Category: Colorado Federal

Rio Grande National Forest
The Rio Grande National Forest in south central Colorado includes the spectacularly beautiful San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains and contains the San Luis Valley and parts of four wilderness areas.   There is not much online about easy trails here, so please write me about your favorites.
Big Meadows Reservoir  Thank you to Ronnie Day of the Forest Service, who wrote: “Our terrain doesn’t allow for much but we have a place called big meadows reservoir that has a short hardened trail from the campground down to the lake shore and along the shore a short ways.  The rest of the trail circles the lake and is fairly easy along the dam and up the north shore. ”   There is a wheelchair accessible fishing pier. Here is a link to a description of the Big Meadows Reservoir area.
The Alder Bench trail (Forest Service trail 799) is easy for the first half mile or so going up into the forest.  We stopped where it turned back and steepened.  Directions and map.  Coming back down to the trail marker post (it has lost its arms) I then followed a social trail north paralleling Alder Creek.  After about 1/2 mile barbed wire marks the start of private property.  This was a lovely, quiet little walk.  Very easy and pretty.

This is some information about Pawnee Campgrounds

 Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
 The Rocky Mountain Arsenal northeast of Denver, Colorado occupies more than 15,000 acres and has many easy hiking trails and a self-guided Wildlife Drive auto tour.  Visitor activities include wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, nature programs, and fishing.  You may see over 330 species of wildlife there.  Trails and Wildlife Tour map  Although I have been told there are ADA-compliant trails there, the brochure only gives the lengths of the many short trails.     Location map
The Arsenal’s website.  The Visitor Center phone is 303-289-0930

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument preserves fossils from 34 million years ago at the site of the Eocene-era Lake Florissant, which was inundated with volcanic ash.  The ash has preserved an amazing assortment of plants, fish, spiders, and insects whose fossil remains can be seen at the visitor center.   You will also see huge petrified tree stumps.  There are 14 miles of hiking trails there, most of them pretty easy and one fully accessible.  Check with the Visitor Center to determine their condition and suitability for you.

The Monument has a non-motorized wheelchair with large, inflatable tires that can be requested and borrowed for daily use.”
Here is their website.   Accessibility  Map of hiking trails.    Phone 719-748-3253
Ponderosa Loop Trail, 0.5 mile self-guided trail.  It may be covered by snow in the winter.
Petrified Forest Loops  1.0 mile self-guided.

San Juan National Forest
The San Juan National Forest has the wheelchair accessible Big Al trail and a short paved trail at Animas Overlook as well as accessible fishing at Andrews Lake.  The Forest occupies 1.8 million acres of high alpine peaks and meadows to desert mesas in southwest Colorado.  This beautiful area includes the South San Juan, Hermosa,  Weminuche and Lizard Head Wilderness areas.  Phone 970-247-4874
Here is their website.  
Thank you to Jack Olson and to Mark Winkworth for the following information:
Big Al Trail  0.5 mile  “surfaced, barrier-free trail leading…to a deck overhanging West Mancos Canyon. Interpretive signs point out flora and fauna, and there are benches for resting. The trailhead is across from the campground entrance.”  From World Travel Blog  (which includes directions to the trailhead):  The trail “provides spectacular views of the west Mancos Canyon within the La Plata Mountains.  With a total ascent of 53 feet over a half mile, this hike can be completed by anyone, including those in wheelchairs.”
Animas Overlook Trail  a “short paved but rough trail” in the area of a good picnic spot up the Junction Creek Road overlooking the north Animas Valley.

Mark Winkworth writes that there is accessible fishing at Andrew’s Lake.

Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park’s accessible trails include Lily Lake Trail, Sprague Lake Trail, Bear Lake Trail, Coyote Valley Trail and the Holzwarth Historic Site Access Road.  There is also a paved trail to the Forest Canyon Overlook.  This high altitude park is 415 square miles of beautiful mountain country, easily reached from the northern Front Range Cities.  Stop by a Visitor Center to learn about easy trails that might work for you.  Phone 970-586-1206   Park Brochure  Park Website    Description in The Disabled Traveler’s Companion.  Accessibility page from the Park Service.
Wheelchair Accessible Trails described by RockyMountainNationalPark.com   This web site is not affiliated with the National Park Service or National Forest Service, but looks pretty useful.   They also have information on Roosevelt and Arapaho National Forests and the neighboring communities of Estes Park and Grand Lake.
The drive over Trail Ridge Road goes above timberline to 12,000′ altitude giving you a chance to experience the tundra and distant mountain views without needing to hike.   However, even walking may leave you short of breath at this altitude.

Sprague Lake  0.75 mile around the lake.  There is a striking view of the Rampart to the west.   This trail is open in the winter and the snow is usually packed down so you can walk it using poles and with spiked treads attached to your boots.  For those of use who can’t ski anymore it is wonderful to get out and experience some winter.
Bear Lake 0.89 mile loop around popular Bear Lake.

Coyote Valley 1 mile round trip in the Kawuneeche Valley, downstream from the Colorado River’s headwaters in the Never Summer Mountains.

Lily Lake Trail 0.8 mile – a pretty loop around the lake.  You can reach it off of highway 7 south of Estes Park and although it is administered by the Park Service, there is no fee.
GPS at parking lot N40° 18.404′  W105° 32.270′

Forest Canyon Overlook in Rocky Mountain National Park is fully wheelchair accessible and has beautiful views of the canyon below and Longs Peak in the distance.  GPS at parking lot N40° 23.731′ W105° 12.691.  Trail Ridge Road is closed in winter and early spring.