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How to Make a Rope Walk for an Obstacle Course

Rope walks are obstacle course essentials. Build an obstacle course in your backyard for friendly competition or party games for children. Surround your course with other delightful challenges -- such as a spare tire arrangement that forces participants to jump back and forth among the tires from one end to the other. Ask a helper to assist you setting up the rope walk to keep lines straight and narrow -- and let the games begin.

Things You'll Need

Workhorse single ropes
Wood blocks
Hammer
Nails
Measuring tape
Clamps

Instructions

- 1
  Find two trees in line and close together. A distance of 15 to 20 feet apart is ideal. Make sure the trees have sturdy trunks.
- 2
  Measure up one-foot from the bottom of each trunk -- all the way around the perimeter. Mark at least six one-foot designations around each trunk. Hammer a two-inch by two-inch wood block at each designation. Make sure all blocks are secured horizontal to the ground.
- 3
  Measure up four-feet from the bottom of each trunk -- all the way around the perimeter. Repeat step two at the four-foot designations.
- 4
  Tie the bottom rope around each tree trunk. Position the rope so it sits flush atop the one-foot, two-inch by two-inch horizontal blocks; doing so allows the rope to rest firmly against the blocks and handle bouncing body weight. Secure each end of the rope with tight square knots. Clamp the knots together for extra stability. Use a 10.1 to 11 millmeter workhorse rappelling rope for thickness, flexibility and durability.
- 5
  Tie the top ropes around each trunk. Repeat step four at the four-foot designation to secure the upper rope. Your rope walk is now complete -- the lower rope for participants to stand on and the upper rope to grab for balance as they move across.

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