Exploring Raven Ridge: A Short, Peaceful Trail with Big Beauty

Before the Trail Accessibility Hub even launched, Edie Perkins inspired us all. 

At our May 2023 Annual Meeting, she shared how her life changed after being struck by a car while cycling in 2017. Edie is now paralyzed from the chest down and uses a wheelchair to get around. An athlete, handcyclist, and avid outdoor adventurer, she loves to explore new places throughout Vermont and help other people with mobility challenges do the same. 

Over the past year, Edie has generously shared her candor, warmth, and wisdom with the Trail Accessibility Hub and with other groups advocating to expand access to the outdoors. Her perspective has helped improve and inform this work in meaningful ways.

This summer, we’ve teamed up on a new project: Edie is traveling to trails across the state and writing about her experiences—what’s fun, what could be improved, and what others might enjoy. Her most recent story highlights the Vermont Chapter of The Nature Conservancy’s Raven Ridge trail, where she explored the unique natural area with her friend and photographer, Louis Arevalo.

Read her full story now on Trail Finder.