June 3rd, 2011

Day at the Lake has been happening each year at Bartlett Lake since about the Roosevelt presidency – well almost.

This year offered something very unusual as the temperatures below 100 degrees. Thats not too bad considering some years have bumped 111 degrees.

The 2-day event gives people with disabilities the opportunity to experience water skiing, jet skiing, fishing, kayaking, and boat rides.

As always, the pros at Barrow’s Institute’s Barrow Connection, know how to throw a good party and there’s always plenty to do along with a nice setting for everyone to sit around and enjoy Arizona’s desert beauty.   Brian Church operates the marina at Bartlett Lake. Its tough to beat the accessibility he’s included around the lake.

Here’s just a few photos shots by AA.  Marc A also posted his collection here.

2011-06_Day at the Lake – Images by Loren Worthington

Another Great Day at the Lake is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Roper Lake State Park is located in eastern Arizona.  It’s on the south side of the town of Safford, Arizona. Its a small lake and the park isn’t much bigger.   The location isn’t on any main highways so it’s not likely to be crowded anytime of the year.

The overall wheelchair access is good.  The terrain is pretty flat to begin with, and the park’s people have done a solid job making it accessible.  The first thing to like is the little cabins you can rent.  Of the 10+ cabins, three are right on the shoreline, and one of them is the Bass Cabin, which is their accessible cabin.

Just like the accessible cabin at Dead Horse State Park Lake, these are just a place to sleep for 4 people. We didn’t get to go in, but I’m sure they are similar.  The front deck of the Bass Cabin has a porch swing and a barbecue. It has a nice flat deck for hosting a herd of chair users.

The lake has some 70 RV/camp sites.  Many have water and electric hookups.  We stayed at the one site they designate as ADA parking.  I think most offer about the same functionality, but it is the closest spot to the very nice common bathroom and showers.  The bathrooms get high access marks. This spot doesn’t have the great view the cabin has, but it’s better than most.

There’s a road and a path that goes around the lake.  it’s great for taking a walk/roll.  The lake has an accessible dock that has good access.  There’s also a beach you can roll down to rather easily.  We launched the kayak here, and played whiffle ball.  The lake has a few section of trail that has pebbles too deep for most chairs to roll through.  I’d get stuck and need a lil’ push but in most cases you can find an alternate route.

A really nice feature at Roper Lake is the natural hot spring.  They’ve create a sitting pool out of rock for people to sit and relax in the warm water.  The tub isnt too accessible, but you can roll right up to it.

Roper Lake is a bird paradise.  We woke each morning to cardinals and quails.  There is water fowl always flying in and out of the protected waters.

Black Hills Back Country Byway
One afternoon we took a day trip over to the Black Hills Back Country Byway  This is a 21-mile scenic drive through the northern end of the Peloncillo Mountains.  This is a dirt road, but weather permitting, almost any car could cruise this road in 2-3 hours.  Bring a lunch because the Canyon Overlook Picnic Area (midway along the byway, about 10 miles in from either entrance), has great accessibility with an amazing view.

Near the northern end of the byway is the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area along the Gila River.  This has a great old concrete bridge and good wheelchair access to a small portion of the Gila River below.   If you have 4 wheeldrive, there’s numerous trails leading off to the Gila River and spectacular overlooks of the Gila River canyon.

Roper Lake State Park is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

First things first: The dead horse is long gone. This is a very clean and accessible park. I couldn’t even smell the carcass.

Located on the edge of a really cool little town called Cottonwood, at 3,300′ elevation, the park is in the high desert region. The park is part of the Verde Valley, and is next to the Verde River. Its easy to see why the early Indians loved the Verde Valley. It’s sorta like an oasis in the desert. There’s huge shade trees that probably where here 300 years ago when migrating tribes discovered the place. Thirty minutes away is Montezuma’s Castle.

The state park has three little ‘lagoons’ they stock with all types of fish. There is a nice trail around the fishing holes and numerous steel piers extend out into the water. These little piers are wheelchair accessible and really well designed for hauling in fish. There are shade trees every where and numerous picnic tables and ramadas. The Lower Lagoon has a larger pier and human-powered boats are allowed.

We barely covered any of the earth packed trails. The ones around the lake are great. We trekked down another that followed the creek, but never found to get near the creek. The park has numerous trails going in between the various camping sites.

An interesting feature at the park is the row of 8 cabins you can rent for $50 a night. They are basically sleeping quarters . Cabin #5, (aka The Eagle Cabin) has wheelchair access. Each cabin has 1 full bed and a set of bunks. They have a small table inside, but not much else. They do have have electricity and there’s public bathrooms (with roll-in shower) near by. There is a BBQ on the side of the cabin. I like the concept as its something between camping and staying at a hotel. The location of these cabins leaves a little to be desired, as the view isn’t scenic compared to other spots in the park, and its quite a walk to the fishing holes. The other bummer is that campers or motor homes can’t stay nearby so depending on how your friends roll, you could not ‘camp’ with them. But if your friends too grabbed a cabin, it would be fun. The cabins, and the entire park are pet-friendly.

What makes Dead Horse Ranch State Park most attractive is the weather. It’s never going to be scorching hot, and never too cold. It’s a year round place to roll around.

Link to Dead Horse Ranch State Park web site

The lagoons have flat wide dirt trails that go around the lagoons. There is shady trees and picnic ramadas as well.

Each lagoon has 6-10 piers that perch over the water. The pier offers good wheelchair access for disabled anglers.

Cabin #5 had good wheelchair access. The public bath room is 30 yards away.

Its pretty tight inside the small cabins.

Dead Horse Ranch State Park is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

[Originally posted on 8/4/08]

How would you like to be able to roll your wheelchair through the Grand Canyon? It might be a little bumpy, but taking a houseboat around Lake Powell is virtually the same thing, and one amazing ride.

Some history, before there was Lake Powell there was the Colorado River, which flowed through Glen Canyon and then down into the Grand Canyon. In the 60s, a dam was installed and Lake Powell came into existence. John Powell was a civil war hero who incidentally was also a amputee. He was one of the early explorers of the region.

Houseboats are like motorhomes. You need to get a lot of creature comforts in to a small space. Not surprisingly this limits how much accessibility you can offer. Well the folks at Forever Houseboats decided to break the mold and build one very accessible houseboat. My family and I rented Houseboat 750 for one week this July and had a magnificent time exploring Lake Powell.

For starters, the boat is big. She is 75 feet long, and 18 feet wide. And it takes quite a bit of skill to be able to maneuver her in tight spots. The boat has five bedrooms and two bathrooms. One bedroom is plenty accessible, and the bathroom next door offers a roll-in shower. The galley and family area is on the main floor and is easy to get around. Perhaps what makes boat 750 most accessible is the elevator that takes you up to the upper deck. It is here that I spent most of my time, and where I really got to enjoy Lake Powell, and Glen Canyon. Having a flat deck that is this long allows a wheeler to roll around and see everything on both sides.

Regardless of anyone’s abilities, such a big boat requires at least three or four good shipmates. At the end of the day, when the exploring finds you a good campsite, all hands need to assist in anchoring the vessel. This is not always a simple task when the canyons are solid rock. A good wind could slam her into something you don’t want to pay for. But that’s why there are four other bedrooms. So bring along some good people. When I say “good” I mean that they are not afraid to get their hands a little dirty and their feet a little wet, and that they can pitch in for the price of such a venture.

I had hoped that we could pull the boat up to some flatter areas and I could explore a little in my chair. This did not prove to be the case. We found one good campsite for this, and I’m sure there are many more if you knew the lake better, but thankfully the boat was big enough for even me to avoid cabin fever and co-exist with family for a week. My only regret is that we were not able to get back to Rainbow Bridge on this trip.

From the upper deck, which I should mention has a hot tub, albeit not too accessible, Glenn Canyon is every bit as spectacular as the Grand Canyon. Even in such a huge boat, you feel small in perspective. The canyon walls tower above you and everywhere you see magnificent colors that change as you pass. We brought along a kayak and a small boat which allowed people to get further back into the narrow canyons and really enjoy the unique peaceful nature of Lake Powell.

Antelope Point Marina (Page, Arizona) is where virtually all such trips originate. It’s very big, and the planners and operators have done a great job making it accessible. Where the ramps are too steep, and too long, golf cart taxis with ramps can zip you around. There are plenty of courteous employees who really make the departures convenient.

Lake Powell can be explored on a smaller scale. There are day trips, and daily boat rentals and there are a number of locations accessible by land that I hope to explore some day.

The photos above have some elaborate descriptions at Flickr. If you are thinking about a similar trip, drop me a note.

For specific Lake Powell rental info click here

Lake Powell is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Tempe Lake is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Its late November and in the high 60′s in Phoenix, so I decided to find somewhere warmer. I see Lake Havasu is predicted to be mid-70′s so I packed another pair of shorts and headed west for the 2 hour drive.

Forty years ago some clever people in Lake Havasu, Arizona bought the London Bridge for $3 million from London. They spent another $7 million getting it back to Lake Havasu, now it’s a pretty cool place to visit. Lake Havasu is on the Arizona California border. The lake has a reputation for big time lake parties and some awesome boats. We visited over the Thanksgiving weekend. Not many parties but plenty of seriously fast (and sexy) boats.

The bridge goes across a 1-mile long channel which has beaches on both side. Above the beaches is a 5-star urban trail that goes from the city’s Rotary Park, along the shoreline, up and over the bridge and then down the coast of the island. What I like is that its got a little bit of everything. The park has a great beach. The sand is compact enough that I could get the ol’ power chair to get right on the shoreline. The palm trees add some tropic flavor and the lake and mountains are very scenic. We stopped and watched the kids race the RC cars at a cool little track.

Click on the photo for notes, or see larger photos at Flickr

As you approach the bridge, there’s numerous shops and bistros on the path. Beneath the bridge is a stage where music events occur. Now here is where it gets a bit tricky. In order to get to the island you cross the bridge, which means you have to get up to street level and the one path that is obvious is way too steep. We found a much easier detour by the tennis courts of the London Bridge Resort. You have to cut through their parking lot for a 1/4 mile but it seems like the best route.

Going across the bridge is easy and scenic. When you get to the island, take the sidewalk around the Javalina Cafe (ok food, nice view) and head to the lobby of the Heat hotel. We met the general manager who said they allow PwD’s to use the elevator to get down to the shore. There’s another route but this was easy. From here the path runs south toward London Bridge Beach. This is a really nice path the goes past a great dog park. During our visit they were working on the path past this point, but there’s a great looking park that goes down to the end of the island. One other path is located on the island itself. This is basically a 3-mile bike path that would be great for exercise. It takes you all the way around the island.

Where To Stay
We stayed at The Nautical Inn and really liked it. They have 3 rooms that are ADA wheelchair accessible. Only one has a roll-in shower. The rooms have a great view of the lake. Whats really cool is they have a path leading down to the beach. If you look close you can see my tracks. The restaurant is accessible, and the tiki bar is really fun.

We also visited Heat Hotel, which is right next to the London Bridge and has a room with roll-in shower that has a great view. Heat is definitely a eclectic festive location and the GM tells me the parties slow down around 2pm, so dont expect less. They have two levels of outdoor bars and good music, so its definitely meant for a fun time.

As for fishing, I had hoped to visit the Havasu Springs Pier (Wiki info)which is located 10 miles south of town and supposedly accessible, but we ran out of time.

London Bridge – Lake Havasu is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

I’ve been hanging around Prescott lately. When it is 110° in Phoenix, it is about 90° in Prescott. And it seems pretty easy to find somewhere nearby that is even a little bit cooler. Lynx Lake has a wheelchair accessible trail, and a good picnic area. I have been to Watson Lake once. It does not seem to be as accessible, but it’s the biggest and perhaps the most scenic.

Coming back from the Groom Creek area, we spotted a sign for Goldwater Lake. This is a Prescott city park. It is even smaller than Lynx Lake but has some accessible features that make it a fun place to roll about.

One feature I always look for when assessing lakes and rivers and oceans, is the ability to get right down on the water. To me, even if I don’t want to get in the water, I’d like to know I can. And this is what I really like about Goldwater Lake. Basically you drive right down on a small beach where the planners smartly created the accessible parking lot, and from here you can wheel around. The sand or dirt is compact enough to allow anyone to roll right down into the water.

The lake has a new fishing pier that’s accessible. Strangely, unlike Lynx Lake, the planners did not lower the side rail in a few spots to allow wheelers to cast or lean over to pull in a whopper without having to lift it over the entire rail. So thumbs down for fishing access.

Besides the beach and the pier, the rest of the park is pretty basic stuff. Good access to picnic tables, plenty of ramadas and good w/c bathroom. This a good dog park too.

The Bannor Creek Trail goes about half way around the lake. I’m not too optimistic that it is accessible but I’ll be back to try it someday.

Goldwater Lake is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Arizona’s Most Accessible Lake Offers Kayaking

Arguably one of the best places to get out and enjoy metro-Phoenix’s weather is at Tempe Lake. My previous entry does not do justice to the south side of the lake and I hope to improve it soon. But one little secret is the north side marina. Not many people know it exists, and even fewer know how to get there.

The marina consists of probably 20 slots for small sailboats and pontoon boats. It is also where many water-related competitions and sports organize their events, and there is an excellent accessible floating pier. Adding to the marina is i’ts impeccable landscaping, excellent parking, access bathrooms and plenty of shade. There is no concession stands but it is an excellent picnic area. The concrete path around most of the lake is the longest trail I’ve found in Arizona yet.

My recent visit was to participate in the city of Mesa’s adaptive kayaking program. Mesa (Arizona Disabled Sports) and Phoenix (Daring Adventures) seem to be the only two cities with well-organized recreation for wheelers. Tonight was our first session in the lake. Susan Rossi who heads up the program has obviously done this before, and she has a good crew of volunteers and we are in the water on time, and without commotion.

My first observation about kayaking is that it is fun and I am out of shape. Apparently lifting a camera has done little to improve my cardiovascular performance. Rowing is a motion that comes rather natural and does not have any heavy impact on any portion of your body. Its relaxing except that when you are trying to keep up with kids half your age and your heart and lungs begin to feel like you are paddling uphill.

- – -

Tempe Lake Marina is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

In my travels, I am always asking people if they know about anywhere accessible, and on two occasions I have heard mention of an accessible lake up in Pinetop, Arizona. I know a little bit about Pinetop as I have driven through there a few times and could never find the lake. On one trip I noticed a sign for the Pinetop-Lakeside Interpretive Trail. It caught my eye because there was a big wheelchair-dude logo on the sign. Its worth visiting.

This week we traveled to northeastern Arizona to visit the Hidden Meadow Ranch, and so I googled for an accessible lake in Pinetop. Sure enough it exists, but there really are no signs on the main drag through Pinetop and definitely no wheelchair-logos to catch my eye. But the lake does exist, and it is a great place for wheelers to roll about.

Woodland Lake is basically right in the middle of town. The lake has no dedicated website, nor is it easy to find. I get the feeling the locals are keeping this place a secret. Good idea.

This is your basic 18-acre man-made urban lake. It is stocked with trout and bass and electric motor boats are allowed. Around the lake are picnic tables, a boat ramp tennis courts, volleyball, and playgrounds and all that stuff. But what makes Woodland Lake a must visit destination is the accessible trail going all around the lake.

What I liked about the trail is that it is 99% flat. This is casual strolling and rolling. The path itself is made of asphalt and plenty wide. A portion of the trail takes you across a shady hillside covered in pine trees, and another portion takes you across the earth mound damn which allows you to see quite a distance. The last portion is also in the pines but it takes you around by the shallow waters which are heavily vegetated and home to many birds. All along the way are rest areas, but I did not see any water supply. I estimate the circumference of the lake is a tad more than 1 mile.

So here is the odd part about this circular trail. Near one of the entrances to the park is a miniature covered bridge. This baby has some very steep ramps. ADA-enthusiasts will blow a gasket when they see the bridge entrance and exit ramps. And directly behind this bridge is a 50-foot section of the trail which is way too steep as well.

On this trip I brought along a power chair for some off-road exploring/photography I was doing elsewhere. So I happened to be in a power chair that handled the steep trail and the bridge without a problem. But in my trusty manual chair, and by myself, neither would be accessible. No big deal, because I would be perfectly happy to turn around and go back the way I came. Maybe even a few times.

Bring your tackle because the lake has an accessible fishing pier for wheelers too. Dogs on leashes are also welcome.

In my research, I learned that the lake is federally owned and locally managed and that this relationship is potentially going to expire. It sure would be a shame if this lake somehow became unavailable to the public. Pinetop is no exception to the urban sprawl Arizona is experiencing, and this lake is a true treasure.

I’m going to geo-tagged my Flickr photos very accurately so anyone can zoom in on my map and get some perspective about where the lake is. Or, another novel idea is to just to ask someone in Pinetop. But I just could not bring myself to this approach. Hint: From White Mountain Boulevard/AZ 260, turn in about a half mile on Woodland Lake Road at the Chevron Station. Pinetop-Lakeside Parks and Recreation (928/368-6700).

Woodland Lake is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Prescott’s Lynx Lake has great wheelchair accessibility.  Prescott  is just a mere 80 miles north of Phoenix heading towards Flagstaff. And Lynx Lake is 10 minutes out of town. The lake is managed by the National Parks. Its a small lake by any standard, but when its 108 degrees in Phoenix and you are enjoying afternoon showers and 69 degrees, the lake can be the size of a bathtub and I’m still enjoying it.

At the south end of the lake the lake is an excellent ramp leading out to a wooden floating dock. The dock has lowered rails for we sitting fishers. This is actually an exceptional picnic area for wheelers. It is flat with paths everywhere, and easy access to bathroom facilities. The picnic tables are covered and even the barbecues are accessible. The parking is perfect.

Sarah True is a volunteer at New Horizons Independent Living Center in Prescott. She wrote me about the lake and also mentioned the path leading back to the cafe and bait shop was a challenging dirt path for wheelers.

From the Lake, Trail 311 starts of pretty flat. Its a narrow asphalt trail that follows the west bank of the lake. We’re over 5000′ elevation and the inclines come pretty quick. Almost immediately I was huffing and puffing. I am calling this a black diamond trail. If you ski, you’ll know why. It’s not that the trail is too steep, if that it is rather narrow in places, and the drop-off is not something you want to experience. In many places it is probably a 30 foot drop right into the lake. In-shape paras like Sara will find this a challenging path. Pushing a manual chair, this old quad had to get plenty of assistance, and there were some corners where my breaking abilities were not enough. I plan to come back and try this path in a powered chair. 24 volts may not be enough to get me back the 1-mile trail, and those same corners may make me nervous as with one wrong flick of my wrist and I’m going to be in the lake for sure. This is definitely a trail where you utilize the buddy system.

Enough with the precautions. This trail is very scenic, and a great place to escape. The entire one-mile path goes along the lake shore, hence the name. And in three spots they have created some great concrete overlooks where you can fish. There’s 2 or 3 wooden bridges as well. We saw birds and a few squirrels.

We made it as far as the boat rental location (no accessible boats) and turned around with looming rainclouds approaching. You can see a path goes around most, if not all of the lake and it may not be paved. Lynx gets high marks. Its in the cool pines and is dog-friendly so we’ll be back.

Lynx Lake Offers Great Wheelchair Accessibility is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.