Tree climbing was so much fun! I would recommend this activity for anyone who is remotely curious about it. Climbing a 600 year old Douglas fir and gazing out over the canopy of Silver Falls State Park (considered the crown jewel of our state park system) gives you a perspective few people will ever get to experience--and I say this as someone who has been privileged enough to witness wonders such as the rare white rhino in the wild and to and to do things like dive with whale sharks.

Helmets, safety glasses, harnesses and other climbing gear were provided. The equipment was in great condition. Using gear with auto-locking mechanisms made the experience feel entirely safe even at our highest point of 270 feet in the air.

In addition, Leo was a patient instructor and a knowledgeable guide. We were a party of mixed fitness and climbing levels, but he handled our various needs with aplomb whether it was answering an endless stream of questions or offering extra encouragement when it was needed. Know that you don’t need previous climbing experience or need to be super fit to go tree climbing (although either or can be helpful).

Be sure to read the confirmation e-mail beforehand so that you’re clear on where the meeting point is. We neglected to do that and ended up at the wrong spot initially (but that’s definitely on us). Also know that you’ll get reasonably dirty, so wear closed-toed athletic shoes and the old stretchy clothes you were about to donate to Goodwill anyway and just have fun with it!

Last, I would highly recommend making a day out of it at the state park if you can since Silver Falls is a pretty magical place. Our party brought lunches, then took a short hike down to South Falls for a post-climb swim. There are various viewpoints that you can check out or you can opt to hike the entire 7-mile Trail of Ten Falls loop.