Where Can a Disabled Person Go to Hike?
I got to wondering this when within one week’s time I had two friends tell me that they had developed physical problems that would be curtailing their opportunities to hike, probably for the summer, maybe longer. Yikes!
I also had just spent two consecutive June weekends visiting favorite areas of the Eldorado National Forest where I was limited by thunderstorms one weekend and rain showers the next, and all I could do was stand in the forest and enjoy the smell of wet woods, admire the trees that were decorated with yellow-green wolf lichen that seemed to glow in the low-level daylight, and of course I got to watch some birds that were going about their jobs with zero concern for me as I stood still to watch.
I put all this together and started to wonder where exactly a person in a wheelchair could go to enjoy some “commune with Nature” time? When I was a poor student (isn’t that redundant?) at the University of Washington, I took a job with a guy who lived his life in a wheelchair. He was an adviser at the university and happened to also need a 24/7 attendant.
It wasn't too very long before I was thinking of my trips to the mountains. I enjoyed geology at that time, and a hike in the Cascades or the Olympics was always a good time. I had an idea: I needed to get John interested in hiking!
John had never been given a chance to do such a neat thing, and it became Priority One for us to get to a store and get him geared up. A visit to Seattle’s REI for sleeping bag, plaid shirt, and a Sierra cup, then on to Sears for a big tent to hold his outdoor wheelchair and the lift required to move him from chair to bed. Set with that gear, we were ready to load the van and go find a forest road to explore.
That was a nice year for both of us; John got some new experiences with being outdoors in snowstorms, rain, and of course nice days too. Outdoor cooking, campfires, a few beers, and some friends to join us made these trips really fun times.
So I got to wondering if there were people around here (El Dorado County) who might be in wheelchairs and might want to go for a hike to see some flowers, or some trees, or just be outdoors to watch Nature? I visited the folks at the USFS (info at end of page) and gathered some information. Now I have to go visit these first couple of locations to walk them and take some pictures. I want to add info to this page to help you know up-front what you should expect, both for access, road conditions, and what you could hope to see; plants and butterflies I can do, but birds? That’ll be on you.
A Starting List
I visited the two USFS offices listed below; both have wheelchair access. Camino has a good array of publications, field guides, and ID cards for wildlife and flora, and I picked up a nice little SMUDSacramento Municipal
Utility District-provided, free map of the Crystal Basin Recreation area that shows 29 camp areas with 20 of them offering wheelchair-accessible restrooms. Of course that implies you just want to sit outside near your vehicle. We want to find trails to explore! Get into the wilds and stare at a bear! (I'm kidding. In 20 years
I have only seen one bear!)
Still... Or at least a few butterflies and maybe a bird or four. Here are some start locations:
1. A very nice first entry is the Nature Walk at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center at Lake Tahoe. This is a place I have only visited in autumn for the impressive kokanee salmon run and the stream-side viewing area, but it offers a gentle paved trail (about a half-mile) with ramps into the viewing chamber. Viewing chamber? Yes. The highlight of the trail is when you descend into a below-water-level area to look directly in to the stream for a fish-eye view. The rest of the trail is through a forest wetland area with interpretive signs to identify plants and tell about the surrounding natural habitat and mountains.
2. I haven't seen Gerle Creek for myself yet, but here is the USFS page that describes the area and gives you a map. I am told it's a great place to fish, and that there is a nature trail and campground that is accessible to wheelchairs.
3. Wrights Lake does have a camping area, but good luck trying for reservations. The good news is that there should generally be parking available (especially away from the trail head parking lot) and the road around the edge of the lake is paved; narrow, but paved. I can't speak to the access of places off the paved trail but I plan to investigate this. Wrights Lake is at 7000ft and is a beautiful location with immediate backdrop of snowy peaks and a nice forest, good flower displays, and birds and butterflies to enjoy. I think it would be a great day trip.
4. PiPi Campground. This place in between Mormon Emigrant Trail (a.k.a. Iron Mountain Road) and Hwy 88. Hmmm. I'm told this is a nice spot with a decent trail for wheelchairs, but until I go look, the jury's out. It's a popular OHV area and RV camp spot! Since I personally don't want to be near dirt bikes or motor homes, I'm a little skeptical. I can't even find a decent write-up or map that isn't commercial. Google "USFS PiPi Valley" and see what you think.
5. While not a "trail" in the usual sense, I suggest a drive up Iron Mountain RoadYes, better known as
Mormon Emigrant Trail.
I happen to like the old name. where there are some great places to simply park and watch the forest be the forest. As I mentioned above, I sat in my car and enjoyed watching animal activity while it was a little rainy.
It happens that there is a place called Spicer Meadow, the entry gate to which is just 1.2 miles down the Silver Fork road (from Iron Mountain Road). Spicer Meadow is accessed by a now-closed forest road! No motor vehicles anymore, but motorized chairs are okay. It's a generally good dirt road with hillside displays of mule-ears and loads of wildflowers and critters to enjoy. At the end of the run (maybe two miles?) there is a wonderful view of the Crystal Range to enjoy. More on this when I can add real details.
The road entry is at GPS waypoint 10S 740643 | 4282277. I went up on 14 June and found that there were fresh tracks in the dirt and the gate was left open. Clearly not everyone is getting the message that this road is closed to highway vehicles, and ATVs too. I have visited this road several times and have never seen another person, but of course that's just luck. If you have a plan to head for Spicer, we will trust that you have somebody along with you and that you have high-visibility markings and maybe a bike flag.
6. A trip for Spring is the Pine Hill PreserveRead the page about Pine Hill... in Rescue. The only real hindrance is a gate (not the one on the road, but the side-gate in the fence) that looks locked but is open to the public. I haven’t measured it but it certainly should be wide enough for a chair.
The road to the top is paved and wide enough for the limited vehicle use to not be a problem. Near the top, the last several hundred yards are simply good dirt road. Sorry to add that there is a gate at the end to keep vehicles (and wheelchairs) from the last area which is where the cell towers are. Still, you get most of the great views and you have every opportunity to enjoy plenty of flowers along the roadway. The best Fremontia shrubs are in there, but at least there are a few smaller plants along the paved road nearing the top.
7. There is an area called the Dave Moore Nature AreaClick for a BLM page... along the South Fork of the American River in Coloma. It’s dry, and probably hot in the summer, but still worth considering a visit. There are picnic tables and porta-toilets. A March visit may be pushing it a bit (no flowers), but it does green up in Spring, then gets toasted as Summer comes on. It would also be a good visit in Autumn.
Are you ready to plan a trip?
That's not much, but it’s a start. Now my request: if you stumbled onto this page and have questions or comments, please drop me a note so I can find answers and build this page into something useful. Maybe you know about a place you'd like to share?
Thanks,
PS: There are USFS offices in Placerville and Camino. They offer maps (some free, but you can buy excellent maps of the Desolation Wilderness or the Eldorado National Forest if maps are your thing) and loads of information. You should call for directions to either office.
Eldorado National Forest
100 Forni Road
Placerville, CA 95667
530-622-5061
530-642-5122 TTY
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30PM
Schedule: Monday - Friday year-round. Closed Holidays.
4260 Eight Mile Road
Camino, CA 95709
530-644-2324
TTY 530-647-5314
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Summer Schedule: Monday - Saturday from May 24th through Labor Day Weekend.
Winter Schedule: Monday - Friday. Closed Holidays.
Eldorado National Forest Visitor Information
530-644-6048
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