As the snow starts to melt and flowers start to bloom, springtime in the Rockies brings a sense of renewal and signals a time to partake in outdoor activities. For people living in our region, embracing warmer days means another opportunity to explore the magnificent landscapes and places that accommodate unique needs.
Check out these accessible activities to enjoy this spring and summer in our Rocky Mountain region.
Accessible Hiking Trails
Some of the national parks and recreational areas in our region offer wheelchair-accessible trails that are equipped with ramps, paved paths, and gentle slopes. These types of trails allow people with mobility disabilities to experience nature up close.
Garden of the Gods
In Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods features paved pathways and overlooks within the park and designated accessible parking to accommodate visitors with disabilities, not to mention the stunning vistas of rock formations and beautiful panoramic views of Pikes Peak. Admission to the park is free and provides a variety of activities, including vehicle and bike tours, rock climbing and horseback riding.
Garden of the Gods also has an accessible open-air Jeep with built-in lift that accommodates a mobility device and additional passengers. Its Visitor and Nature Center features accessible facilities and provides a main entrance ramp, as well as an accessible theater.
Other examples of parks with accessible trails include:
- Rocky Mountain National Park, west of Denver
- Zion National Park in Utah
- Yellowstone National Park, located in the northwest Region Wyoming (sharing space in Montana and Idaho).
- Mount Rushmore, in South Dakota
Accessible Camping
Spending time outdoors offers numerous benefits, including reducing blood pressure and alleviating stress. Just the act of taking in some fresh air can be enough to shift our moods. People with disabilities often face significant barriers in accessing and enjoying outdoor activities. While there are some accessible camping areas, there remains much room for improvement in making outdoor spaces that are inclusive for all.
Luckily, there are some great outdoor camping areas that feature accessible wins for people with disabilities.
Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area
This stunning park in southwestern Wyoming showcases the beauty of outdoor nature. It’s made up of over 200,000 acres filled with picturesque landscapes, hiking trails, and water activities.
The Firehole Canyon Campground features tall, sloping hills that are crowned with narrow spires, mesas, and various rock formations. Despite its secluded location, this spot welcomes travelers with disabilities to experience its scenic beauty.
The campground provides spacious sites along a paved, level loop road. While none of the sites are fully accessible, they are compatible. The campground offers flat terrain and cabana-style shelters with picnic tables and slated roofs to accommodate various needs. These sites have loose, sandy top layers over hard-packed earth and make them suitable for tents and RVs.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Located in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is a collection of natural amphitheaters alongside the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is famous for its unique geology, consisting of distinctive geological structures called hoodoos that are formed from frost, weathering, and stream erosion. They create gradients of red, orange, and white colors that provide magnificent views for visitors.
The park features sloping ramps in its Visitor Center, as well as a lowered information desk and fully accessible auditorium that features a captioned film. Assisted listening and audio description devices are available and restroom facilities are accessible.
Many of its viewpoints provide accessible parking for visitors and provide paved trail options (e.g., Sunrise Point and Sunset Point), as well as Sunset Campground, a campsite that is reserved for visitors with mobility disabilities. They offer pull-through access, picnic tables with extensions, and stand-up fire grills.
Other examples of accessible campground areas include:
- Glacier National Park in Montana
- Theodore Roosvelt National Park in North Dakota
- Badlands National Park in South Dakota
- Devil’s Tower National Monument, in Wyoming
Conclusion
As we embrace the arrival of warmer weather, remember the importance of spending time outdoors. From scenic trails to accessible camping, these are all activities that everyone can enjoy, including adventurers with disabilities. Remember, this is just a small snippet of the countless activities our region has to offer. As always, take the time to research and reach out to these facilities and learn more about their additional accessibility offerings and have fun!