Accessibility in Nature

Author: Ty Perkins

July is Disability Pride Month, and this summer, Hirundo is focusing on our commitment to increasing accessibility in nature for individuals in our community with disabilities. One of Hirundo’s core values is the belief that all people, regardless of origin, age, abilities, or financial resources, can benefit from an intimate association with nature. This July, in recognition of Disability Pride Month, we are using our platform to highlight the importance of accessibility in nature.

We invite you to explore with us some of the common barriers faced by people with disabilities when engaging with the outdoors, and to consider the actions we can take to help create more inclusive and welcoming natural environments for all.

Limiting Beliefs From Others

When discussing accessibility and nature, the statement “nature is inherently inaccessible” often comes up, with naturally uneven terrain, rocks and roots, and hills being cited. While the natural world rarely adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this statement works within a limited scope of disability and fails to acknowledge the ways nature is made accessible. To start, disability is a broad term that encompasses more than just those with limited mobility. When discussing and thinking about accessibility, it is crucial we remember community members with impaired vision and hearing, invisible disabilities, and intellectual disabilities. Further, accessibility in nature does not only look like wheelchair-accessible trails - though those are important - it also includes rest areas, large print or audio descriptions of informational signage, or accurate trail descriptions posted on websites (to name a few!). 

Moreover, this belief fails to recognize that people make nature accessible all the time! We build bridges and boardwalks, add stairs to steep hills, or make and maintain hiking trails! People make nature accessible to abled-bodied people already, why shouldn’t include disabled people in those efforts? While not every trail or natural setting will accommodate everybody, there are steps we can take to increase access for more people.

People make nature accessible to able-bodied people already—why shouldn’t we include disabled people in those efforts?

Giving Disabled People the Choice

Even if a trail is not wheelchair accessible, people with disabilities may still be able to access it, even with limited mobility. Off-road wheelchairs can tackle trails that an average wheelchair could not, and many cane users can traverse narrower trails or uneven terrain. Even if a trail does not meet ADA standards, we should provide accurate information about the terrain, trail width and slope, and rest areas available to give disabled hikers the autonomy to choose if a trail is right for them.

What Organizations Can Do

An easy place for organizations that manage trails to start is by increasing available information about their trails! Pictures, trail descriptions, and signage can go a long way. Pictures are an excellent way to showcase the beauty of the land while providing useful information for disabled hikers! Descriptions should include average and maximum slope, terrain type, length of trail, rest areas, and average and minimum trail width. These descriptions can be put on signage at the beginning of trails and not placed too high so people in wheelchairs can still see them. Further, organizations can add benches along their trails so ambulatory people with disabilities can rest if needed. Lastly, when building new structures, organizations should strive to make them ADA accessible and consult people with disabilities throughout the process. 

Organizations can also use their platforms to uplift the voices and stories of people with disabilities, helping to raise awareness and shift perspectives. Just as importantly, they can invest in educating their staff about accessibility in nature—so that inclusion becomes a natural part of program planning, design, and outreach. By listening, learning, and making space, we can all help ensure the outdoors is welcoming to everyone.

What You Can Do

While out on hikes, consider taking pictures of any hills, obstacles (natural or manmade), and the surface type and posting them on places like AllTrails or Google Reviews with trail descriptions. This can help people with disabilities - and those without - better prepare for their hikes and determine if a trail is for them! Additionally, consider volunteering with organizations to help maintain trails and structures, or donate to support them in their efforts!

What We Are Doing

At Hirundo, we take pride in our ongoing efforts to make nature more accessible for everyone. Through camp scholarships, free and reduced-cost outdoor equipment rentals, and free access to our trails and boat launch, we strive to reduce financial barriers so that all members of our community can enjoy the outdoors. We also offer two hard-packed gravel trails designed to provide smoother, more stable surfaces for those with mobility challenges, allowing visitors to explore the refuge without navigating rocky, rooted, or muddy terrain. While these offerings are meaningful steps forward, we recognize that accessibility is an ongoing journey. We are currently exploring ways to enhance our trails further to better support individuals with visual, physical, and other disabilities. We are also using this time to collect and post more accurate and detailed information on our trails on our website to give visitors a clearer sense of our trails, allowing them to make informed decisions about whether the experience suits their needs.

Looking Ahead

True accessibility in nature requires both physical improvements and a cultural shift in how we think about who belongs outdoors. At Hirundo, we believe everyone deserves the chance to connect with nature in ways that are meaningful and comfortable for them. As we continue our work this summer and beyond, we invite you to join us. Whether by sharing trail information, amplifying disabled voices in the outdoors, or simply reimagining what access can look like, together, we can help create a more inclusive natural world where everyone feels welcome.