Author: Cecilia

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests WY

Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests
From mountain ranges to grasslands and crystal clear streams, the national forests and national grassland provide abundant and unique opportunities for visitors.
Here is the Forests website.  Phones:  Forest supervisor 307-745-2300
From stateparks.com: “The Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests extend from north central Colorado to central Wyoming. The Forests encompass portions of many mountain ranges including the Gore Range, Flat Tops, Parks Range, Medicine Bow Mountains, Sierra Madre, and Laramie Range.”
Unfortunately, this branch of the Forest Service gives very little information on trails.  Here is the page with links to information each trail, but they seldom give length, let alone difficulty rating.
Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District  307-326-5258  
Snowy Range Scenic Byway  also described here
Wheelchair AccessibleMirror Lake Picnic Ground includes an accessible  path to the water,  campsites and fishing platform.
Wheelchair AccessibleLake Marie Trail goes along the southeast shore of the Lake

Brooklyn Lake Road 3.5 miles described as easy in Hiking Project.

Douglas Ranger District  307-358-4690
Laramie Ranger District  307-745-2398
Medicine Bow Trail is a 23  mile Rail-Trail from Laramie to Coalmont Colorado. Hiking Project description. 

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex in northern Colorado and  southern Wyoming has an accessible trail and some ADA compliant overlooks.  The Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge has an easy hiking trail.   These refuges are part of a refuge complex that includes one refuge in Colorado and four in southern Wyoming.  The headquarters are in Walden, Colorado.   Phone 970-723-8528.  Here is their website.
Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is south of Walden, Colorado in North Park, an intermountain glacial basin with an elevation ranging from 8,100 to 8,700′.
Phone  970-723-8202
Wheelchair AccessibleMoose-Goose Nature Trail  0.5 mile “…winds along the Illinois River, provides a great chance to view song birds and other riparian residents.”
There are three ADA compliant overlooks and an accessible viewing blind.
Hutton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
2.6 miles of hiking trail. “It is possible to hike all or portions of the system. The flat to gently sloping terrain makes it enjoyable for all hikers.”  Here is the website for Hutton Lake.

Ashley National Forest

Ashley National Forest
” The Ashley National Forest, with headquarters in Vernal, Utah, comprises 1.3 million acres located in the northeastern portion of Utah and southwestern portion of Wyoming. National Forest System lands are located in three major areas: the northern and southern slopes of the Uinta Mountains, the Wyoming Basin, and the Tavaputs Plateau.”  The Forest is mostly in northeastern Utah, with just a bit including the Flaming Gorge in Wyoming.
Here is the Forest website.   Phone   435-789-1181   Visitor Guide
Wheelchair AccessibleYellowpine Interpretive trail  0.5 miles  The trail is at the Yellowpine Campground.

Flaming Gorge National  Recreation Area  “The Flaming Gorge NRA is located in the northeast corner of Utah and the southwest corner of Wyoming.”
Wheelchair AccessibleRyan, from flaminggorgecountry.com writes that “There are wheel chair accessible nature trails located at Moose Pond, West Green’s Lake, and Red Canyon overlook/Red Canyon Visitor center.   Sheep Creek Geological loop, Sheep Creek Bay overlook, Red Canyon overlook, Dowd mountain overlook, Flaming Gorge Dam Visitor Center, and the Dam Vista Overlook are all easy access by vehicle with easy access viewpoints.”
Red Canyon Visitor Center  435-889-3713

?  The Chamber of  Commerce Guide lists six “easy” trails on page 29.   Be sure to call either the Visitor Center or the Chamber of Commerce since no details are given.   From the website: “Try the short interpretive Nature Trails at Sheep Creek, Moose Ponds, West Greens Lake and Aspen for an easy enlightening walk through a variety of habitats along this scenic drive.”   Easy for them might not be easy for you.  Check with them.

Dinosaur National Monument

Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument has one wheelchair accessible trail and numerous easy trails. The monument lies on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. just to the north of the town of Vernal, Utah. There are over 800 paleontological sites in the Jurassic Morrison formation. There are fossils of many dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Deinonychus, and Abydosaurus.  Dinosaur National Monument protects 105 miles of the Green and Yampa rivers and more than 210,000 acres of the rivers’ canyons.
Phone 435-781-7700  Map  Accessibility   Links to trail details     Monument website
Wheelchair AccessiblePlug Hat Trail  0.25 mile loop paved  “…trail on top of a butte affords excellent views of the surrounding landscape and provides an introduction to the pinyon pine-juniper community.”
Cold Desert Trail  0.5 mile loop  “This short, level walk provides insight into the diversity of the desert shrub community found around Dinosaur National Monument.”
Box Canyon Trail 0.5 mile in and out.  “A level walk into a shady box canyon.”
Gates of Lodore Trail  0.75 mile one way.  There are a “few steps” at the beginning of the trail and then it is a level walk above the Green River ending at a view of the entrance to Lodore Canyon.
Hog Canyon Trail  1.5 mile one way.  “A relatively level walk into a box canyon.”

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument has a couple of wheelchair accessible trails.   The Monument preserves two volcanoes, one which erupted about 1085 and a smaller, older one. At the time of the last eruption the surrounding land was turned into a wasteland of cinders and basaltic lava.  Over the years, vegetation has slowly re-established.  The volcanic field and the surrounding pine forest are now habitat for a wide array of animal life.
Phone   928-526-0502  Here is the Monument’s website.   Accessibility  Hikes & Trails  “Ancient Times”, the newspaper for Flagstaff Area National Monuments.
Wheelchair AccessibleLava Flow Trail 1 mile with a .25 mile accessible loop.

Wheelchair AccessibleBonito Vista Trail (Facebook)  0.3 miles round trip from the Lava Flow Trail parking lot.

Know more about Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument?
Have you visited this location and know of more accessible or easy trails?  Is any of the information given here incorrect?  If so, please contact me using the form to the left and let me know what should be changed or added so I can update this post.

 

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park
“Rising above a scene rich with extraordinary wildlife, pristine lakes, and alpine terrain, the Teton Range stands monument to the people who fought to protect it. These are mountains of the imagination. Mountains that led to the creation of Grand Teton National Park where you can explore over two hundred miles of trails, float the Snake River or enjoy the serenity of this remarkable place.”
Here is the Park website.  Phone  307-739-3300  Accessibility    Park map      Map and Brochure of Lake Shore Hikes
Leigh Lake described as one of Ten Easy Hikes from  TetonHikingTrails.com  by Bill Schneider.  3.7 miles with only 50′ elevation gain.  Call the Park first to find about possible obstacles such as rocks and roots.
? Hidden Falls 1.3 mile round trip from Cascade Canyon Trailhead, which you reach by taking a 12″ shuttle boat.  This trail is rated “easy” by some sites, but call the Park first to learn if it would be suitable for you.
Wheelchair AccessibleColter Bay Marina to amphitheater  0.3 mile one way  along the east shore of Jackson Lake.
Wheelchair AccessibleJackson Lake Dam  0.2 mile to good views

Wheelchair AccessibleLaurance S. Rockefeller Preserve (LSRP) Lake Creek Overlook & Waterfall 0.2 mile packed gravel surface

Wheelchair AccessibleMulti-use path way Jackson to  South Jenny  20 miles, paved

Wheelchair Accessible? String Lake Shore Trail  0.5 mile.  This is a broken and uneven paved surface.  String Lake Trailhead Map
Wheelchair Accessible? Jenny Lake Shore Trail – currently disrupted for rehabilitation Jenny Lake Trailhead Map

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve

Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve
“Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve contains over 1,500 acres of hardwood & conifer forests, wetlands, and prairies located between Two Rivers and Manitowoc Wisconsin with 7 miles of hiking trails to enjoy.”
Here is the Preserve website.    Trail Descriptions   Phone  920-793-4007
Wheelchair AccessibleYellow Birch Trail 0.3 mile  “…boardwalk takes visitors through woods and wetland where many unusual birds, amphibians and plants can be seen.”
Cattail Trail  0.3 mile  “…The whole family will enjoy this boardwalk that meanders through a shrub swamp, a sedge meadow and a cattail marsh where birds and wetland animals live or visit.”  You might want to call ahead to be sure this is easy enough for your abilities.

City of Kaukauna

City of Kaukauna
Here is Kaukauna Recreation Department’s website.
1000 Islands Environmental Center   Phone  920-766-4733   Trails   Map
One reviewer says that many of these trails are good with strollers another says no.  Give them a call to get a better idea of the ease (or not) of these trails.
Wheelchair AccessibleBlack Top Loop Trail  0.75 mile

? Valley Trail from Nature Center 1.7 miles round trip.  This trail is described as hilly on one website and “suitable for all skill levels” on another.

Schmeeckle Reserve

Schmeeckle Reserve
Schmeeckle Reserve is a 280-acre conservancy area on the campus of UW-Stevens Point, set aside to protect natural communities of central Wisconsin. 
“Nearly 5 miles of trails meander through Schmeeckle Reserve.  Most trails are surfaced with soft woodchips, creating a quiet and peaceful walk. Extensive boardwalks have been constructed over wetland areas. Rustic benches are scattered throughout the trail system.”  Some of these trails sound like easy walking, but check with the Visitor Center first.
Here is the Reserve website. Phone   715-346-4992    Trail Map   Trail Descriptions
Wheelchair AccessibleTrail of Reflections 0.5 mile loop starts and ends at the Visitor Center