Detroit Metro Area
Clinton River Park Trail winds along the east bank of its namesake river in Sterling Heights, a northern suburb of Detroit. It is a 4.5 mile asphalt trail between Edison and Nichols streets. “The paved trail runs through a tranquil, wooded area; keep a lookout for deer, turtles, and waterfowl.” TrailLink description.
Author: Cecilia
Assistive Technology Partners
Assistive Technology Partners is a program through the University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus. Their mission is “…to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve their highest potential through the use of assistive technology, by providing exemplary clinical services, consultation, education, research and innovative technology development.” There is a wealth of helpful information on their website. Thank you Elmer George for bringing this program to my attention.
Bridge II Sports
Bridge II Sports in Durham, North Carolina, offers a wide variety of adapted sport opportunities. In addition to team sports, they have fishing and kayaking. Their phone is 866-880-2742 and email is admin@bridge2sports.org . Here is their website: https://www.bridge2sports.org/about/ . Thank you to Marya who wrote to tell me about Bridge II Sports and says she is starting to lead hikes for them.
Indianapolis
City of Indianapolis
Eagle Creek Park
This city park, on the Eagle Creek Reservoir, encompasses 1400 acres of water and 3900 acres of forest. “Eagle Creek Park is one of the largest city parks in the nation, offering unmatched opportunities for recreation, enjoyment, and discovery of nature only minutes from downtown Indianapolis. This is their website. Call the park 317-327-7110 or the Earth Discovery Center 317-327-7148 to learn more about their trails. Trail map.
They sent this helpful response to my inquiry via facebook: “There is an old paved road that is now an accessible pedestrian trail that runs north of the Ornithology Center – on the map it’s the dotted line that goes from the Ornithology Center to the Blue Trail. It’s along a high bluff, so you get a nice view of the reservoir in a few spots, and it goes through some nice, shady older forest. It does have one section that can get some standing water after heavy spring rains, but is usually dry the rest of the year. The section of the Blue Trail that it connects to is a gravel road that is closed to vehicle traffic – probably pretty bumpy for most wheelchairs, but might be accessible to some. There is also an accessible access to the overlook/fishing area at the Marina.
Most of the other hiking trails are compacted gravel and rock trail mix – some smaller or all-terrain type wheelchairs might do ok on flatter portions of them, but larger or motorized wheelchairs would probably have difficulty. Most of the park roads also have a paved pedestrian strip along the side, but it is right next to park traffic.”
Harmonie State Park
Summit Lake State Park
Summit Lake State Park
Summit Lake State Park offers bird watching, a wildlife observation area, good fishing, and the nature preserve, Zeigler Woods.
Map and Brochure Here is their website. Phone 765-766-5873
Beech Trail 0.9 miles “…starts in a small wooded lot. The trees include maple, oak and cherry. The remainder of the trail is mostly open, with views of the lake across rolling topography.”
McCormick’s Creek State Park
McCormick’s Creek State Park
McCormick’s Creek State Park, Spencer, has a limestone canyon, flowing creek, and scenic waterfalls. Hiking trails feature diverse forest trees, spicebush, and native wildflowers, including a trail through Wolf Cave Nature Preserve.
Phone 812-829-2235 Map and Brochure Here is the DNR’s website. Here is another, commercial website.
Trail #8 0.7mile paved
? Trails #6 0.6 mile, and #9 1.2 miles are described as easy, but that doesn’t mean they are barrier-free. Call ahead.
Fort Harrison State Park
Fort Harrison State Park
Ft. Harrison State Park, on the NE of Indianapolis, is a 1,700 acre park with a blend of landscape and history. It includes four nature preserves.
Map and Brochure Phone 317-591-0904. Here is their website.
? Harrison Trace Trail 3.2 miles asphalt surface trail for “walkers, bicyclists and joggers.” It is described as easy, but there are some hills. Call ahead to see if it really would work for you with your kind of wheelchair.
? Tree ID Trail 1 mile mowed and said to be easy.
Pokagon State Park/ Trine State Recreation Area
Pokagon State Park/ Trine State Recreation Area
Pokagon State Park, Angola, “…is framed by Lake James and Snow Lake, which offer abundant opportunities for boating, swimming, fishing and scenic sunsets.”
Map and Brochure Here is their website. Phone 260-833-2012
Bike Trail 1.6 miles “Connects campgrounds, Nature Center, saddle barn, Inn and park entrances.”
? Trails #4 (1.4 miles) and # 5 (0.7 miles) are said to be easy. Call ahead to be sure.
Potato Creek State Park
Potato Creek State Park
Potato Creek State Park, North Liberty, has a “…variety of natural habitats …, including the 327-acre Worster Lake, old fields, mature woodlands, restored prairies and diverse wetlands.” “Native peoples used the area for hunting and fishing. The area’s first people of European descent settled here in the 1830s.” Map and Brochure Here is their website. Phone 574-656-8186
? Trails #5 (1 mile), #6 (0.5 mile), Friends Wetland Trail (0.75 mile), and Peppermint Loop Trail (0.9 mile) are all described as easy. Call ahead to learn more.
There is a short accessible trail to the beach and accessible fishing pier.