ORIC has a comprehensive review of outdoor activities in Colorado, some of which are for the disabled. I believe I have links to information they give for the latter, but the website is definitely worth a visit.
Author: Cecilia
Accessible Denver
Accessible Denver is a website which claims to be ” your source for disability-related information for those living in Denver or visiting the mile high city. Use the Resource Guide below to find medical services, businesses and professionals who provide information and assistance to the disabled community.” Not much here that pertains to this website.
National Sports Center for the Disabled
The National Sports Center for the Disabled has a hiking program called Summit Colorado. From their site: “Meet on Wednesday evenings to hike different trails around the Metro area. Once a month, join us on a day hike summiting one of Colorado’s majestic peaks.”
The Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail
Most of the 500 mile Colorado Trail, which goes from Denver to Durango, is not accessible. However, there are a few places where you can follow it for short distances, at least on foot. Here is their website.
The start of the Colorado Trail is at Waterton Canyon, a wide dirt road beside the South Platte River. Here is another link, and still another. I believe the first 6 miles are wheelchair accessible and there is an accessible fishing pier about a mile and a half from the parking lot. This is a road, not a trail, and you will meet a lot of bicyclists and runners, occasional cars and rattlesnakes. It can be very hot in the sun.
We walked about 1/2 mile east on the Colorado Trail from Kenosha Pass. We could have gone farther as it was easy walking, but the way was blocked by two fallen trees. This is a convenient place to enjoy the aspen colors in the fall. Parking lot: N39° 24.814′ W105° 45.277′ The trail going west from the highway becomes difficult almost immediately.
Another place to access the Colorado Trail is from the summit of Marshall Pass. It is easy walking for at least 1/2 mile going North from the summit.
Wilderness on Wheels
Wilderness On Wheels
Wilderness on Wheels is in the mountains on U.S. 285, sixty miles southwest of Denver or 3.8 miles west of Grant, Colorado.
There are fully accessible camping areas, fishing, picnic tables and an 8 foot wide boardwalk just over a mile long. Charging stations are placed at intervals along the boardwalk for electric wheelchairs. They are open from Memorial Day weekend to October 15th (as weather permits). This is a treat any time, but especially when the aspen are in fall color. Here is their website.
Phone 303-403-1110
Colorado Riverfront Trail
Colorado Riverfront Trail
The Colorado Riverfront Trail goes through Grand Junction and is planned to eventually span 21 miles along the Colorado (Grand) and Gunnison Rivers running from Fruita to Palisades and perhaps farther. It is a concrete, wheelchair-accessible trail with numerous access points. Maps of the trail and its segments are available on the website, linked above. Here is a pdf. of the index map. Thank you, Bill Haggerty, for telling me about the trail and providing the photograph.
City of Lakewood
City of Lakewood
The stretch of Bear Creek Trail that goes east/west from Estes to Wadsworth, south of Yale Ave. is part of the Bear Creek Greenbelt and is one of our favorite urban trails. There are two little lakes and lovely streamside stretches. It is pretty much all easy and a lot of it is wheel chair accessible. There are beaver, muskrat, coyote, prairie dogs, occasional deer and lots of birds. The toilet is being remodeled, but they have an accessible port-o-potty.
City of Golden
City of Golden
The city of Golden and Jefferson County Open Space have combined efforts and have made the path beside Clear Creek wheelchair accessible from Lyons Park to trail’s end, about a mile to the west. Between Lyons Park and the overhead Highway US6, the trail is concrete. West from the bridge, it has been filled in and covered with crusher fines. The concrete part is very busy, but can be entertaining as it overlooks the kayakers’ whitewater park. You will meet runners, dog-walkers, bikers, etc., but it is still a lovely path right beside the creek. This is a fair weather trail as snow and ice or heavy rains can render it difficult. In hot weather it can get too crowded with families coming to play in the cold water.
South Suburban Parks and Recreation
South Suburban Parks and Recreation
South Platte Park, Littleton – This riverside park has lots to offer the disabled nature lover.
The paved Mary Carter Greenway multi-use trail runs 8 miles along the South Platte River. Parallel to the concrete bike trail is a crusher fines side path that is meant for pedestrians and wheelchairs. Snow melts off the concrete sooner than from the crusher fines so winter wheelchair users might prefer the pavement although that is discouraged. Many hard natural surface side trails within the park take you to the river’s edge and through lovely stands of trees and other streamside vegetation. There are waterfowl, raptors, deer, coyotes and other wildlife. Here is their website.
Park staff (303-730-1022) are very helpful and say that most of their nature programs can accommodate disabled participants. The Colorado Center for the Blind have frequent field trips here.
Jefferson County Open Space
North Table Mountain This popular biking spot is one place where an electric wheelchair user might find it easier than a hiker. The flush toilets are ADA compliant, but the first .8 mile of trail is very steep. You might get away from the traffic noise once on top, but neither the signs nor brochure give you an idea of where best to go. ProTrails gives details of trail length and this Walk With Fred video is excellent.
Pine Valley Ranch is highly accessible with fishing docks, a 0.6 mile wheelchair accessible trail around pretty Pine Lake and picnic shelters. The Narrow Gauge Trail runs beside the North Fork of the South Platte River and could be managed by wheelchair if Jeffco would cut the weeds growing in the middle of the trail.
If you can hike without a walker, the very narrow, but level and easy North Fork view trail goes half a mile beyond Pine Lake to a bridge where you can come back on the Narrow Gauge Trail. Snow and ice cover the trails in winter and early spring. Parking lot: N39° 24.463′ W105° 20.825′.
Unfortunately the regular closing of the access road from Quaker St. to the top of the mesa renders our favorite part inaccessible for wheelchairs.
Hikers looking for an easy walk on the south side of the mesa can park in the small lot on Golden Hills Rd. a little west of Quaker Street. GPS: N39° 44.844′ W105° 11.031′ Walk north a short way and then take the narrow path to the east which goes to the dirt road. Staying on the road would take you to the State Patrol training area and some NREL property, but first you reach a wide, crusher fine-based foot and bicycle trail . This has the same panoramic views as North Table Mt., but without the traffic noise and fumes. You are likely to see deer and hear coyotes and meadow larks, but be watchful for rattlesnakes. It is a great place for sunsets. Addendum Sept, 2013: Jeffco Open Space is creating 3 miles of accessible trails on South Table Mt. Once it is done, I will change this entry.
Lair O’ The Bear is a small, lovely park by Bear Creek. There is a little noise from Highway 74, but it is pretty quiet in the middle of the week. The park has accessible toilets, picnic tables, and a fishing deck. The pretty Creekside Trail and part of the Bear Creek Trail are wheelchair accessible and easy walking. Dipper Bridge is now closed because of flood damage. The normally easy Bear Creek Trail going west from Dipper Bridge is often icy in winter. There is a new accessible fishing platform near Ouzel Bridge.
Here is a description with photos by Deb Stanley from Examiner.com