Trail Talk
Audio Story: Access to the Outdoors at Every Age
A conversation with John and Judy about aging, access, and the joy of being outside
John and Judy Blackmer love spending time outdoors. Both native Vermonters, they have walked, hiked, biked, run, paddled, and skied for decades. Now that they’re both in their 90s, it’s harder to do the activities they enjoy – but they don’t let that stop them from getting outside. In this story, Judy and John talk…
VINS: Edie’s Accessibility Review for Trail Finder
Getting Into—and Above—the Woods in a Wheelchair
Quechee, Vermont
Edie Perkins, a lifelong cyclist who lives in South Burlington, was paralyzed from the chest down in 2017 after a car hit her while she was biking. Now she uses a wheelchair or a hand-cycle on trails. Recently, she visited the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, a forested campus known for its…
Louie’s Landing, Missisquoi River: Water Accessibility
Recommended updates to an aquatic entry point
Swanton, Vermont
An accessibility assessment was completed in December 2024 by VT Adaptive, as part of the Accessibility Initiative. A series of site visits were conducted to to evaluate the accessibility of five water access locations along the Missisquoi River. The assessments aimed to identify existing barriers, note features supporting individuals with disabilities, and propose actionable recommendations…
Indian Brook, Winooski Valley: Water Accessibility
Recommended updates to an aquatic entry point
Essex, Vermont
An accessibility assessment was completed in 2024 by The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) and Vermont Adaptive, as part of a statewide accessibility initiative, and a series of site visits to assess the current accessibility of seven different water access locations in the Winooski Valley.
Colchester Pond, Winooski Valley: Water Accessibility
Recommended updates to an aquatic entry point
Colchester, Vermont
An accessibility assessment was completed in 2024 by The Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT) and VT Adaptive, as part of the Accessibility Initiative, and a series of site visits to assess the current accessibility of seven different water access locations in the Winooski Valley.
Ludlow Area Sports Trails: Adaptive-Friendly Mountain Biking Trails
~2 miles of adaptive-friendly mountain biking trails
Ludlow, Vermont
After a trail assessment, LAST trails were updated to be more accessible to adaptive mountain bike riders.
Pine Hill Park: Adaptive-Friendly Mountain Biking Trails
Five miles of adaptive-friendly mountain biking trails
Rutland, Vermont
An adaptive trail assessment set forth trail upgrades that made Pine Hill Park trails more accessible to adaptive mountain bike riders.
Randolph Recreation Grounds: Planned Accessible Trail
The proposed trail will connect existing recreation features at Randolph Recreation Grounds with a fully accessible route.
Randolph, Vermont
The proposed trail will connect existing recreation features at Randolph Recreation Grounds with a fully accessible route. Once complete, the trail will create loops and spurs that link parking areas, courts, the pool, ice rink, playground, and fields.
South Hero Recreation Park Accessible Trail: Status Update
A planned update to make the pedestrian trail fully accessible by December 2026.
South Hero, Vermont
The South Hero Recreation Park (Rec Park) is home to a 0.5 mile trail system, a StoryWalk along the trail, a fitness station, and interactive learning stations. This public park is owned and managed by the Town of South Hero, and is highly used by students at the neighboring public K-8 school.
von Trapp Family Lodge: Adaptive-Friendly Mountain Biking Trails
Three miles of adaptive-friendly mountain biking trails
Stowe, Vermont
The von Trapp Outdoor Center sits on the von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort property in Stowe, offering a beginner- and intermediate-friendly mountain bike network. In 2025, upgrades were made to ensure a selection of trails could be designated adaptive-friendly.
Audio Story: Finding Freedom Through Adaptive Kayaking
A waterside conversation with Derek Flint about adaptive kayaking, accessibility, and the sense of freedom he finds on Vermont’s waterways.
Derek Flint of West Topsham is a father of three, a lover of the outdoors, and almost completely blind. This summer, he and his family have been getting out in the water in kayaks as much as they can. Navigating boat launches can be difficult, but some places, like Green River Reservoir, have made them…
Audio Story: A Moment of Zen While Handcycling
A trail-side conversation with Edie Perkins about handcycling, access, and the peace she finds on Vermont’s rail trails.
Edie Perkins has been an avid cyclist for many years. When an accident left her paralyzed from the chest down in 2017, she began handcycling. Since moving to Vermont in 2021, she’s come to love taking her handcycle out on the scenic trails she can access from her home in South Burlington, and sometimes ventures…
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: Edie’s Accessibility Review for Trail Finder
A 94-mile, four-season, multi-purpose recreation and transportation corridor
St. Johnsbury to Swanton, Vermont
The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is New England’s longest rail trail. The 93-mile path goes through villages and cornfields, along rivers, and past historic, once-bustling train stations. “The trail itself is a wide, compacted gravel path—smooth enough for a wheelchair or handcycle—with grassy shoulders and gentle grades. Within just a few miles, I rolled through…
Otter View Park: Edie’s Accessibility Review for Trail Finder
16 acres of preserved wetlands with 0.5 miles of trails to explore
Middlebury, Vermont
Edie Perkins, an adventurer who explores Vermont by wheelchair and handcycle, is traveling to trails across the state and writing about her experiences—what’s fun, what could be improved, and what others might enjoy. Check out her latest post about an afternoon in Middlebury along the river. Read Edie’s review of the Otter View Park trail
Raven Ridge: Edie’s Accessibility Review for Trail Finder
A 0.23 mile accessible boardwalk through a marsh to a pond overlook
Monkton, Vermont
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…
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