Accessible Trails

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We firmly believe any time spent in nature is a win. Fresh air is good for the soul, but not all trails are accessible for everyone.

ADA trails are follow the regulations indicated below. Asphalt pavement and concrete trails generally come to mind when thinking about ADA accessible trails. However, packed crushed stone, gravel fines compacted with a roller, packed soil and other natural materials bonded with synthetic materials can provide the required degree of stability and firmness.

There are not ADA trails in each town but we have reached out to towns and agencies to compile this listing of accessible trails. Accessible and ADA are classified differently in our database. We have deemed "accessible" to be non-compliant but level, stable terrain that in some cases might even be paved.

As always, nature can change - so please reach out to us if you feel a trail is not truly accessible.

Wildlands Trust

Wildlands Trust is working on making our Great River Preserve more accessible than ever with our new updates to the parking area, gate, and viewing platform at the river. Persons in a wheelchair can park easily in the handicap parking lot, go through the gate at the handicap-accessible entrance, and use the old paved road between the fields to get all the way to the Taunton River. Once work is completed at the end of June, there will be a viewing platform at the river with specially designed benches and interpretive signage. Great River Preserve is located in Bridgewater.

There is also an accessible lookout at our Cow Tent Preserve in Duxbury.

As far as level terrain, Willow Brook Preserve in Pembroke has a nice wide trailhead that leads to an open field.

Mass Audubon

We are proud to offer an accessible portion of a trail at Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, and also an all-persons-accessible loop trail at North River – complete with guide ropes, places to sit and take breaks, interpretive experiences (places to touch tree bark, learn about ferns, solar energy, etc.), with optional braille and audio guides that can be borrowed from our Nature Center during office hours (9-4 weekdays, Saturdays 10-3 from April thru Christmas).

Additional Trail Notes

Other trails affiliated with towns and agencies

  • Bare Cove Park // very accessible parking. Most of the primary trails are paved.
  • Whitney Spur Rail Trail // mostly paved and right across from the Cohasset Commuter Rail stop. At least 1.6 miles of level path that leads into Wompatuck State Park
  • Wompatuck State Park // The Wompatuck trail is 1.25 miles. [link to park map]

Resources

Mass.Gov accessible trails info
Trails and the New Federal Accessibility Guidelines [Webinar]
US Forest Service Guidelines
Summary of rules based on 1999 US Access Board report

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