Nope not Christmas, it’s the Awesome Weather in Arizona Season, and that’s always marked by a great event, The All-Access – Phoenix Summit Challenge. (City of Phoenix Event Details)

The Phoenix Summit Challenge (see 2008 event coverage) is a non-competitive hiking event that embraces various ages, abilities, and fitness levels to challenge an individual’s mind and body while enhancing the quality of life and promoting healthy outdoor recreation. We challenge participants and families on barrier-free and summit trails in the mountain preserves and parks of Phoenix.

All-Access-Paved Hike four wheelchair/stroller friendly trails of the Phoenix Parks!
One Day, 4.5 miles, 10 hours
~Papago Park (Accessing Arizona Review)
~South Mountain (Review)
~Rio Salado (Review)
~North Mountain

This course will allow participants to personally challenge themselves by going longer distances and hiking Shaw Butte, the final summit of the challenge.  Shaw Butte is an uneven, unpaved trail that may require the use of specialized equipment which we will provide.
One Day

Registration Fees:
$22 for Adults &  $12 for youth (17 years and under)
Fee includes a t-shirt, celebration dinner at the Phoenix Zoo on Sunday, November 7th (5-8pm)
and free admission to Zoo Lights.  This is a family friendly event and a great way for families to get out and spend time together.

T’is The Season is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

The original post for Rim Lakes Vista Trail # 622 is below. I recently revisited the trail and was reminded that this is likely the best wheelchair trail in Arizona. I love the Cape Royal Trail on the north rim of the Grand Canyon for its amazing view and a few others, but Rim Lakes Vista #622 is over a half mile of nothing but amazing views. The majority of it is well designed and offers numerous places to get your chair right on the edge.

Here’s a few photos to make my case;

There's a few small parking lots. I suggest going to the last one (very west) and look for this sign.

The trail head immediately takes you to the edge of the Mogollon Rim

Basically the trail is one long photo opportunity.

This is about how much I trust my wheelchair isnt going to malfunction. It's 500'-1,000' sheer drop.

ORIGINAL POST (JUNE 2007)

Its June and 107 degrees in Phoenix, so I headed 2 hours northeast thru Payson to the Mogollon Rim. Ahhhhhhhhhh, now its 79 degrees.

Once on top of the rim, look for the Woods Canyon Lake turn off. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the huge cliff on the left is the Mogollon Rim. It’s one helluva view.

The first parking area you come to is the Military Sinkhole Vista. You start here or the 2nd turn off which is Woods Canyon Vista.

The trail is asphalt and maybe 40″ wide. It’s 3.5 miles long and follows the contours of the cliff so some places are pretty steep. Too steep for me to push solo, especially at 7,500 elevation. I’m huffing and puffing. Gloves are a must as you dont want your braking to fail when your 4′ from the ledge. Paras and power wheelchair users would find the ride very enjoyable.

Woods Canyon Lake is 2 miles away and is pretty accessible itself. We ran out of time, but soon I want explore the Meadow Trail #505 which goes from the Woods Canyon parking lot approximately 1.8 miles to the lake.

I give this trail my highest rating. The view is 2nd to none.

Annie and me at the Vista Trail atop the Mogollon Rim, just north of Payson. The view is spectacular.

Rim Lakes Vista Trail # 622 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.

To a guy from the northside of Phoenix, the east valley might as well be in another state. There’s towns over there I have never even been to in 35+ years. So after shooting a fencing camp in Mesa two weeks ago I went by the Gilbert Water Park. I’ve heard of it from numerous people and wanted to see whats the story.

Peggy Thomas

One of those people is Peggy Thomas. Twenty-five years ago she was probably one of the first quads who rolled into my hospital room. Not too long after that she let me fly her para-sail off into the wild blue yonder. And due a slight malfunction, I literally almost did so, but that’s another story. These days she’s big time into birding, or bird watching, and she publishes an informative blog about birding for people who roll around (www.birdingwithoutbarriers.org). So we met up for an afternoon jaunt and I got to learn about the various birds that reside at the park.

The place is commonly called the Gilbert Water Ranch which is the short version for “The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch.” The 110 acre compound consists of seven large water basins used to recycle effluent water. Next to a nearby library is one urban lake that features a nice walking bridge. This is the one lake stocked for fishing. The place gets five big stars for wheelchair accessibility. Its got good parking, plenty of shade, and many miles of wide smooth paths to roll around.

One of my favorite spots is the artificial creek they’ve got flowing through the middle of the park. It’s well designed for wheelchairs to forge in a few places, and nobody gets uptight if your pooch wonders in to one of the little pools for a cool down. By advised that amongst those casually enjoying this great place is some serious ‘birders’ and photographers who are busy holding very still and being quiet for a reason, so consider turning of the cell phone and practice some quite rolling when you get deeper into the park.

And finally, the park has a rare treat for wheelers. A roll-in astronomy observatory called the Gilbert Rotary Centennial Observatory (GRCO) that features an accessible 16″ telescope. We observed Mars near dusk and the astronomy club members that maintains the telescope were plenty happy to help us squeeze two chairs in to get a photo.

www.riparianinstitute.org

www.eastvalleyastronomy.org

Thanks, Peg!

Gilbert, Arizona Offers a Great Park For Wheelers and Birders is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

This article covers the Grand Canyon Lodge, the nearby Bridal Trail, the Cape Royal Trail, and the Navajo Bridge Scenic Overview near Lee’s Ferry.

The drive to the lodge is beautiful.  The route passes through huge meadows that are surrounded with pine and aspen trees. It’s a dramatic change for any desert dwellers.  I set the cruise control at maybe 50 and opened all the windows and the sun roof.  Good stuff.

The lodge is right on the rim, and the view is spectacular.

The property is over 80 years old. The main building is huge and made of stone and massive timbers.  When you get here, and you imagine the construction methods and the transportation available back in the 1920′s, it’s ever more impressive.  The main lodge sits right on the canyon’s edge.  We enjoyed two great sunsets on the open patios. The mood around sunset is quite relaxing as guests mingle and a glass of wine allows you to relax and further appreciate the view.

The cabins themselves are rustic.  We stayed in one of the larger Western cabins.  These offer a front porch, a gas fireplace at the foot of the queen size bed, a desk area and for PwDs, an excellent bathroom with roll-in shower.  The Lodge has four of the larger Western Cabins.  Two have tubs, two have showers. They also have two of the smaller Frontier Cabins with limited ADA access. All the cabins interlink with a nice concrete pathway. If you have any craving for television or Internet, forget it as the cabins have no television,  and Internet is located down the road. For us, we suffered a bit of technical withdrawals, but it got us to bed early and up early to go exploring.

The lodge has a great outdoor terrace that is accessed using a small outdoor elevator.

The lodge has a very nice restaurant.  Consider making dinner reservations at the time you book, as each night they are full with a waiting list.  The dining area is down stairs and wheelers get to ride a lil elevator down.  The food is delicious, and we enjoyed the young staff which have a keen knowledge of the lodge, menu and wine selection. If you time your dining to the sunset, you’re in for something special.  Overall, the accessibility at and around the lodge is good.  It’s an old building sitting on a cliff, so the access isn’t always front and center, or in the most convenient spot, but we did nothing but enjoy ourselves, and the fine hospitality.

The Nearby Bridal Trail
From the lodge, you can pick up the Bridal Trail (also called the Greenway Trail) just east of the cabins.  It initially follows the canyon past the parking area, then crosses the road.  At the road, the path is a bit inaccessible, but once you get to the other side, it widens and becomes a very nice nature trail.  As you meander through the junipers, aspen and pine trees, you’ll notice a lot of work has gone into making the path easy to use and resilient to the weather.  The trail is well over a mile long, and at 7.900 ft elevation, you will likely be huffing and puffing.  The trail will take you to the general store which is a good place to grab a drink.  Its also the only place where there’s Internet, so bring along the iPhone or laptop.

From the General Store, the trail goes another 1/8th mile north then crosses the road and heads towards the North Kaibab Trail.  We made it down the steep slope but opted to turn back as the pitch of the trail became quite difficult. Basically I kept sliding sideways towards a lot of pain. The first portion of the trail a is well worth trying.

The view from Angle Point along the Cape Royal Trail.

Cape Royal
For me,  if I go somewhere touted as spectacular, and there isn’t a scenic trail around, well then the place ain’t so great,  The north rim became a great place after visiting Cape Point.  This is perhaps Arizona’s ultimate in scenic accessible trails.  For starters, the hour drive from the lodge is in and of it self, a very beautiful drive.  The last 30 minutes consists on non-stop turns, curves, chicanes, and whip-backs that are really fun.  On many of these turns, failure is not an option.  That big ol’ canyon looms below.

Once you arrive, there’s a sizable parking lot.  Unfortunately there’s only one access parking spot.  We grabbed it, but as there’s no stripes for a loading zone, we sure enough had to ask someone to move their car on return from the hike. But that’s nit-picking compared to the big picture.

From the trail head, the first quarter mile of the trail is asphalt.  It leads you down the center of the narrow finger of the plateau.  On one side is the canyon and the sheer drop offs will definitely get your attention.  Not too far up the trail, you come to the turn for Angel Point. This path continues to be paved and it’s Angel Point, with the huge hole underneath the lookout that you will see as your drive up.  It is an amazing site.

So Angel Point offers a view that really defies words, but unfortunately the point itself isn’t accessible.  It could, and it should be, but we apparently haven’t pestered the park service enough to do so.  None the less, its a superb view and in numerous spots, you can roll right out to the very edge.  It’s definitely a hair raising, brake testing view when you get close to the edge.  If I ever meet President Obama, I plan to tell him Angel Point needs to be accessible.

The trail to Cape Royal. Wheelchair users can get as close as they dare to the edge. Angel Point with its hole in the sandstone is in the distance.

But Point Royal is still to come, so head back to the trail intersection, and then take the now gravel path further out.  The path would be annoying in a chair with small casters, but anything else would travel it easily. Once you arrive, you are looking at the most panoramic view of the Grand Canyon available (270 degrees).  Pack a lunch because this is a surreal place.  Just watching the birds catching the drafts and soaring effortlessly is worth the effort to get out here.  This is one of the few places on the north rim where you can see the Colorado River snaking through the canyon nearly a mile below.    We also found ourselves watching all the people as they arrived. Their expressions told it all.

Getting There
Getting to the north rim is a 6-7 hour drive from Phoenix.  From Flagstaff, the drive up highway 89 towards Page takes you through some very desolate yet spectacular barren deserts.  As you break off at 89A, you’ll cross the Colorado River at Marble Canyon and the Navajo Bridge.  This is an excellent place to stop as the old bridge is now for pedestrians. Its a great place to stretch and see the Colorado River before it enters the Grand Canyon.  I’d suggest parking on the far side as it’s better access parking.

Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon near Lee's Ferry. This is an excellent opportunity to 'roll' across the Colorado River.

The Grand Canyon Lodge is managed by Forever Resorts.  Their web site is: www.grandcanyonforever.com

Finally let me add that while I make every effort to take Annie, our dog just about everywhere, we didn’t bring her on this trip and I’m glad.  She’d loves the hikes, but once you’ve experienced the lodge, you’ll understand why it’s really not a doggy hangout. But that’s just me.

Below are a few more random photos;

The entrance to the Grand Canyon Lodge

The Western Cabins are more spacious and include a porch with rocking chairs.

The Western Cabins typically include two queen beds. ADA rooms have just one bed to increase access.

The lodge has an enormous viewing area.

Highway 89 travels between Flagstaff and Page. The route takes you through some rather baron desertscapes that are surrounded by limestone cliffs.

And for anyone interested in the bathroom’s wheelchair access, here’s the cabin’s bathroom featuring a nice roll-in shower. The cabin comes with rather small portable stool. so plan accordingly.

Roll-in Shower at the Grand Canon Lodge.

Other side of bathroom.

Grand Canyon Lodge – North Rim is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

September 26th, 2009: Today, the City of Scottsdale and the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy dedicated the grand opening of  the all new, all accessible Bajada Trail. The trail is located at the Gateway Park, which is east of Thompson Park between Bell Road and Union Hills.

Accessing Arizona was on hand for the brief ceremony. The Bajada Trail, in true Scottsdale fashion is more than just a trail. It has an information center that features some very nice architecture. Even the parking lot feels like more than just a place to park.

Denise Labrecque, ADA Coordinator for the City of Scottsdale crosses the bridge at the beginning of the Bajada Trail.

The main Bajada Trail is 1/4 mile long. It’s made of rammed earth and is plenty wide. The trail meanders across the foothills (aka Bajadas) that begin the base of the Sonoran Mountain range. Along the way there are observation points to observe the desert. The Information Center is a perfect place to water up, learn a little about the desert and the McDowell Mountains and prepare for the trek. Immediately you will travel across a walk way the spans over a dry creek bed. You can see that critters are plentiful around the trail. For anyone wanting to get back into nature a bit more, there is a second trail you can pick up that is much more rugged. It’s another quarter mile of loose gravel and dry creek beds that is much more challenging.

The Bajada Trail is a perfect place to get some excercise and take in the desert. The only thing thats missing is some shade. The information center is great for cooling off, but ideally the trail would benefit from shady rest spots. For people in the north valley, the Bajada Trail should be considered the first true accessible trail. We’ve covered the trail at the City of Phoenix’s  Reach 11 (Tatum north of Union Hills) and it’s poor trail head and recent lack of maintenance.

Seven year old twins, Evan and Yale Richardson, race ahead of mom on the new Bajada Trail. Both twins have cerebral palsy caused by premature births. The boys attend Copper Ridge School in Scottsdale.

A Red Tail Hawk is released during the ceremony.

Bajada Trail is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Ed Note: This was originally posted in Oct, 2008.

To a certain extent, the Desert Botanical Garden’s like most public gardens/museums/parks that charge an admission are quite accessible. So I have never been in a hurry to cover DBG, but it is October and the weather is fabulous in Arizona and so I spent a Sunday afternoon enjoying a great place to explore all of the deserts of the world.

Suffice it to say DGB is a very accessible place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Located on the borders of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe, DBG is right next to the Phoenix Zoo, and Papago Park. If you are anywhere in Phoenix, it is pretty easy to locate. Note: DBG is approximately 1 mile north of the Metro Rail Station 19 which opens Jan 2009. If the weather were nice, this would be a good push for any wheeler.

If I were a 30 year old male, I would be getting sick of this blog. It’s all leisure and no cool activities. And you are correct, so until I find a few interesting activities, consider DBG as a great place to get some really good wheelchair exercise. The paths twist and wind for probably a good mile. And there are a number of good inclines for cardio fun. A few laps will have anybody catching their breath.

For those interested in the desert, you will find cactus and other plants indigenous to deserts and arid regions spread throughout the park. It is definitely not just plants from the southwestern desert. So even to locals, there is plenty of reasons to visit. Probably the best reason to come to DBG is that it is a relaxing convenient place to explore the desert. There is plenty of shade, and water, and concession stands for food and drink. The garden hosts small musical concerts, weddings, and art related festivals.

As for accessibility, DBG gets high ratings. All of the paths are plenty accessible. There are paved paths and dirt path, and I’ve never gotten a flat tire here. All of the concessions and restrooms are convenient as well. As a photographer in a wheelchair I am constantly wishing I could get at ground level for perspective and close-up photographs. In a place such as this I am looking for planters that are about 24″ high with a retaining wall beside the path. Now I can shoot from “ground level.” DBG has a few good ones. I also like that they stay open past dark to allow you to experience sunsets and how the desert changes when darkness arrives.

Another good reason to visit DBG is that Papago Park is right across the street, and Mill Avenue/
Tempe Lake are near by as well. The combination makes for a great day.

Desert Botanical Garden is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

It’s beautiful, it’s popular, but Slide Rock State Park is one of the few Arizona state parks that really have nothing to offer people in wheelchairs. As the name implies, Slide Rock Park offers guests the ability to visit a section of Oak Creek that over time has naturally carved a fun and refreshing series of water slides and pools for we mere humans to enjoy. Unfortunately the creek is down there and park is up above.

The park begins on a plateau on east side of Oak Creek, where homesteaders built a farm in the early 1900′s. The park people have put in a nice asphalt trail that leads through the homestead. At the far end of the trail (appx 1/4 mile), there is a set of stairs down to the creek below. Unless you have two good spotters with strong backs, forget it.

Perhaps as a token gesture, and so you do not demand your eight dollars entry fee back, the park people have put in a “wheelchair accessible look out” where you can see how much fun everyone is having below. I was tempted to take a leak.

Off to the side of the lookout, is a narrow dirt trail, which we naturally decided to explore. It follows the side of the canyon and in about 100 yards comes to a rock outcrop. Check your brakes, because one slip and you will get to enjoy the rocks 200 feet below with a great impact.

Slide Rock State Park doesnt offer any wheelchair access to Oak Creek, but the view is scenic.

One good thing about going to slide rock is the drive itself. From Sedona you are in for a real treat as you head up state Route 89B towards Flagstaff. The winding road takes you through the gorgeous canyon with its sheer cliffs of amazing colors. As the road ascends and descends down towards the creek, you wont beleive you are in Arizona.

I’m the type that likes to get my feet wet.  Unfortunately none of the parks have much access to the river.  Red Rock State Park has a great trail,  and if you are adventurous you can forge the river at  Cresent Moon Picnic Area, but the slickest way to enjoy the water as I’m doing below is to continue past Slide Rock Park  towards Flagstaff a few miles.  Along the way you will see numerous driveways leading to cabins and lodges.  Most have a concrete driveway that forges the creek.  So we just parked and rolled right in!

Photo taken from a driveway that forges Oak Creek. Perfect wheelchair access.

Slide Rock State Park is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

LOCATION: Northeast Arizona
Sitgraves Nation Forest Guide

[ed note: (7/12/09) I revisited the Meadow Trail today. It remains in very good condition and is a great place to go for a roll. My advise is to not drive to the lake to begin this trail. Instead leave from where the trail hooks up with the
622 Vista Trail.

This is the 2nd of two trails right in the same area. We are on top of the Mogollon Rim (Mug-yon) between Payson and Show Low. I give both trails my highest marks. The view is far better from the 622 trail, but if you’re looking for a place to escape into nature, this is it.

The trail head starts very near the same parking lot as the 622 trail. The trail wonders through the tall pines includes a small bridge to get you over a marsh area. Yep! thats an elk grazing less than 50 feet from the trail. The area prohibits hunting, so these young bulls aren’t too worried about becoming a steak on someone's table.

The trail ends at Woods Canyon Lake. It’s a steep decent down to the lake's parking lot. The lake itself is nice and peaceful but the accessibility is very disappointing. The little store isn’t accessible at all, nor is the boating dock. This lake deserves a nice little dock for people in chairs to roll out and do some shore fishing or board a boat.

The 1 ¾ mile path however is perfect. It features just the right amount of slope here and there to count as good exercise and while its quite popular, the bikes and walkers have plenty of shoulder to yield to wheelers without slowing down. The potential to get so near to wildlife makes it a wheelchair photographer’s dream!

I spied this sign near the lower parking lot and boat ramp and thought it was the trailhead. Nope! . . . .

The trail head is located at the end of the upper parking lot.

As you ascend from the lake, the trail has some switchbacks that allow you to catch your breath and enjoy the view. Note the rocks used as a curb along the edge. These guys built a good trail.

Along the way are some well maintained bridges. It here that the trail gets my vote for being one of the most peaceful escapes you'll find for PwD's.

Mogollon Rim – Meadow Trail is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.

Thirty-five years.  That’s how long I’ve been rolling (and strolling) around Arizona. And so it’s a bit embarrassing to say I’ve never taken the time to visit the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum just outside of Tucson. Good thing I finally got my act together.

First,  this aint really a museum in my book. It’s all outdoors, and really is a zoo, and then a botanical garden, and lastly a natural history museum.  For wheelers, its 2+ miles of trails on both concrete and well packed gravel.  If you are pushing, this place will wear you out as the compound is on the side of a mountain with some rather steep walking paths in many places.  I like that the trails are plenty wide to allow AB’s to get by, and that there isnt much side to side slope in the paths.  Along the way is plenty of shade and water stops. Hands down, this is the best place to visit and experience all of Arizona’s desert environment in one place.

We spent four hours here but it’s really an all-day place.  There’s that much to see and do.  Jared, age 6, was still fulling engaged when we hit hour #4.   To spend a day here any time other than the winter means you’ll be here during the middle of the day, and that means it’ll be hot.  We got lucky in late March with 75 degree weather.

A few highlights are the twice daily Raptor flights. This is a seasonal event so check their calendar, but the 1:45pm Harris Hawk presentation is amazing.   It alone is worth the $12 price of admission.  My only qualm is that they herd everyone down to the end of this trail for the show, and you are surrounded by tall people which obstructs the view.  If they’d set aside an area for wheelers (and shorties), we’d see the birds better. Next is the Puma (Mountain Lion) exhibit.  I like it because it’s a very well designed display and the cats are very close.  I swear this one cat was eying me for it’s dinner.  All of the animals look healthy which isnt always the case elsewhere in Arizona.  The bears apparently escaped recently because their area has been closed.

The ASDM is impressive because it very clean, very well maintained, and has a friendly crew of staff and volunteers.  It’s clear the place is a source of community pride.   We ate at the snack bar which was a bit pricey, but featured a patio with a scenic view.  There’s a restaurant on the property as well.

I added quite a bit of comments to each photo in the Flickr set.

The museum is located outside of Tucson to the east.  There’s two ways to get there. One takes you throught the Saguaro National Park which is a great scenic drive.  Visit their web page at: www.desertmuseum.org

Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum is a post from: Wheelchair Arizona eMag Accessing Arizona.