If you have ever finished a ropes course and felt it in your arms, legs, and core the next day, you have probably wondered the same thing most people do. How many calories did I actually burn?
A high ropes course is not just a fun day out. It is a real, full body workout. And unlike a treadmill session, it keeps your mind engaged the entire time.
Let’s break it down.
What is a high ropes course?
If you are new to the concept, you might be asking, what is a high ropes course exactly?
A high ropes course is an elevated obstacle course built among trees or poles. Participants move through a series of suspended elements that may include rope bridges, balance beams, cargo nets, climbing walls, swinging logs, and zip lines.
Most high ropes course activities require you to climb, balance, grip, and shift your weight while staying secured in a harness. It is physical, but it is also strategic. You are constantly adjusting your body, engaging muscles you might not use in a typical gym workout.
Want to learn about aerial ropes courses at TreEscape?
Read More →How many calories do you burn?
Calorie burn depends on your body weight, effort level, and how long you stay on the course.
Here is a helpful benchmark:
A person weighing 60 kg (132 lbs) burns about 252 calories in 60 minutes on a high ropes course with multiple elements.
That is roughly 13 percent of the average 2,000 calorie daily energy expenditure.
If you weigh more, you will generally burn more. For example:
- 150 lbs (68 kg): approximately 280 to 300 calories per hour
- 180 lbs (82 kg): approximately 330 to 360 calories per hour
- 200 lbs (91 kg): approximately 380 to 400 calories per hour
The more challenging the course and the more continuous your movement, the higher that number goes.
And most people are not just standing still. They are climbing, pulling, balancing, and navigating obstacles for extended periods of time.
Why it burns more than you expect
High ropes courses feel different from traditional workouts because the effort is spread across your entire body.
You are constantly using:
- Grip strength to hold cables and ropes
- Core muscles to stabilize yourself
- Leg strength to push upward and balance
- Upper body muscles to pull and climb
- Coordination and focus to move safely
It is a functional movement. You are not isolating one muscle group. You are working everything together.
That combination keeps your heart rate elevated and your muscles engaged, which is why the calorie burn adds up quickly.
Why moving outdoors makes a difference
Calories are only part of the story.
Exercising outdoors has measurable mental health benefits. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology found that just five minutes of exercise in natural environments can significantly improve mood and self esteem.
Source.
Spending time in green spaces has also been linked to reduced stress levels and improved overall well being.
When you choose an outdoor ropes course instead of an indoor gym, you are not just burning calories. You are giving your brain a break from screens, noise, and artificial lighting. You are breathing fresh air. You are engaging with your surroundings.
That matters.
High ropes courses at TreEscape in New Jersey
If you are looking for a treetop adventure course in NJ, TreEscape offers a forest based aerial experience in Vernon, New Jersey.
The park features multiple elevated courses set directly in the trees, along with zip lines woven throughout the forest canopy. Climbers move from platform to platform, choosing their level of challenge and progressing at their own pace.
You can get a full overview of the park here:
https://treescapeadventurepark.com/overview/
And if you want to add even more movement, TreEscape’s zip line experiences bring speed and elevation into the mix.
What makes TreEscape different is the setting. You are not climbing inside a warehouse. You are moving through a real forest, surrounded by trees and open sky.
Is a high ropes course a good workout?
Yes, especially if you are looking for something that does not feel like a workout.
In an hour on a high ropes course, you can burn 250 to 400 calories depending on your body weight and intensity. You will strengthen your grip, core, legs, and upper body. You will improve balance and coordination.
And you will probably have more fun doing it than you would staring at a wall inside a gym.
More importantly, you will be moving in nature. And that combination of physical effort and outdoor immersion is hard to replicate indoors.
If you are looking for an activity that challenges your body, clears your head, and leaves you feeling accomplished, a high ropes course is worth trying.
Curious about what else you can enjoy at TreEscape Adventure Park beyond the ropes courses?
See Other Experiences →