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Nature in All Its Glory

At Ramblewild, Spend Your Day Up in the Trees

by Robert Christian Malmberg

The grand suspension bridge. All photos by Robert Christian Malmberg.

When Fathom's photography contributor Robert Christian Malmberg told us he was visiting a sustainable aerial adventure park in the woods of New England, we could not picture what he was talking about. So he showed us.

MASSACHUSETTS – Ramblewild is a beautiful series of bridges, ziplines, and platforms high up in the trees of the Berkshires. Kids of all ages can spend a day in nature, pushing the limits of their strength and nerves while taking in amazing views. A winter visit led to meeting the gregarious and big-picture-thinking owner Paolo Cugnasca, who runs the multi-use destination (part obstacle course, part education center, park maple syrup farm) with his conservation-minded daughter, Valentina.

How does testing your balance on moving logs or swinging like Tarzan through the trees relate to ecology and preservation? Paolo put it best when he said, "Ramblewild is the perfect antidote to city life: It takes visitors back to a natural world we city-dwellers may have forgotten about; it provides an experience as unique as it is adventurous to families and weekend warriors; and it unquestionably proves that 50 feet above the ground, everybody is a tree-hugger."

FIND IT

Ramblewild
110 Brodie Mountain Road
Lanesborough, Massachusetts 01237
+1-844-472-6253

Mountaintop Transportation

A brave climber ziplines across a 200-foot ravine on a horseback saddle.

Nature's Playground

A father and son escape the city for bonding time in the treetops. Guess who's more nervous?

Suiting Up

Rob and friends prepare for their first day in the Ramblewild park. They're are all terrified of heights. And it shows.

Crossing the Ravine

A specialized, custom Swiss suspension bridge designed for Ramblewild gives 360-degree views of raw Berkshire wilderness.

In the Thick of Things

Moments of quiet bliss in the park.

Edelrid's Smart Belays

Owner Paolo Cugnasca explains the safety contraptions. "Before going up in the trees, everybody goes to ground school and learns how the smart belays work. The two lock systems constantly talk to each other. When one lock is open (unlocked), the other is locked and impossible to open, keeping the user safely connected. It's a reassuring lesson."

Lay of the Land

Ramblewild features challenging courses for all levels of climber.

All-Weather Service

The Ramblewild staff offers ATV transport through the forest to the course in the midst of winter.

Ramblewild by Foot

Taking a guided snowshoe tour through the park with some friends.

Keeping Trees Vertical, One Sip at a Time

Feronia Forests is all about finding innovative ways to conserve forests for future generations. This is something the owners are passionate about. Says Cugnasca, "Ramblewild is one example of how conservation can be combined with education and recreation. Mission: Maple is our small-batch maple syrup. Vertical Water is an innovative beverage made with the sap of maple trees. Both are examples of sustainability made financially attractive to forest-owners, giving them an alternative to turning forest land into lumber."

The Advanced Course

Challenging, creative obstacles at high heights.

Careful Footwork

A teenager determined to finish a tricky section.

Look Good, Feel Good

Look like a professional, no matter your level of experience.

We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.

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