Who We Are
Trail Organizations Dedicated to Increasing Outdoor Access for All
The Vermont Trail Accessibility Hub is a partnership of organizations working to expand access to trails for people of all abilities. We develop resources to help trail managers adapt existing and build new trails, provide training and support, and as funding allows, make improvements to Trail Finder and conduct trail assessments. The VOREC Community Grant Program originally funded our work between June 1, 2024 and December 2025.
The Vermont Trails & Greenways Council (VTGC) manages TAH, and current partners include the Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA), Community Geographics, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), and the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA). Each partner contributes its unique expertise and resources, ensuring that the Hub addresses diverse needs across the state.
Trail Accessibility Hub Guiding Principles
Recognizing Diversity in Barriers
We understand that there are many ways to increase access to the outdoors, including reducing barriers related to race, costs of equipment, transportation to trailheads, getting started, feeling like an outsider, language, geography, and the availability of trails.
Focusing on Our Expertise
While we acknowledge the exciting work happening at national and regional levels, such as trails for neurodiversity and accessibility for the blind and hearing impaired, we have chosen to focus on our strengths. We excel at bringing people together, programming (like Vermont Adaptive), trail building, advocating for trail managers, and managing trails.
Creating Collaborative Opportunities
We work across agencies and organizations to create opportunities for learning, networking, and celebrating success. Through our newsletters, events, and learning opportunities, we strive to bring people together and foster a sense of community.
Committed to Lifelong Learning
We are dedicated to continuous learning. We are always learning how to work together as a team, collaborate across organizations and agencies, understand what needs to be done, and determine how to do it effectively.
Dedication to Increasing Access
We believe in increasing outdoor access for all and are committed to dedicating time and resources to this important work. Our mission is to continually seek ways to improve and expand our efforts to make the outdoors accessible for everyone.
Why Now
Equity and accessibility have always been critical issues, but growing awareness is now being matched with increased funding. This creates a unique opportunity to make significant strides in expanding outdoor access.
Organizations like Vermont Adaptive and Kelly Brush Foundation are seeing exponential growth. In fact, Vermont Adaptive has seen a 350% increase in programming in the last 10 years.
Additionally, state and national funding is increasingly directed towards efforts to improve outdoor accessibility. In 2023, for the first time the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation’s Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative’s (VOREC) Community Grant Program (CGP), offered an “Equity” track and awarded grants to 9 organizations or towns seeking to make trails more accessible to people of all mobilities.
The momentum is building, and now is the time to capitalize on it. By leveraging this increased awareness and funding, we can make meaningful progress toward a more inclusive and accessible outdoors for everyone.
Trail Accessibility Hub Partners
Vermont Trails & Greenways Council (VTGC)
VTGC is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to Vermont’s beautiful trails. They advise the FPR’s Recreation Trails Program and oversee the Vermont Trail System (VTS). VTGC guides trails-related legislation and fosters connections and learning opportunities for trails organizations. Their passion is evident in their collaborative efforts to keep Vermont’s trails open and accessible for all.
Upper Valley Trails Alliance (UVTA)
UVTA focuses on enhancing trails in the Upper Valley to be more accessible and enjoyable for everyone. They have assessed and built numerous accessible trails and lead the Trail Finder partnership. UVTA’s goal is to connect people with trails that suit their needs and to continuously improve trail access and quality.
Community Geographics
Community Geographics works closely with trails organizations to develop and promote trail systems that allow more people living with disabilities to connect with nature. They also help manage the Trail Finder website in partnership with UVTA, ensuring that trail information is accessible and user-friendly. Community Geographics is dedicated to making outdoor experiences more inclusive for all.
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports (Vermont Adaptive)
Vermont Adaptive provides year-round programming for individuals with a range of disabilities. Their Accessible Advocacy works to enhance adaptive experiences, including trail assessments in partnership with VMBA. Vermont Adaptive is committed to improving accessibility and ensuring that outdoor activities are available to people of all abilities.
Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT)
NFCT is dedicated to preserving and promoting historic travel routes from the Adirondacks to northern Maine. They focus on supporting communities, waterways, and paddling across the Northern Forest by enhancing physical infrastructure and providing trip planning information. With a recent grant from the National Parks Service, NFCT aims to further improve trail accessibility for all.
Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA)
VMBA is dedicated to advancing mountain biking in Vermont through advocacy, education, and community-driven stewardship. They manage over 900 miles of public-access trails and collaborate with Vermont Adaptive and the Kelly Brush Foundation to make trails ‘adaptive-friendly.’ VMBA’s mission is to ensure the sustainability of mountain biking in Vermont and thoughtfully promote exceptional riding experiences for all through advocacy, education, and community-driven stewardship.
Are you interested in an assessment or want to learn more about the Trail Accessibility Hub? Fill out the form below.
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.
