Waypoint Adventure Co-Hosts “Trails for All” Hike
Advocate for more accessible trails in Massachusetts and support the Trails for All Bill!
Waypoint Adventure, Appalachian Mountain Club, and Unpaved Trails for All are hosting the Trails for All Hike on Friday, September 26th from 1-3pm at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation.
There are over 4,000 miles of nature trails in Massachusetts state parks – yet less than 7.5 miles of natural surface woodland trails are considered accessible to people with limited mobility. That means nearly half the state – an estimated 36-49% of residents, including people with disabilities, older adults, and caregivers with young children – face unnecessary barriers to the benefits of outdoor recreation in their communities.
To change this, the Trail Access Working Group – led by the Massachusetts Office of Outdoor Recreation – hosted the Accessible Trails Public Forum this past May. Held as part of the Trails for All initiative, the virtual event brought together people with disabilities, caregivers, advocates, and trail professionals to share their struggles and hopes for equitable access to nature.
From this, the Trails for All Act (S.548/H.915) was developed which seeks to establish a dedicated fund for accessible trails and implement the Working Group‘s recommendations.
To be clear: this isn’t about paving the woods. We value the full range of trail experiences in Massachusetts. But everyone should have access to a high-quality, welcoming outdoor experience in their own community – whether that means a quiet loop around a pond, a forest walk with a stroller, or a woodland trail that accommodates a mobility device.
Accessible trails don’t just offer recreation. They offer health, independence, belonging, and joy – especially for the nearly half of Massachusetts residents who benefit from accessible design.
Massachusetts has the chance to lead – to affirm that nature belongs to everyone, and no one should be left out because of how a trail is built. Join us on our hike on Sep 26th and let’s pass the Trails for All Act – making the outdoors truly open to all.
