FAQs

The Adventure Park is located on 5 acres of trees behind The Discovery Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Our “aerial ropes park” consists of 180+ platforms installed in the trees and connected by various configurations of cable, wood, and rope to form bridges, ladders and zip lines.

Groups of these bridges (elements) link together to form separate trails through the trees. There are 13 trails in total–each with its own zip line–for ages five to adult, with challenge levels suitable for every age and skill level–from beginner to expert. Each person selects the trails with difficulty level they want and climb at their own pace.

All of our participants receive an instructional briefing before climbing and wear safety harnesses with clips that secure them to safety cables. Our staff is available throughout the Park to answer questions or assist whenever needed.

The Adventure Park is all about active participation. The trails are designed for everyone to participate and enjoy, with difficulty levels designated as Purple (5/6 year old trails), Yellow, Green, Blue, Black and Double Black–similar to ski trails. As climbers progress through the difficulty levels, the bridges require more balance, agility, focus, and arm strength. Your time in the park is not a heart-pumping activity, and you do not have to be in expert physical shape to make it through the trails. There is no ‘correct’ way of crossing the bridges. Each bridge calls upon the climber to find his or her own mix of strategy, balance, and strength.

Other than park rules, the only requirement we have is that your harness be properly worn and you are always attached by one of your carabiners (safety clips) to the safety cables on and between each platform. You will be instructed on how to use the equipment and asked to practice before starting to climb. The Adventure Park uses an “always attached” climbing system, which utilizes “smart” interlocking carabiners. This innovative safety system virtually eliminates the potential of a climber becoming accidentally detached from a safety line while in the trees.

Please visit our Rules Page to see a chart that shows which trails each age group can climb.

Snacks and drinks are available for purchase and water is provided for free at designated stations in the Park. We would be happy to refer you to food delivery services and other dining services in the area. We have plenty of picnic tables that can be used on a first come basis located throughout the Park.

Tickets are only required for guests who wish to climb, there is no entrance fee.  Non-climbing visitors are welcome (and encouraged) to walk around the many trails of the park and observe or take pictures! We have benches scattered throughout the walking trails of the park for observers.

General Admission tickets are valid for three hours of climbing time but your ticket will show 3.5 hours to add extra time for climbing instructions and harnessing.  We recommend you arrive early and be prepared prior to buying your tickets (i.e., use the restrooms, have snacks, and be dressed ready to climb) so you can maximize your time in the Park. Ticket sales end approximately 3 hours before closing, but if purchasing a ticket late in the day, you will not get a full three hours of climbing.

Courses close on the following schedule: Black courses close one hour prior to closing, Blue courses 45 minutes, Green courses 30 mins, and Yellow course at 15 mins.

It’s always best to reserve and purchase your tickets in advance, saving you time and money.  Walk-ins are welcome, but buying tickets on-site is more expensive and you will be accommodated on a space-available basis. The park often sells out, so please use the “BOOK NOW” tab at the top of the screen to reserve and purchase your preferred climb time. Large groups need to make group arrangements at least two weeks in advance in order to receive group pricing (group pricing starts for groups of 10 or more). For more information, please see our Groups Page.

Wear well-fitting clothing that does not allow anything to hang loose or get tangled in cables and rope. Long hair must be tied back and loose jewelry removed. For your safety, fully secured, closed toed shoes are required. We recommend sturdy, rubber-soled shoes such as athletic shoes or hiking boots.

We HIGHLY recommend that you wear protective gloves when climbing at the park. You are welcome to bring your own leather-palmed, protective gloves or you may purchase online or from our retail store. Watch our video to learn more.

A climbing harness, needed clips and trolley are provided for your climb.

You are welcome to use your personal gloves but the full body climbing harness, the “smart” interconnected safety clips, and the climbing courses are specially designed to work together as a complete safety system, therefore we are unable to allow personal climbing gear to be used at The Adventure Park.  If you have questions or need information about the safety gear we use please feel free to contact us.

Although shorter children may not be able to reach some of the obstacles in the park, there is no height restriction for the trails and zip lines.

Age is restricted to being a child of at least 5 but adults of any age can climb if they are not restricted by their doctors to do so.  The Purple, Yellow, Green, and Blue trails have requirements of parent/adult supervision or participation depending on the age bracket and the course being used. A chart with participation and supervision requirements is on the ropes trails general rules page. For five and six year olds, every child on the Purple trails must be accompanied 1:1 by an adult 18+.

The maximum weight permitted per person climbing is 265 pounds.

Most people that lead an active lifestyle and are in good health should not have any difficulty in completing many of the trails. You are able to proceed at a pace that is comfortable to you. Most courses have Early Exits that exit the course without having to reach to end. Of course, you are also welcome to take a break between courses.  As you tackle more difficult trails, especially in Blues and Blacks, more stamina, agility, and upper body strength will be needed to complete them.

The trails range from easiest, Yellow, through expert, double Black Diamond. Relative to each person’s ability, the trails are very manageable but become more physically challenging as you progress to more difficult trails. If you have not climbed at our park before, you may be out of your comfort zone at first about being 10 feet above the ground on a Yellow course or 20 feet above the ground at points on a Green course. You will quickly begin to have fun with the challenges, and the height above the ground will not be your main focus. Your focus becomes being balanced and efficient on each bridge you cross. Our park has the best safety system available on the market as long as your harness is properly on you and you are always attached to your lifeline.

For more information on course levels, including examples of course elements, check out our Course Levels article.

The Adventure Park can still be fun while it is raining. However, the Park will close for severe weather such as heavy rain, thunderstorms, and high winds. If small storm systems are moving through the area, we try to stay open and ask our guests to take a break while they pass. Call before you travel to confirm the operating schedule. Click HERE for our weather policy.

Guests are welcome to bring their own food to the park and picnic tables are available on a first-come, first serve basis. Free water stations are available throughout the park. Drinks and light snacks are available for sales at our retail store. Alcohol is not permitted, nor are glass bottles or anything that conducts heat, such as a barbeque grill.

Friendly dogs and responsible owners are allowed.

Parking at the Park is free for all guests. However, we ask you to please park to the in Adventure Park designated spots. There is also additional free parking at the Discovery Magnet School’s lot.

All participants will be provided adequate training, so lessons are not necessary. If you prefer a more structured experience, we do have guides available for advance booking.  Please see our Guide FAQ page for more details.

The Adventure Park is operated in cooperation with but independently of The Discovery Museum. It is designed, built and operated by Outdoor Venture Group (OVG) the leading authority in the USA on aerial adventure parks. In addition to our sister park in Sandy Spring, Maryland, Outdoor Venture Group has designed and constructed more than 30 aerial parks in the USA.

Aerial adventure parks have been a popular outdoor activity in Europe for over 20 years. Now, the USA is catching on to the fun! The Adventure Park at The Discovery Museum was the first of its kind in Connecticut. It is built and operated by North America’s leader in the field, OVG, using the finest of Swiss design and Italian, Austrian and German safety equipment.

As the popularity of aerial adventure parks have increased, many others have seen our success and tried to duplicate it. Not every aerial adventure park is designed as well, operate as well, or have the safety record of The Adventure Park. The Adventure Parks are designed by Outdoor Ventures Group with the help of our sister company in Switzerland, and are the most fun and exhilarating parks built anywhere. Experience the difference for your self and visit The Adventure Park.

The safety system of the Park, LockD Clips, is certified by Ropes Park Equipment GmbH, the manufacturer of the equipment. The Park is built and conforms to the standards set by the Association of Challenge Course Technology (ACCT). The Park is inspected annually by an ACCT-certified inspector.

Information on how to get to the park can be found on the Directions page.

Please visit our Gift Cards page to purchase gift cards right on the website.

To reach The Adventure Park office or our Park’s builder, Outdoor Venture Group, see our Contact page.