Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 42

ACCESSIBLE TRAILS IN
Shenandoah National
Park's Limberlost Trail
offers varied flora
with an easy grade.
THE BLUE RIDGE REGION:
A SAMPLER
hen my adventurous, athletic
husband, Todd Gladfelter, suffered
a tragic spinal cord injury,
paralyzing him and turning him into
a quadriplegic, I knew we would
not be content living a life indoors.
One in four Americans live with
a disability (61 million) and most
stay indoors. The natural, peaceful
world, however, is healing so I went
on a mission to research accessible
trails. Here is a sampling of some of
the best accessible trails in the Blue
Ridge region. Most are paved with
benches and a 5% grade or less. We
do a combo of my disabled husband
walking with his walker/cane, then
riding in his manual chair when he
grows fatigued.
W
VIRGINIA. The 1.3-mile circuit
Limberlost Trail in the Shenandoah
National Park is a state-of-the-art accessible
trail with very gentle grades,
a smooth, finely crushed stone trail
bed and many benches. There is so
much diversity in the landscape as it
winds through thick groves of mountain
laurel, tall oaks, rock formations
and lacy ferns. The beautiful, historic
Big Meadows Lodge in the park
offers very comfortable accessible
accommodations.
WEST VIRGINIA. Canyon Rim Overlook
Boardwalk is .4 miles, out and
back at New River Gorge, Lansing.
Offers beautiful views of the gorge
and the New River Bridge. It has a
paved concrete surface, wooden
boardwalk with railings, 3% grade or
less, 8-foot wide trail, benches and
picnic tables along the way.
Sandstone Falls Boardwalk Trail is
.5 out and back in Shady Spring and
offers views of the falls, 1% grade
or less, 6-foot-wide trail, wooden
boardwalk with edge barriers/railings.
The two boardwalks are 42
miles apart.
NORTH CAROLINA. Oconaluftee
River Trail, 3-mile round trip, in Cherokee,
in the Great Smoky Mountains.
River views, elk nearby, dog friendly,
benches along the way, paid parking
tags required obtained at visitor
center. Go as far as you desire and
turn around.
TENNESSEE. Sugarlands Valley Nature
Trail, .5-mile loop, West Prong
of the Pigeon River, Gatlinburg, in
Great Smoky Mountains National
Park. Benches along the way, 6-foot
trail, paved, 3% grade. Accessible
wheelchairs are available to reserve
at three campgrounds.
GEORGIA. Miller Lake Trail, 2.4mile
loop, South of Gainesville.
Paved path with lake views, by cool
swamps, mostly shaded, benches.
SOUTH CAROLINA. Greenville via
Swamp Rabbit Trail. This 21-mile
long distance paved greenway has
an accessible section between 1017
miles. It is 5 feet wide with 5% or
less grade.
KENTUCKY. Prestonsburg Passage
in Floyd County is an 8.6-mile asphalt
rail trail with the parking/bathrooms
at Archer Park, from where
you head out in either direction.
Many other accessible trails can
be found by searching " wheelchair
friendly trails " at AllTrails.com and
TrailLink.com of the Rails-to-Trails
Conservancy, as well as others.
A person with a permanent disability
can request a free lifetime
Access Pass that allows them to
visit the 2,000 U.S. recreation sites
(including the national parks). The
pass includes admission as well for
three persons traveling in the same
vehicle with the traveler who has a
disability. There are additional discounts
for camping, swimming, boat
launches and more.
-CINDY ROSS
42 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Welcome
Mats 2025
http://www.AllTrails.com http://www.TrailLink.com http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025
