This Labor Day weekend what’s believed to be the longest zip line in California – about a mile and quarter of cable spread out over four stations – will be opening in the scenic mountains of the La Jolla Indian Reservation in the northeastern part of the county.

Whooshing over the expansive backcountry is a breathtaking experience, according to guests who tried out the attraction at an invitation-only event Monday.

× Huge zip line to debut on reservation: La Jolla Zip Zoom Zip line opens Friday -- longest in California. You soar 2,500 feet for roughly 35 seconds at speeds that can reach up to 50 mph.

“It was amazing, such an adrenaline rush,” said Kristi Kruthaup, a model from Murrieta who helped with a promotional photo shoot for the zip line and was invited to come for some free rides. “When you first get up there it’s kind of nerve wracking and then as soon as you go it’s awesome.”


The La Jolla reservation is a few miles west of Lake Henshaw and has long been known for its campground, which stretches for 2.5 miles along the San Luis Rey River and draws thousands of visitors every weekend.

1 / 8 Connie Kruthaup, left, and daughter Kristi Kruthaup head down one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 2 / 8 Guests head down one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 3 / 8 Guests head down one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 4 / 8 Rob Roy, left, and Matt Howard head down one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 5 / 8 Connie Kruthaup, left, and daughter Kristi Kruthaup head down one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 6 / 8 Connie Kruthaup, left, and daughter Kristi Kruthaup head down one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 7 / 8 A guest walks to one of four new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred) 8 / 8 Frank Spurgeon puts on a equipment for a ride on new zip lines at the La Jolla Indian Reservation. (K.C. Alfred)

“We already get 120,000 people each year coming to the campground,” said Tribal Vice Chairman Fred Nelson. The new La Jolla Zip Zoom ZipLine should add to that appeal, he said, offering an extreme adventure in a beautiful setting.

The zip line, engineered and built with the help of $1.8 million of federal economic grant money and $200,000 from the tribe, is unlike anything being offered in the area. It’s success, officials say, could allow the tribe to build cabins and other lodging and eventually create a small casino – changes that could make the reservation a bona fide tourist destination.


And tourism dollars are badly needed. The reservation, home to roughly 465 of the tribe’s 728 members, collects no gaming revenue and has been declared a federal disaster area three times in the past eight years. The Poomacha fire burned dozens of homes and 93 percent of the reservation in 2007 followed by devastating mudslides the next winter and flooding in 2010.

But it was those disasters – and the economic recovery grants that followed – that helped create the zip line, said Tribal Secretary Adam Geisler,

“It’s the silver lining when a community is devastated,” he said.

A zip line is an inclined steel cable that supports riders attached to a full-body harness. The La Jolla line offers four separate lines that traverse canyons and valleys, the riverbed and thousands of treetops.


The first of the lines offers a short orientation to get riders acclimated and safety aware. Then they are trucked two miles to the highest tower which sits about 3,000 feet above see level, 700 feet above the riverbed.

They then soar 2,500 feet for roughly 35 seconds at speeds that can reach up to 50 mph.

Following a short nature hike through oaks, riders then get to the next tower and another 1,430 foot zip line. The final run takes guests 2,071 feet down through trees and across the river, ending at the riverbed in the campground. The whole experience, which includes some history, cultural and nature lessons, takes roughly 2 1/2 hours.

The cost is $99 per rider, $75 for returning campers. Participants must be 48 inches or taller and weigh between 65 and 275 pounds in order to ride. Reservations are required and can be made at lajollazipzoom.com


“It’s an incredible experience,” said Geisler, who got his first ride Sunday when tribal members were invited to give it a go.

“It gets real when you get up there,” Geisler said. “They hang you out over the edge – it’s like sitting in a swing with a back – and before you know it you’re having fun. This is not your hang a rope on your backyard tree kind of zip line. This is a full blown amusement ride.”