Author: Cecilia

Derry, Londonderry and Windham Rail Trails

Derry, Londonderry and Windham Rail Trails
Thanks to Maxli Catenby for alerting me to these accessible rail trails.  Map of all three trails.
Wheelchair AccessibleDerry Rail Trail is 3.6 miles paved.  From traillink.com :”This exquisitely maintained trail slices through forested areas and wetlands for a wonderful experience in southern New Hampshire.”   Website

Wheelchair AccessibleWindham Rail Trail 4.8 miles paved.  “together with the Derry and Salem Rail Trails, there are currently 11 miles of a continuous paved passive use rail trail, the longest paved abandoned rail bed in New Hampshire.”

Wheelchair AccessibleLondonderry Rail Trail  4.5 miles paved  Traillink description

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Calaveras Big Trees State Park preserves two groves of giant sequoias. The park is a mixed-conifer forest.  In addition to the giant trees, you will find the Stanislaus River, Beaver Creek, ancient volcanic formations, and natural meadows.  Phone 209-795-2334  Website   Accessible features   Park Brochure with Map   Many thanks to Teddy Hall for bringing this park and its trails to our attention!
Wheelchair Accessible Three Senses Trail is a 0.13 mile loop trail in a sequoia forest setting.  There are rest stops and interpretive panels in English and Braille.
Wheelchair AccessibleNorth Grove Trail is a 1.7 mile loop starting from the visitor center parking lot.  Some of the largest trees in the park are along this trail.
Wheelchair AccessibleBeaver Creek Trail  is a 0.68 mile loop originating from the South Grove Parking lot and Beaver Creek Picnic area.  There are scenic views along the Creek.
Wheelchair AccessibleStanislaus River Trail is 0.17 mile to the banks of the Stanislaus River.    The trail starts near the River Picnic area.

Congaree National Park

Congaree National Park
Many thanks to Jessica Pikula who wrote: “I’d like to recommend [Congaree National Park’s]  boardwalk. It’s a roughly 2.5 mile wooden boardwalk loop, listed on the NPS website as being wheelchair and stroller accessible, with very little elevation change. Photos found by searching  “Congaree National Park Boardwalk” on google are pretty representative of the entire path. The Sims trail is the only other trail I’ve been able to walk so far, and it’s a very flat gravelly road- not good for wheelchairs but would be easy walking, though I haven’t experienced it in muddier conditions. Also, there are a few other trails that are considered “easy” by the park, being fairly short and the whole area being pretty flat, but I don’t have any experience with those myself yet!”
From the Park’s website:  the park is “…the largest intact expanse of old growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. Waters from the Congaree and Wateree Rivers sweep through the floodplain, carrying nutrients and sediments that nourish and rejuvenate this ecosystem and support the growth of national and state champion trees.”
Accessibility    Trail Guide with map   Phone 803-776-4396
Wheelchair AccessibleBoardwalk Trail 2.6 miles “Elevated sections offer access to the forest during floods, while lower sections offer closeup views in drier times.”
Bluff Trail  1.8 miles “A gentle path through a young upland pine forest. Look for fox squirrels, deer, and evidence of prescribed fires.”
Sims Trail 3.2 miles “Follow a former hunting club road used by conservationist Harry Hampton to Cedar Creek. A short spur trail leads to Wise Lake, one of the park’s many oxbow lakes.”

Damariscotta

Town of Damariscotta
Thank you Tony Barrett for letting us know about this trail.
Town website   Conservation Trust phone 207-563-1393
Wheelchair AccessibleThe Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, headquartered at Round Top Farm , maintains “Trails [which] meander across open fields to the shore of the Upper Damariscotta River. Picnic tables are placed for ideal viewing of wildlife and wild currents. An accessible northbound connector trail allows access to Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site. This trail is 8′ wide, gently graded and finished with stone dust, ideal for strollers, bikes and wheelchairs as well as for those on foot.”

Dresden

Town of Dresden
Thank you Tony Barrett for alerting me to the Dresden trail.
Wheelchair AccessibleThe trail on the historic Pownalborough Courthouse grounds is 1500′ of hard-packed gravel with no more than a 5% grade.
Town website  Phone 207-737-4335

Farmington

Town of Farmington
Thanks to Tony Barrett for telling us that Farmington has accessible trail to the river.
Wheelchair AccessibleThe Sandy River trail, a project by the High Peaks Alliance and University of Maine  is a .51 mile crushed stone fully -accessible trail to the banks of the river.  Map of Sandy River Multi-Use Trails.  Parks and Recreation website.  Phone 207-778-3464.

Harpswell

Town of Harpswell
Thank you to Tony Barret for sending this information about the Harpswell area:
Wheelchair Accessible? Giant’s Stairs not built to ADA standards but wheelchair users do enjoy this 0.3 mile access trail along the rock Atlantic shore.
Wheelchair AccessibleCliff Trail. The first 1/2-mile along Strawberry Creek to the Head of Tide and overlook just finished to ADA standards.
Harpswell Town Office phone  207-833-5771.  Website