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In our All Access issue, we’re spotlighting how the disability community is making the outdoors more accessible for everyone. Explore the package here.
In 2018, I founded Disabled Hikers, a disability-led nonprofit dedicated to building disability community and justice in the outdoors. As part of my passion and job, I’ve traveled throughout much of the United States as a disabled, chronically ill, neurodivergent hiker and have seen firsthand the ways in which accessibility on the trails can be an afterthought.
To help combat this, I review trails across the US, assessing their length, surface, potential obstacles, parking options, resources, and more to create detailed trail guides so that all disabled people can explore nature more safely. Over the years, I’ve put together several tips for how to find trails that meet your access needs. You can also find dozens of accessible trail guides for Washington, Oregon, California, and Idaho on the Disabled Hikers website. But to get you started, I’ve shared five standout locations that put accessibility first.