Comment on a Vermont Trail and Help Open the Outdoors to People of All Abilities
We’re giving out 200 Vermont State Park day passes to the first 100 people who share accessibility related comments on Trail Finder. Everyone who comments is entered to win one of three 2026 Vermont State Park Season Vehicle Passes and a night at Vermont Huts’ Chittenden Brook Hut.
Right now, less than 1% of Vermont’s trails are mapped as accessible. And for many people — including those with disabilities — trail info online often lacks the detail needed to plan an outing with confidence.
Labels like “easy” don’t always help if you use a wheelchair, walking aid, or have age-related mobility changes. And unclear info affects many: people with sensory sensitivities, caregivers with young kids, those with hearing or vision loss, and more.
Trail Finder and the Trail Accessibility Hub are working to change that by making better information available. But we need your help.
Here’s how you can help — two ways to win
Comment on a Vermont trail and get 2 Vermont State Park passes—only 200 available!
- Visit Trail Finder’s FIND TRAILS page.
- Choose a trail you know (or visit a new one) and click on it on the map.
- Click the COMMENT tab on the trail’s page. Create a free Trail Finder user account (or log in if you already have one) to leave comments on specific trails. Let others know about current conditions, challenges you encountered, and anything notable about the trail infrastructure. Tell us: What should others know before visiting this trail? What information would have been helpful to you before you went there? What could be improved?*
- Use hashtag #accessible in your comment to qualify for free park passes.
- Tag a friend on our giveaway Instagram post.
- OPTIONAL BONUS ENTRY: Share our contest Instagram post on your Instagram story and tag @vttrailsandgreenways. You’ll get a bonus entry in the grand prize drawing below. Make sure your account is public so we can view it.
The first 100 accessibility focused comments on Trail Finder will receive two (2) day passes to a Vermont State Park of your choice, and VT Trail Accessibility Hub and Trail Finder stickers. Only 200 passes will be distributed, so don’t wait.
Not sure what to include? You might mention:
- Surface conditions (gravel, pavement, dirt, etc.)
- Width and slope of the trail
- Rest areas or benches
- Navigation features (signage, trail markers)
- Any barriers or helpful features you noticed
*Only comments that provide useful information about a trail’s accessibility will qualify for prizes. General or off-topic comments will not be eligible.
Every time you enter a comment, you’ll be entered to win one of several grand prizes:
- One of three 2026 Vermont Season State Park Vehicle Passes, which provides unlimited day-use entry for up to 8 people in one vehicle to any Vermont State Park, all season long ($90 value).
- A night at the accessible Chittenden Brook Hut, managed by Vermont Huts (up to $170 value).
- …and more!
Deadline to enter the prize drawing: September 30, 2025
Winners will be drawn during the Vermont Conference on Parks, Trails, & Recreation (October 8–9) and contacted via email. You don’t need to be present to win.
Need help with your submission? Email: sharon@vermonttgc.org
Want to share your story in a longer form professionally?
Call for writers, photographers, and content creators
If you are a professional writer, photographer, or content creator with a disability or who uses a mobility device, we may have additional paid opportunities for you to share your trail or aquatic experiences. Please email sharon@vermonttgc.org with 2 to 3 samples of your work with the subject line: “Accessibility Content Partnership.”
Contest rules and fine print
Eligibility:
Open to individuals aged 18 and older. Participants must be legal residents of the United States. Employees, contractors, or immediate family members of Trail Finder and partner organizations are not eligible for the grand prize but may still receive participation rewards.
How to enter:
To qualify for participation rewards, visit Trail Finder, create an account with a valid email address, and leave an accessibility-focused comment using the COMMENT tab on any trail page.
- The first 100 qualifying comments will receive 2 Vermont State Park day passes (200 total passes available) and Trail Accessibility Hub and Trail Finder stickers. Limit one (1) two-pack of passes per person.
- Comments must include useful accessibility information — such as surface type, slope, barriers, signage, or accessibility for mobility devices, sensory needs, or small children.
- General, vague, or off-topic comments will not be eligible for prizes.
All qualifying comments automatically enter the participant into the grand prize drawing — no separate entry form is required. Multiple comments will count toward multiple entries in the grand prize drawing.
Entry deadline:
All comments must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on September 30, 2025 to be eligible for the grand prize drawing. Grand prize winners will be announced during the Vermont Conference on Parks, Trails, & Recreation (October 8–9, 2025) and contacted via email. You do not need to be present to win.
Prizes:
- Participation rewards: Two (2) Vermont State Park day passes for each of the first 100 qualifying submissions, plus Trail Finder and Trail Accessibility Hub stickers
- Grand prizes:
- Three (3) 2026 Vermont State Park Season Vehicle Passes (unlimited day-use entry for up to 8 people per vehicle, $90 value each)
- One (1) overnight stay at the accessible Chittenden Brook Hut, managed by Vermont Huts (up to $170 value)
- Three (3) 2026 Vermont State Park Season Vehicle Passes (unlimited day-use entry for up to 8 people per vehicle, $90 value each)
Use of submissions:
By submitting a comment or story, participants grant Trail Finder permission to publish, edit, and share their content on the Trail Finder and the Trail Accessibility Hub websites, social media, or other affiliated platforms. Credit will be given when appropriate. Participants retain rights to their original submissions.
Privacy:
Email addresses will be used only for prize distribution and contacting winners, unless the participant opts into further communication. Personal information will never be shared or sold.
Limitations:
- One entry per person for the VT Park Passes
- Multiple entries are allowed for the Grand Prize including for multiple comments on Trail Finder, and for sharing the contest on Instagram stories.
- Prizes are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash
- Trail Finder reserves the right to modify or cancel the contest at any time
Supporting Partners
Since 2016, Vermont Parks Forever’s Park Access Fund has provided free park passes each year to thousands of Vermonters, including foster families, youth programs, those with developmental disabilities, BIPOC communities, new Americans, mental health clients andthose with limited mobility, who otherwisemightnot have the chance to experience allVermont’s state parks have to offer. New this year: the Park Access Fund Pilot will help over 100,000 Vermonters access the parks for free all summer long! Vermonters receiving services from the Department for Children and Families’ Economic Services Division and/or WIC are eligible for free day-use entry, including Vermonters receiving 3SquaresVT, Essential Person Program, Fuel Assistance, General Assistance, Reach Up, Summer EBT and WIC.
FAQs
A: The Trail Accessibility Hub is a partnership of trail organizations and disabilities advocates dedicated to improving accessibility on public trails and outdoor recreation areas in Vermont for people with disabilities. The Hub was created in 2024 by Vermont Trails & Greenways Council in partnership with the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, Northern Forest Canoe Trail and Trail Finder. VTGS hosts web–based resources that educate trail managers and support trail users. Together, the partnership hosts networking opportunities that connect partners and trail users to accessible trail design and maintenance information, trail grants and funding sources; provide trail assessments and more. Initially funded by the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) Community Grant Program, the TAH is now seeking funding to continue in ‘26 and beyond.
A: Our Trail Accessibility Hub includes a helpful guide to finding wheelchair friendly trails and other types of outdoor recreation that are accessible to all persons. In this guide, you’ll find recommendations for accessible trail apps—like Trailfinder, Google’s ADA Map, and All Trails—as well as blogs and articles about disability friendly trails, accessible activities, and accessible travel resources in Vermont.
A: Trail Finder’s Accessible Experience Search is the easiest way to discover family-friendly outdoor activities that work for a wide range of ages and abilities. You can filter for pedestrian trails, biking routes, paddling access, walking paths, and nature centers that include accessibility details—such as surface type, slope, amenities, rest areas, parking, and restrooms. Many of the listings also note features that make outings easier for families, like stroller-friendly surfaces, short loop options, shade, picnic areas, and nearby playgrounds or educational programs.
A: Mobility equipment and other adaptive sports equipment—like aquatic equipment, all-terrain wheelchairs, adaptive paddling gear, adaptive mountain bikes, and more—can be purchased, rented, or borrowed through several adaptive sports organizations and programs in Vermont. Some of these organizations offer grants to help users purchase mobility equipment. Visit our helpful guide to learn more about the organizations offering these services.
A: Here in Vermont, several companies and organizations specialize in building accessible and adaptive trails. These experts can help make mountain bike trails more usable by people on adaptive equipment, improve aquatic access trails, suggest easy improvements to make pedestrian trails usable by people who may have visual impairments, or use walkers or canes, and ensure your trail project meets ADA accessible trail guidelines and standards. The full list is available on our Professional Trail Builders page.
A: Yes, there are private and public funding sources that can be used to improve trail accessibility. Two popular funding sources in Vermont include the FPR Recreation Trails Program (RTP), and the VOREC Community Grant Program. There is also federal funding for trails and recreational paths. Vermont Trails & Greenways Council continuously monitors available grants and funding sources to support your accessible trail project or other accessible outdoor recreation project. Available trail grants and other resources can be found here.
A: The short answer is, no. The two nationally recognized guidelines for defining trail accessibility are Access Board Guidelines (National guidance applying ADA/ABA principles to outdoor spaces) and the U.S. Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG). Many trails can be greatly improved without being fully compliant with these guidelines. Small, low-cost improvements can still have a big impact. For example, improved parking and trail information at the trailhead, benches and resting spots, and removing tripping hazards can help parents with young children and people who use mobility devices like canes and walkers enjoy trail-based activities. You can learn more about guidelines for building accessible and adaptive trails here.
A: A sensory trail is a trail designed for people living with autism or a neurodivergence. Trails designed with these users in mind typically include sensory-friendly spaces or “alone zones,” predictable and consistent pathways, a video preview of the trail, interactive stations with tactile, auditory, or visual elements, and wayfinding support. Any and all of these features help reduce anxiety and provide an accessible nature experience for neurodivergent trail users.
A: The gold standard for accessible trails include: a minimum 36-inch width with 5-foot passing areas every 1,000 feet (preferably 5 feet throughout), slopes following U.S. Forest Service guidelines that allow up to 5% unlimited distance, 5 to8.33% for up to 200 feet between rest areas, and steeper grades up to 12% for shorter segments with mandatory rest stops. Trails should use hardened multi-layer surfaces like compacted hardpack with crushed stone base, feature accessible parking within 2% slope near the trailhead, include frequent benches with wheelchair space, and provide clear signage with trail information, safety barriers at viewpoints, and accessible restrooms connected by firm pathways. For more detailed information about ideal standards for trail accessibility, click here.
A: A good place to start is to talk with trail managers and disability advocates in your region to share your interest and learn about current projects. While it can be daunting to consider building a new trail, there is strong momentum in the state right now and a lot of helpful resources to get you started. You can find ideas for low-hanging fruit on the Trail Accessibility Hub web pages, attend networking events and workshops, and visit trails being built. Sign up for VTGC’s enews, and we’ll keep you updated. Still have questions? Feel free to contact us at info@ermonttgc.org.
