The Washington State Parks Foundation, in partnership with Disabled Hikers and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, has recently announced the release of “Accessible Adventures: A Disabled Hiker's Guide to 5 Washington State Parks.”
This new guide shares accessibility features and information for five Puget Sound-area State Parks, helping people with disabilities plan outdoor adventures with greater confidence, according to a news release from the Washington State Parks Foundation.
Written by and for the disabled community, Accessible Adventures accounts for the diverse needs of people with disabilities in outdoor recreation that traditional guides often overlook. The guide is written by Syren Nagakyrie, founder and director of Disabled Hikers, and was made possible through funding and collaboration from the Washington State Parks Foundation.
"A Disabled Hiker's Guide to 5 Washington State Parks represents a shift to centering Disabled people's experience and expertise in the outdoors," Nagakyrie said. "By providing detailed information that considers a variety of accessibility needs, visitors can make more informed choices and better prepare for their state park adventures. Improving access and belonging through Disabled leadership is central to our work at Disabled Hikers, and this project is one example of how important that is. I hope this guide is the first of many for Washington State Parks."
One of the main barriers people experience in accessing state parks is a lack of information about accessibility features, the release stated. The Disabled Hiker's Guide addresses this by featuring detailed descriptions of wheelchair accessible trails, accessible activities like picnic spots, beaches, and interpretive centers, and park facilities for Lake Sammamish State Park, Flaming Geyser State Park, Federation Forest State Park, Dash Point State Park and Saltwater State Park.
Nagakyrie provides first-hand, step-by-step descriptions of what people can expect to encounter in key areas of each park, including trail grade measurements, surfaces, and potential obstacles people with wheelchairs, walkers, and other accessibility needs may encounter, according to the release. Other information includes parking access, and locations of maps, restrooms, and water. The guide also highlights both ADA and non-ADA compliant features.
“Accessible Adventures: A Disabled Hiker's Guide to 5 Washington State Parks” is available as a free digital download and can be accessed on the Washington State Parks Foundation website at https://tinyurl.com/3fxft9fr.
