Help Build Local Accessible Trail!
Last year while I was working for No Barriers, I started hearing whispers of a new local trail that had a focus on accessibility. I was particularly excited about this option as it was so close to the Mountain Campus of No Barriers up in Red Feather, CO. The Lady Moon Trailhead, a cherished spot for hikers and nature enthusiasts, is about to become even more welcoming with the addition of a new accessible trail.
According to the Loveland Herald, the goal will be to reconstruct the Lady Moon Meadow Loop Trail (seen above). It will be about 2 miles long with both a stable, compacted surface and boardwalk to accommodate wheelchairs. The boardwalk is a great example of how accessible trails can also be environmentally friendly as it protects the wetland found in this area. I think too often people imagine “paving paradise” when they think about accessibility but as a hiker who has been in this area…a boardwalk was desperately needed to prevent further damage to the wetland.
I think this is a great time to review a bit about accessible trail systems. There is a misnomer that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers trails and other outdoor access. This is not true. While the ADA does cover physical structures you may encounter in the outdoors (aka bathrooms, parking lots, hand rails), it does not have specific guidelines for things like fishing piers, camping sites, or viewing areas. The ADA was designed as a CIVIL RIGHTS legislation primarily and therefore simply does not have this level of specificity. However, the Access Board did come out with accessible guidelines in 2013 to help guide federal land managers called the Outdoor Developed Areas Accessibility Guidelines (ODAAG). These are not required to be followed by nonfederal agencies, however they are used often.
In the ODAAG, an accessible trail has certain standards. The running slope of the trail, or the grade while moving on the trail itself, should not be more than 5% for at least 70% of the trail length. If there are steeper sections, they have specific parameters about how long that section can be before a rest break. These standards allow for a more welcoming intensity of activity. Other elements include a firm, compact surface, obstacle height less than 2 inches (roots, rocks), and trail width of at least 36 inches. These standards are very helpful to establish access for those with physical disabilities, but I also want to emphasize that this is the bare minimum. To create a welcoming trail experience, we have to start at the very beginning from online access to information about the trail, to public transportation access, to the parking lot quality, and clear signage. The reason I harp on this is because I believe land managers can be seeking to get a check box and advertise that their trails are “ADA trails” and therefore their job is done. But this is just not true. Accessibility is complex and multifactorial and MUST be treated as such to be acknowledged effectively.
Work on this trail started in 2023 with the Wildlands Restoration (WRV) and Poudre Wilderness (PWV) Volunteers from matching funds from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Trails Grant. Most of the major trail work is happening with heavier machinery, but there is a chance for you to be a part of the trail work. WRV is hosting a trail work day on Oct 12! The goal of this particular day will be to reroute neighboring trails to connect with the new accessible loop trail. This is a great opportunity to get your hands dirty and shape our future access to this beloved local trail. You can volunteer HERE! You may notice that that the WRV did state that this is an “ADA trail” and as we discussed earlier, that is not a thing. I am assuming they are referring to the ODAAG standards. Regardless, I am very grateful for the work of these organizations to volunteer their time to establish these vital trail systems. I encourage you all to take part of the process Oct 12 and maybe start up the conversation about “ADA trails” versus true accessibility.