For adrenaline junkies looking for a pulse-pounding good time this summer, ditch the pool and go zip lining instead. Not too far off the beaten patch in Purcellville and Harpers Ferry are outfitters that can set you and your family up with an experience that makes an afternoon at the pool seem oh so pedestrian.

At BTI Whitewater, located at 10985 Harpers Ferry Road in Purcellville, take a 500-foot ride on a zip line 41 feet up in the air. The only outfitter in Loudoun County to offer zip lining, BTI will allow you to fly at speeds up to 35 mph. Prices are $12 for one ride, $20 for two, or $35 for an all-day pass.

According to Amber Hemp of BTI Whitewater, “There are two lines so you can race a friend.”

Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. To make a reservation, call 1-877-723-8284. In addition to zip lining and, of course, whitewater rafting, BTI also offers activities such as tubing, canoeing and guided fishing. For web specials, go to http://www.btiwhitewater.com/discounts/.

River Riders, located at 408 Alstadts Hill Road in Harpers Ferry, WV, features a zip-line course with 15 high-octane options. The Harpers Ferry Canopy Tour allows you to soar high above the ground along multiple zip lines ranging from 200 feet to nearly 800 feet in length. In addition to the zips, there are tandem ladder climbs, a plank bridge and a Burma bridge. The tour takes 3 hours and is designed for those who are approximately 5 years of age and older and who weigh 40 to 250 pounds.

According to River Riders owner Matt Knott, The Harpers Ferry Canopy Tour is the only zip-line canopy tour available in West Virginia.

Trips begin every day at 1 p.m. The canopy tour costs $89 per person; $79 for children 12 and under on weekdays and Sunday mornings. Group discounts are available. River Riders also offers a number of ways to cool off when the temps rise, including rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing and more.

To make reservations, call 800-326-7238. For more information, go to http://www.riverriders.com/.

So go ahead and fly free as a bird, and enjoy some serious summer soarin’.