Disabilities-Accessible Trails and Parks on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay

Compiled by Ben Pease for the Trail Center

Note: Versions for printing are available in HTML and PDF formats.

There are a growing number of trails and parks accessible to people with disabilities in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz Counties. Decades of activism and recent legislation have led park agencies to think more in terms of "barrier-free" or "universal" design for facilities and trails, where possible. "People using wheelchairs are somewhat of an indicator species - if you provide for them you accommodate a lot of other park users." said landscape architect Mike Brown at the 1992 Statewide Trails Conference. "At any point in time, only 43% of the population are able-bodied: 10% are elderly, 10% are temporarily disabled, and 37% are significantly impaired. All of us have been and will be at some time dependent on others, needing help to get around. So barrier-free design helps all of us." The Americans with Disabilities Act, passed in the 1980s, has also had an impact in shaping our public spaces to be more accessible.

Some, but not all, of the facilities we list are specifically designed for persons using wheelchairs. These facilities may be marked with the blue-and-white wheelchair logo that indicates compliance with handicap design standards. These trails have a groomed, smooth tread of asphalt or special fine gravel, with minimal cross-slope and gradients less than eight or ten percent. "Whole Access" trails have cable handrails to aid visually-impaired and physically infirm persons. Three examples are the Tan Oak Nature Trail in Memorial County Park, Chickadee Trail in Huddart County Park, and the Redwood Trail at the top of Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, all of which Trail Center volunteers helped build. Many "officially designated handicap-accessible trails are relatively short.
      We also list bike paths, such as the Sawyer Camp Trail, Los Gatos Creek Trail, and the Bay Trail between Coyote Point and Foster City. While not all bike paths are fully wheelchair-accessible, those that are accessible make feasible trips of several miles. At many trailheads, "wheelchair stiles" have been built with wood posts wider at the top than the bottom, enabling regular-sized wheelchairs to pass through while blocking motorcycles from getting through.
      Also, many "regular" trails and fire roads have wheelchair stiles. These trails may not be "fully accessible" - you may get only a quarter mile or a mile before encountering a waterbar or a ford or a steep grade. So you might do well to explore cautiously with a buddy. The idea is to eliminate the first barrier - the gate - that would block wheelchair users from the trail. Many trails do start out with less than ten percent grade, and adequate width, though tread may be lumpy, not groomed.
      We include some facilities that we think ought to be looked at for accessibility but we're not absolutely sure. They are our best, unconfirmed hunches. If you see wiggle words such as "conceivable" or "may be," be advised that the facility in question may not be accessible and you might want to plan your trip elsewhere. I should caution that we have not evaluated all of the facilities in detail. If you see something that ought to be changed, let us know.

The author and the Trail Center make no guarantees as to the accuracy of the enclosed information, nor the suitability of the facilities listed to meet your particular needs. The author is a temporarily-able-bodied hiker, trained as an architect, so pays attention to design and accessibility issues on and off the trail, but I will confess I am by no means an expert. One of our long-term goals is to assemble teams of trail users and wheelchair users to document and evaluate the trails in detail, and provide you, the person using this list, with useful, quantitative and qualitative information as to what to expect, to aid in planning your visit. Chances are, we've only tapped the surface. We appreciate your help, contributions and suggestions.
      You are your own expert on your expertise, stamina, and equipment. Use the "buddy system." Let someone know where you plan to go. Check your chair. Bring water and gloves. If you need more information or park maps, call the park agency.

We recommend the following park guidebooks as further reading, whether you are an outdoor enthusiast with limited mobility, or if you are non-disabled but want to learn more about access issues:

Mitchell, Linda, and Allan Mitchell, California Parks Access: a Complete Guide to the State and National Parks for Visitors with Limited Mobility, Cougar Pass Press, Escondido, Calif., 1992.

Describes accessible features of all 270 State and National Parks in California, including many parks in the Bay Area. Of parks that have access, several are real gems. Excellent overall guidebook.*

Roth, Wendy, and Michael Tompane, Easy Access to National Parks: a Sierra Club Guide for People with Disabilities, Sierra Club, San Francisco, Calif., 1992.

Describes accessible features of fifty National Parks, including fifteen in detail (but no Recreation Areas, Seashores, or Monuments). Great for planning a big trip to Yosemite or beyond; also a good discussion of accessibility issues.*

California Coastal Conservancy, San Francisco Bay Shoreline Guide, University of California Press, Berkeley, Calif., 1995.

Full-color guidebook shows how to get to dozens of accessible bike trails and facilities all around San Francisco Bay, including historic and current photos, ecology, and history. Wheelchair symbol denotes accessible facilities; accessibility not discussed in depth.

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Disabilities-Accessible Trails and Parks on the San Francisco Peninsula and in the South Bay

Introduction

Accessible Trails in San Francisco

Accessible Trails in San Mateo County

Accessible Trails in Santa Clara County

Accessible Trails in Santa Cruz County

     
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