At AllTrails, we believe everyone has a right to explore the great outdoors. This conviction drives us to help people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds find their way outside.
We acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to accessibility. The information we provide about trail access may seem like too much to one person but may not be enough for another. We also recognize that the perceived difficulty of a trail will vary for different people based on the activity (hiking, biking, birding, etc.), the equipment they’re using, and individual ability. As we expand our trail network globally, the availability of wheelchair-friendly trails will differ from one area to another. While wheelchair-friendly trails may not be readily available in your local vicinity, if you are aware of any, please refer to the steps in this article to contribute a new trail.
We encourage everyone to use discretion in determining which trail is right for them. We'll include whatever accessibility information we have on trail and park pages, but make sure to check photos and comments, and confirm accessibility information with local park sources before arriving at the trailhead.
What makes a trail wheelchair-friendly?
Our definition of a ‘wheelchair-friendly’ trail is a route that can be partially or fully navigated by those with limited mobility or who independently use mobility equipment (like canes, walkers, or wheelchairs). When assigning this tag, we use a set of criteria informed by various accessibility standards*, considering a trail’s surface type, grade, and length, as well as other variables like parking, obstacles, and overall quality of experience.
Surface type:
- Trails will usually have a firm and smooth surface (concrete or asphalt, boardwalk, or packed dirt/gravel with minimal tread obstacles).
- We'll note that a trail may not have a firm and smooth surface (like packed dirt with exposed roots, cracked asphalt, or packed gravel that is not well-maintained) but might still be navigable using all-terrain wheels or a power wheelchair.
- When available, we'll note the presence of a cross slope that is uneven or greater than 2%.
- When available, we'll note the trail width (usually 3 feet/.9 meters or wider) and the presence of passing spaces (especially if the trail is less than 5 feet/1.5 meters wide).
- When available, we'll note the presence of known barriers on the trail that create a tread obstacle greater than 2 inches/5 cm(stairs, surface changes, bollards) or any known hazards (like street crossings or portions of the trail that share the route with motor vehicles). We'll mark these barriers and hazards with waypoints when possible but cannot guarantee precise locations.
- We cannot guarantee slip-resistant trail surfaces, even when paved. Leaves, needles, dirt, and other environmental/weather conditions are components of the natural environment and would be impossible to predict or avoid.
Grade:
- Trails are described as 'level/flat' if most of the trail is estimated to have a grade of 1% or less, 'gentle' when 3% or less, and 'mostly gentle' when 5% or less.
- Trails are described as 'moderately steep' if the majority of the trail is estimated to have a grade between 5-8%, 'steep' when 8-12%, and 'very steep' if there are sections above 12%.
- For trails with sustained sections with a grade of 5% or higher, we typically recommend using all-terrain (or powered) mobility equipment. Manual wheelchair or stroller users may need assistance on those trails.
- Please keep in mind that our grade information is estimated; it may change as trail maps are updated over time.
- We will note the presence of resting areas on the trail, including picnic tables and benches, when available.
Length:
- We may assign a ‘Wheelchair-friendly’ tag to a trail that’s quite long if it has an accessible surface type and grade. We encourage people to use discretion and decide beforehand how far they want to venture out.
- When available, we'll mark alternative access points with waypoints.
- When available, we'll note the most accessible portion of the trail, especially when factors like surface/grade changes or other known barriers limit access to the entire trail.
Parking:
- When available, we'll note the number of designated accessible parking spaces (identified by the international access symbol) near trailheads and whether they are van-accessible with striped access aisles.
- When available, we'll note the parking lot’s surface type.
- If there is no accessible parking near the trailhead but accessible parking is available nearby (or at another access point), we'll typically mark the alternate parking area on the map with a waypoint. We cannot guarantee the presence of an accessible path from that parking area to the mapped trailhead.
Quality:
- Who doesn’t love a scenic view? We may assign a trail the ‘Wheelchair-friendly’ tag if there’s an accessible observation area (or other point of interest) close to the trailhead, even if most of the trail isn’t wheelchair-friendly.
- Conversely, we'll note when a trail’s off-route point of interest is not easily accessible from the otherwise wheelchair-friendly trail.
Parks and partnerships
- We usually defer to local park sources regarding a trail’s accessibility. If a park website states that a trail is accessible, we'll typically tag the trail as ‘Wheelchair-friendly’ and cite the park’s classification on our trail page in addition to the information we provide.
- AllTrails is proud to partner with several organizations working to improve the scope and quality of outdoor accessibility information available online. You’ll see their cited contributions on many of our trail pages. For more information about their work, check out their websites:
Park pages
We're also building out park-wide accessibility information on our park pages. When available, we'll include:
- Trails or experiences not recommended for those with respiratory or cardiac disabilities due to low oxygen or being graded by park staff as highly strenuous
- Parking lots with designated accessible and/or van-accessible parking spaces with striped access aisles and firm surfaces
- Shuttle services that can accommodate manual and/or motorized wheelchairs
- Accessible buildings (visitor centers, restaurants, lodges, cabins, gift shops, etc.)
- Bathrooms with firm paths of travel, 32-inch (81-cm) clearance for entries and doorways, a 5-by-5-foot (1.5-by-1-m) turnaround space, grab bars on the back wall and at least one side, toilet height between 17 and 19 inches (43 - 48 cm), and roll-under sinks with a knee clearance of at least 27 inches but not over 34 inches (68.5 - 86 cm)
- Assistive devices available for rent or loan (special road access or parking permits, manual or beach wheelchairs, canes, walkers, assisted listening devices, etc.)
- Trail maps or presentations available in braille, large print, or audio formats
- Video presentations with closed-captioning
- Historical landmarks and tours with auditory and tactile experiences
- Guided opportunities such as accessible rafting trips or accessible ranger-led programs (including ASL interpretation)
- Beaches with paths providing wheelchair-accessible access
- Accessible fishing piers (with level access, accessible railings, and a turnaround area)
- Locations of medical offices, staff, and equipment, including supplementary oxygen
- Picnic areas and campsites with firm and stable paths of entry and table surfaces/spaces that allow for knee clearance
- Dressing rooms and showers in campsites with either roll-in or transfer stalls (where the seat is 17 - 19 inches or 43 - 48 cm) with grab bars and shower controls or a hand-held shower sprayer within arm’s length from the seat
- Sensory-friendly playground, eating, or exhibit areas
How can I find wheelchair-friendly trails and experiences on AllTrails?
Desktop or laptop: From the home page, type in the name of the city or park you would like to visit. Under the embedded map of your selected park/city, there are buttons containing drop-down menus that filter results based on activity, difficulty, length, suitability, and more. Click ‘Suitability’ to bring up a list of trail tags. Some tags that may be useful are ‘Wheelchair-friendly,’ ‘Stroller-friendly,’ and/or ‘Paved.’
Mobile app: A filter option is at the top right of the app’s home page. Scroll down to the ‘Suitability’ section and select ‘Wheelchair-friendly,’ ‘Stroller-friendly,’ and/or ‘Paved’ trails.
When available, park-wide accessible facilities and experiences will be listed on park pages. This information can be found on a desktop in the park page’s main description. On the mobile app, scroll to the bottom of the park page and click on ‘Accessibility.’
If the ‘wheelchair-friendly’ tag is on a trail, does that mean the route will be fully accessible and meet all ADA/ABA standards?
No. While we use ADA/ABA criteria (in addition to official park sources) to determine whether we will assign a ‘Wheelchair-friendly’ tag to a trail, this tag does not mean the trail fully complies with ADA/ABA standards. Not only will a trail's accessibility level vary widely depending on each individual’s equipment and ability level, but other factors like seasonal weather conditions and environmental change (like erosion or downed trees) will impact a trail’s accessibility. We will provide as many details as possible, but we cannot guarantee that the information is current.
Many trails marked accessible on park websites do not fully comply with ADA/ABA guidelines. Please use discretion when planning your visit, and consider contacting local park staff to address specific questions and concerns.
If a trail has the ‘Wheelchair-Friendly’ tag but no 'Accessibility' section in the description, it likely has not yet been evaluated by our Accessibility team to determine whether it meets our accessibility standards, so proceed cautiously.
How do I figure out which sections of the trail are in which grade category?
After clicking on the trail map, you can scroll left and right along the grade and elevation chart at the bottom to see the grade percentage estimation for approximately every 300 feet (91 meters) along the route. Positive numbers indicate uphill sections and negative numbers indicate downhill sections. Our grade calculations change frequently as routes are updated and redrawn, so cross-check grade information with local sources before proceeding.
Why does accessibility information vary so much?
While our goal is to provide robust accessibility information on every trail page and for every park, our research is conducted by a small team, usually from a distance. Trails outside of state or national parks often don’t have accessibility information online (or park staff we can contact). Local feedback from community members using these trails is invaluable, especially when highlighting that something has changed. Leaving reviews on trails you visit is a great way to give back to the AllTrails community and help others find their perfect trail.
How do I report inaccurate accessibility information on a trail or park page?
You can help us and the AllTrails community by leaving trail reviews with detailed information and photos about which parts of your trip were (or were not) accessible. You can also suggest an edit to one of our trail pages.
If you have any additional feedback or questions, you can contact our team directly by submitting a request via our contact form or emailing support@alltrails.com.
*The following guidelines were used in the creation of our standards:
a. US Federal ABAAS Accessibility Standards for Federally Developed Outdoor Areas: https://www.access-board.gov/files/aba/guides/outdoor-guide.pdf
b. Canadian Standards Association Built Environment Accessible Design: https://www.csagroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2430328.pdf
c. US Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/FSTAG-2013-Update.pdf