Guide Empowers Disabled Hikers to Visit King County State Parks
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.
State parks are on a mission to support outdoor adventures for everyone. As part of this effort, the Washington State Parks Foundation, in partnership with Disabled Hikers and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, is pleased to announce the release of Accessible Adventures: A Disabled Hiker’s Guide to 5 Washington State Parks.
This free guide shares accessibility features for five State Parks in the Puget Sound and King County metro region, helping people with disabilities plan outdoor adventures with greater confidence. See below to download the full guide and individual park excerpts.
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 of Disabled Hikers and was made possible through funding and collaboration from the Washington State Parks Foundation. Additional support and expertise came from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, which helped select the five featured parks based on their proximity to densely populated areas to reach more disabled hikers.
Addressing Information Barriers on Accessibility Features
The Accessible Adventures Disabled Hiker’s Guide is filling this gap by featuring detailed descriptions of wheelchair accessible trails, accessible activities like picnic spots, beaches, interpretive centers, and park facilities for the following five parks:
- Lake Sammamish State Park
- Flaming Geyser State Park
- Federation Forest State Park
- Dash Point State Park
- Saltwater State Park
Step by Step Descriptions for Planning Accessible Outings
Syren Nagakyrie of Disabled Hikers 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.
Other information in the Disabled Hiker’s Guide includes parking access, and locations of maps, restrooms, and water. Syren also makes sure to highlight ADA and non-ADA compliant features to help outdoor enthusiasts plan trips.
Making State Parks More Welcoming for All
This collaborative effort exemplifies the broader commitment to improving the accessibility of state parks for all Washingtonians. Nature and outdoor exploration are for everyone, and initiatives like this are vital to ensuring all state parks visitors feel welcome and empowered. The five featured parks serve as a blueprint for the expansion of this initiative to other parks throughout the state.
