable to retrieve devices left behind. Cameras are only permitted if using a neck strap attachment. Highline Adventures is not responsible for lost, stolen, broken, or damaged personal property.
COMING SOON: INSTA360 CAMERA RENTALS
02
Zipline
After check in, your group will head up to the gear-up station promptly at the scheduled tour time. No refunds will be issued to late arrivals. Each guest will be discreetly weighed to determine appropriate gear fittings. Once you have been properly fitted in your harness, your guides will explain important rules and safety guidance during a 10 minute ground school. You will then take a thrilling 4×4 ride in one of our humvees to the top of the course where you’ll get to enjoy the view and take a few photos before flying above the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley on over a mile and a half of cable!
All participants must weigh between 75 and 275 lbs (34-125kg), and we discreetly verify weight at check in.
Comfortable, closed toed shoes are required. Please dress appropriately for the weather. We suggest you dress as if going for a hike. Because guests will be in a harness, longer shorts or pants tend to be more comfortable.
All participants must be in reasonably good physical condition, with the ability to climb up and down a 5ft ladder for off loading the zipline cable.
There is a short hike on a well maintained trail to the humvee pick up location where you will gear up.
Also, remember that our tours last 2 to 2.5 hours. If your trip spans a meal time, please eat prior to arrival. We do have beverages and snacks available for purchase.
Congrats! But we don’t want to put you or your baby at risk, so we don’t allow pregnant women to zip. We look forward to seeing you in 9 months!
Guests with conditions that require fast acting medication, like epinephrine, should bring their medication with them and make their guides aware of the condition prior to the start of the trip. Highline Adventures is located on a large ranch and evacuation could be delayed. If you have any concerns about your medical conditions, please consult your doctor before the zip tour.
Our tours begin at the scheduled tour time. Therefore, we recommend guests arrive AT LEAST 15 minutes prior to tour time in order to allow for parking, check in, restroom visit, etc. At check in, each guest in your reservation will be discreetly weighed to determine appropriate gear fittings. If you are running late, we will do our best to accommodate you on another trip that same day, given availability. No refunds will be issued to late arrivals – if you fail to show up for your trip on time, we still incur the same costs and may have turned others away.
Our tours operate rain or shine and regardless of temperature. Luckily, we are in beautiful Santa Barbara County and the weather is usually very mild. Check the local weather before you come (zip code 93427). Wear appropriate clothing for the conditions. Close-toed footwear that is suitable for hiking on variable terrain is required. Avoid wearing loose clothing, such as ponchos, scarves, and excessively baggy clothing. Short shorts are not recommended. Due to the nature of the ride, we recommend that participants leave valuables such as jewelry and cell phones in their car.
Cameras/phones are not permitted on the trip due to the likely-hood that they will be dropped and/or broken, as well as a courtesy to other guests.
Our canopy tours run rain or shine, in all weather conditions, unless extreme winds or lightning interfere with operational safety. The Course Manager on duty will determine tour cancellations, and guests may be notified at any time regarding cancellation. In the event that your tour is canceled by Highline Adventures, you will receive a full refund or rain check voucher depending on the circumstances. We reserve the right to postpone (or pause) a tour for up to one hour to wait out inclement weather and then resume normal operations.
Participants should be comfortable without access to restroom facilities for over 2 hours. Restrooms are available at our basecamp at the beginning and end of the tour.
Note about Client Responsibility
All participants will be required to:
Follow company’s policies and procedures
Follow guide’s instructions
Sign a release and waiver document before participating
FAQ's!
During your experience at Highline Adventures you’ll check in at our basecamp, meet your guides, and have a 15 minute ground school. Once your guides have properly fitted your harness you’ll take a thrilling 4×4 ride in one of our humvees to the top of the course. At the top you’ll get to enjoy the view and take a few photos then fly above the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley on over a mile and a half of cable covering 3 zip lines. You will wear a safety harness connected to the zip line cables, allowing you to travel from platform to platform. Each tour is led by knowledgeable and experienced guides.
That’s okay! Most of our guests have never experienced the thrill of a Zipline tour adventure before. That’s why our guides make sure that they give a complete orientation session during the 15 minute ground school, plus another debriefing before launching from the first zipline platform. The knowledgeable and experienced guides will do everything they can to make sure you feel comfortable about your adventure. Our program is designed for intergenerational participants. That’s what we love about this Zipline tour, just about everyone can do it. Please read our requirements prior to booking your tour.
Reservations are required. Plan your Zipline tour now with an online reservation.
All sales are final. Cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance are eligible to be rescheduled or receive store credit for a future booking. Bookings can be transferable. For more info please visit our cancellation policy page.
From departure time our course takes 2 hours to complete with a fully booked trip of 8 participants, smaller groups may move through the course more quickly. We ask that you plan for at least 2.5 hours total.
Our suggested minimum age is 10 years old, and all participants must weigh between 75-275lbs. Guests are discretely weighed at check-in. Those not meeting our requirements may not be able to participate and are ineligible for a refund.
Yes, all participants are required to sign a participant agreement before being allowed on course.
If under 18: A parent or legal guardian must also sign the waiver.
We suggest that you dress as if you were going for a hike. You’ll be wearing a full body harness so dress for comfort. The temperatures can be different at the basecamp so we suggest bringing layers and making the final decision once you arrive. During the hot summer months sunscreen is recommended. We have shaded waiting areas but most of the course is exposed to full sun. Please be prepared accordingly.
Our Zipline tours will run in light rain. If heavy rain, high wind or lightning interfere with operational safety we will cancel the tour for safety concerns. The course manager on duty will determine tour cancellations and guests may be notified at any time regarding cancellation. In the event that your tour is canceled by Highland Adventures, you will receive a refund or a rain check voucher depending on the circumstances. We reserve the right to postpone or ‘pause’ and tour for up to one hour to wait out inclement weather and resume normal operations. Rain gear is not provided and you are expected to dress appropriately for the weather. Synthetic clothing is recommended when wet weather is expected.
All zipline tours begin at the booked time, so please arrive on time. If you expect to arrive late, please call us at 805-556-4049 and we will determine if we can accommodate you on another tour that day. This will be on a case-by-case basis, determined by our manager on duty. Refunds will not be issued to late arrivals, so please plan accordingly.
Yes, we can accommodate large groups! Please email
Spectators are welcome to hangout on our lawn area. You will be able to observe ground school and see the participants take their final zip into the base camp area.
Yes they do, SMILE! The guides will carry a camera throughout the course. Getting comfortable on the lines is first priority, so they will start snapping photos after the first zip. If you have a special request for a photo, the guides will do their best to provide it but please remember that safety comes before the photos. Once back to the outpost, your photos will be loaded into a slideshow for you to view. If you like what you see, let the retail staff know and they can start transferring them onto a Highline USB. Check-in and ‘like us’ on our Facebook page for a photo discount. Note: Our gloves don’t work with cell phone screens. Please leave cell phones and other valuables locked in your vehicle.
There are restrooms located at the Basecamp before you take off. There are NO restrooms on the course, so be sure to empty your bladders before going up to the gear up area.
Yes, but you might consider wearing an eyewear retainer to ensure that your glasses do not fall off. Retainers are available for purchase in our on-site retail area. Highline Adventures is not responsible for and cannot recover any items dropped from the course.
No. Please leave bags and valuable items at home or locked in your car. We do have a place to keep your keys while on your tour, but we are not responsible for any items left in the gear room.
For the safety of the mother and the baby, we do not allow women who are pregnant at any stage to participate in the zip-lines. We have a beautiful deck and lawn area that can view the 3rd and final zipline as well as overlook the adventure park.
Tons of things! Please visit our Ambassadors and Partners page for our recommendations.
Tips are not expected but very appreciated. Your guides work hard to make sure you have a memorable tour. If they succeeded, feel free to leave a 5 star review on google or trip advisor for them with the guides names or tour date and time. The company will award extra compensation to all guides/tours named in the reviews.
03
Adventure Park
- Recommended age 9 years+
- MUST be 48 inches (4 ft) tall with a vertical reach of at least 70 inches
- MUST weigh less than 275 lbs
- MUST wear closed toe shoes
- No pregnant peoples permitted on the course
04
Protea Tour
- Guided tours last 1-1.5 hours
- Must wear closed toe shoes
- Must be able to walk distances up to 1 mile (with or without mobility assistance)
- Dress as if you’re going for a hike with weather appropriate attire