Best fun I've had in a while!!! I went here for a work training on a Saturday. Good thing the weather was perfect!!! During the 90 minutes my rotation had for this course, I ended up doing 4 of the 6 available challenges: 1. Tight Rope: I basically climbed up a bunch of staples and walked across a rope that was 30 ft in the air. It was nerve wracking, but it helped to know I was secure and wasn't going to fall into anything. Tricky, but a pretty fun way to start off since you can hold onto a series of several ropes that are hanging above you along the way. 2. ZIPLINE: I think this is scary when you climb up to the platform, but after that this is by far the most relaxed and enjoyable experience. Once you push off, everything is secure, and all you can really do is savor the few moments in your life that you will spend feeling like a bird! Beautiful, beautiful view along the way :) 3. The Broken Bridge: This is a bunch of planks. You can hang on to the rope that secures you, but the point is kind of to not hold onto anything and to try and walk across this unsteady bridge stretched up about 15 ft above the ground. It was pretty fun, and I felt a lot better once I started taking a few steps on it to get used to the feeling. 4. Leap of Faith: This is the scariest, gutsiest part of the course, I think. You basically climb up a 30 ft pole, stand on the very end of it, and then jump off to try and catch a trapeze. I was really nervous about this one and it was the last one I did, but obviously, I lived to tell the tale, and I don't regret trying it out one bit. Ten-out-of-ten, would do it againnnn. The two I didn't do: 5. The Catwalk: You basically climb up and walk across a log without holding on to anything. Yes, you are still secured to a rope, haha. BUt the point is to balance and stretch your boundaries by walking across, doing jumping jacks, walking backwards--whatever you want. I didn't do this one, but a lot of my coworkers chose to walk backwards on it once they made it across the first time. 6. The Swings: This is literally a set of wooden plank swings attached to a log that you have to get across. It seemed physically intense. I didn't do this one, but a lot of people had fun with it and made it across either sitting on the planks or standing on them. As someone who is usually afraid of heights, I thought I was definitely NOT looking forward to this. The breakthrough that you reach while you go on this course, though, is its whole point. Lupe and Trinity, two of the main people running the course, are super friendly, and all of the staff are great about making you feel safe, encouraged, and welcome. Overall, the course was fantastic for helping my work team up its enthusiasm and unity during our mid-year slump, and it was nice that I ended up surprising myself (what?) with how I was able to settle my nerves and jump off of 30-foot high things with abandon.... read more

Heron Lake Challenge Ropes Course - The tight ropes!! - Challenge Courses Near Me - Napa, California

See all

I came here with my work for team building. This was a great opportunity for you and your colleagues to get to know each other outside of the work place and bond as a team. When obstacles get tough, your team cheers you on. This was a lot of fun and a challenge for all levels of fitness. There were ground challenges that used your brain and climbing challenges that used your body. This was a great experience. Instructors Willow, Melissa, Jasper and another gentleman (I cant remember his name) instructed us well. There were no mishaps and kept us safe along the way. read more

Came here with a livingsocial deal and it was TOTALLY worth it! Did some Ropes Course from 1:30-4pm on a Sunday and it was hooooooot. The Lake was also pretty dried up and ugly looking, but I'm sure it would be prettier in the Spring! Some tips: 1. They have no first aid kit and rope burns are common for ropes courses so perhaps bring some burn ointment in your backpack 2. Pack lots of water because there are no drinking fountains here! 3. Bring hand sanitizer/toilet paper because there is no restroom, just 1 port-a-potty near the course 4. Try not to go when it's really busy because the lines are long and it's a good 30-45min wait per challenge because each person takes ~5min 5. If you want to do lots of upside down tricks, wear pants or capris to avoid rope burn on your legs - maybe some workout gloves might help for your hands as well 6. Wear comfy shoes with a good grip! Pros: -they give you all the equipment -the staff is SUPER friendly -the challenges are NOT easy, but the staff is very encouraging and accommodating -the course has challenges that vary in levels of difficulty so you can work your way up to the hardest ones :) I hope I'll get the chance to go back! A fun day of ropes course challenges + wine tasting in Napa afterwards is always a success! read more

Recently visited the Heron Lake Challenge Ropes Course and had a blast! I went along as a "chaperone" (whatever that means), and laughed my way throughout the day as giddy as a fifth grader. Maybe this had to do with the fact that I ripped my pants on a log while sitting down and realized the magnitude of the hole as I was "catwalking" across beams 30 feet in the air, giving everyone below on ground a less than entertaining peep shoe of my Hello Kitty underwear. Started at the day doing "low element" activites, role playing as Indiana Jones and MacGyver (kinky!), and falling into lava pits (aka tall grass and/or mud). I screamed during every activity like I was a cuckoo clock, every hour on the hour. There were some medieval times men in the area, and I think I might have scared their horses with my magnificent replications of a cacophonous hyena. All of my injuries were non-life threatening to the average joe, but were considered "death defying" in my doe-eyes. For an official count, I rolled down the hill, fell off of a log that was on the ground, slipped on some tall grass, bottomed out on a tight-rope, and have strained my abs from something called, "laughter." As I write this a few days later, I have to add that I look like a snow leopard (purr) because of the cool war scars (aka bruises) that I received that Saturday. Ron and David were extremely helpful, funny, and accomodating. They didn't ONCE ask me to "face" my challenges or talk about my feelings (THANK GOD), and spent the day catering to the needs of our very small and tired group. I've gone to ropes courses in the past that make me cry because of my feelings and such, but this isn't like that ropes course. Overall had a great day at HLC Ropes Course. In brief: -Parking is scarce, so plan to carpool -Bring your own lunch, and enough to share with your fearless ropes leaders! -Wear comfortable shoes that have good grip on the Earth (Tom's Shoes will not work here, period) -Wear comfy clothes. I would suggest wearing jeans if you are sensitive like me, but remember: my jeans ripped! -Take a mighty dose of Claritan -Leave your valubles at home because you will be so wrapped up with the FUNtivities that you won't keep track of your belongings (but there weren't many people around to commit theft or whatever) -Wear sunscreen (I still got burnt during an overcast day. Just another one of impossible traits made possible.) -Don't look at other's camel toes while in the harness -Visit the National Monument -Enjoy read more

Come back for your birthday, they said. As I looked at my unprotected hands, scratched, bleeding and covered with rope burns. By chance, do you have ice or any first aid, while I stand here in pain with my first degree burn. Nope. . . .we don't . So you would think, Rope Course, high heights of up to 40 feet, safety helmets, and a lot of inexperienced people, you should have a few additional things available for your students. GLOVES and FIRST AID. Oh, and perhaps one more thing. Check if the pegs are solid in the wood structure. Go to the wire course and try grabbing the last peg up top. See if it comes off. Whatever happened to Safety First. I say, go at your own risk. read more

Went to Heron Lake for my company's team retreat. It was fantastic! Anne, the course's coordinator, is wonderful to work with. Very patient with the zillion questions we asked in the weeks leading up to our adventure. She was also very patient with our unruly group of engineers. When reading about the course, we were concerned that it was a little too kid-oriented. But it's not! Anne is clearly great at adjusting the activities so that they're suitable for whatever age group is there that day. We had a lot of fun with the large group activities in the beginning, the small group activities, and of course the high elements. This course is about a half mile away from civilization. There isn't running water or flush toilets. They aren't kidding. Bring water with you, and be prepared to use a port-o-potty. As long as you read the "What to Expect" section of the website and take heed, you'll be fine. read more

First, keep in mind. I have done flying the helicopter and airplane... etc.. so I am a into adventure but the challenges of this Ropes Course is completely different. It is really something you need to be there to feel it. This is a top notch activity for any age group. I just organized a 22-person group rope challenge event with them. Our group consist of 25-40 years olds. It was everything I expected and more. My group is a mixture of coworkers and friends and friend's friends. But we felt like anyone can enjoy this. It is really an Exciting experience. Trust those guys with your life and you just might learn something new about yourself. I did. Concoring fear of height fear of failing or just falling. After the course, we all felt like we accomplished more than we expected. Some of us almost decided to not come to the Challege all together cuz going to the Winery sounds so much better than... climbing rops? The people there are super friendly. I never felled unsafe for a second because of the professionalism of the staff there. We as a group all felt like it was worth the 2 hour drive from the south bay. We had to get of the road after 7am so we can be there at 9am. The briefed us on safety which was very clear. And, the dangers of poise oak wildlife and rattle snake, in which we actual encountered one. It was small but they quickly caught the snake and released it elsewhere. Nobody got hurt because of the rope Period. Some of my friends got hurt because they were having too much fun on the side. It was small scratches. Nothing major. The only negative was I wish there are more challenges to sign up for in the future. Though, they did mention that next year they will build a zipline course across the lake. By that time, I'd love to go back and try it again. read more

AMAZING experience!!! I have come out to the ropes course a few times both with an adult group working on leadership skills and I also have brought several youth groups out. The staff is incredible! They will totally adapt the day to work with the group. My experience with colleagues was great! The activities helped us to develop our leadership skills and reflect on different styles of communication while also adapting to new situations. I brought out a youth group that I work with also and the staff at the course were so wonderful with the kids! They totally adapted the activities to be more youth-focused than when I was there with adults. It was a completely different but equally as awesome experience! The kids are still talking about it! They really loved showing off on the high elements and felt totally safe too because the staff explained everything really well. They are really knowledegable and prepared. They even carry first aid kits on their work belts! We never had any need for them but it was nice to see how professional and prepared the staff are. They give great metaphors for the activities and are super fun too! I can't say enough how wonderful, incredible and amazing this course is! Everyone should try it!!!! read more