Why we do it
Ed Price, a geologist and professor, founded the Accessible Trails Foundation in 2015. Over the years he has led many friends and students to enjoy the outdoor adventure, grandeur, learning opportunities, and solitude while hiking in our national parks and other public lands. Now that he uses a manual wheelchair because of a progressive disability, he has quickly learned how much less meaningful a national park experience is for a person with a physical disability. Some parks have wonderful trails that most users would consider accessible; however, others need to improve upon the quality of experience available to visitors with disabilities. A disabled person, along with their family and friends, is commonly restricted to a short, token, paved sidewalk near a crowded visitor center. National Park Service website for one park describes 58 miles of mostly-flat hiking trails but states that those with disabilities can enjoy the park from their cars. Existing “accessible” trails frequently provide a minimal, less meaningful, and sometimes dangerous experience compared with those provided to an able-bodied person. The Accessible Trails Foundation was incorporated to provide actionable information to both park managers and trail users to enable more inclusive, meaningful exploration of America's extraordinary natural places.
