y t i l i b i s s e c c A
According to current counts by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Minnesota’s 75 state parks and recreation areas see an average of 9,700,000 visitors each year. It’s no secret that we love being outdoors to hike, bike, fish and camp. Exploring a state park under your own power is fun and a great way to exercise. And for those with limited mobility, experiencing the natural wonders of a Minnesota park doesn’t have to mean just watching others. Minnesota state parks provide fulfilling experiences for visitors of all abilities, be it a hike through a grove of red pines, a paddle down a state water trail or a relaxing weekend around the campfire.
Concrete ramps allow access to the swinging bridge at Jay Cooke State Park.
HIKING
Twenty-nine state parks have broad, paved hiking Accessible fishing pier trails most of which are less than three miles long with at William smooth and level surfaces. Formed in a loop, these trails O’Brien enable visitors to experience the park’s character on foot or State Park. by wheelchair. Big Bog State Recreation Area features a boardwalk to a pond site outfitted with benches and a spotting scope. Crow Wing, Franz Jevne, Schoolcraft and William O’Brien State Parks have trails along prominent Minnesota rivers. Grand Portage State Park provides a one-mile, wheelchair-accessible visit to the High Falls on the Pigeon River, Minnesota’s highest waterfall. Another North Shore favorite, Gooseberry Falls State Park, provides paved access to both the Upper and Middle Falls with switchbacks and benches along the route. Nearby, the Temperance River Trail offers flat surfaces for taking breaks along the falls. At Jay Cooke State Park, a wheelchair-friendly approach to the swinging bridge allows views of the raging Saint Louis River below. Both Gooseberry and Jay Cooke State Parks provide wheelchairs for day use at no charge. STATE TRAILS
Minnesota’s 22 paved state trails each provide flat, accessible paths, at least for segments of their routes. The undulating Root River Trail, for example, has a 19-mile, wheelchair and handcycle friendly segment between Lanesboro and Rushford with spectacular views of the river and its bluffs. In the Cuyuna State Recreation Area, the 11-mile Cuyuna Lakes State Trail connects the cities of Deerwood and Riverton and allows access to several scenic mine lakes along the way. All photos Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 34 Spring 2020
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in Minnesota’s Outdoors
by Tom Watson
HISTORIC/NATURAL FEATURES Some Minnesota state parks offer guided tours of the natural and historic sites within their boundaries and they’re not off limits to those who use a wheelchair. Both Blue Mounds and Minneopa State Park feature tours with opportunities to view gigantic bison up close from a vehicle. The Bison Bus Tour at Blue Mounds has a wheelchair lift to accommodate one guest while the road tour through the enclosed bison compound at Minneopa enables visitors to get a glimpse of these creatures from the car. The subterranean mine tour at Lake Vermilion/Soudan Underground Mine State Park means an elevator ride to 2, 341 feet below the surface, where guests board a miniature train to travel horizontally along an abandoned mine shaft. But that doesn’t mean those with limited mobility have to stay behind. This excursion is fully wheelchair accessible and the park can provide a chair better suited for the rough surfaces underground. At Hill Annex Mine State Park the Historic Mining Tour is also accessible by wheelchair and takes visitors on a 90-minute bus ride into the mine, the way the miners would have taken to work. Spelunkers of every age and ability can enjoy the Scenic Tour at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. While its other cave tours are more challenging and strenuous, this program features cave mineral deposits, long corridors and underground pools of water - all wheelchair accessible along its 3/4-miles of paved trails and metal bridges. CAMPING
Most drive-up campsites in our state parks are easily accessible for use by campers of any age and ability. Many state park campgrounds also designate a few ADA-accessible sites, usually near ADA-compliant restroom facilities. However, these tend to be few and far between. Itasca State Park, for example, with over 220 campsites in its two designated campgrounds only shows four such sites on its maps. An appealing alternative to tent camping in nearly 30 state parks are rental cabins - from the basic camper cabin with bunk beds and simple tables and beds, to cottage-like, fully-furnished structures. St. Croix State Park, for example, offers a guesthouse and Itasca State Park features a variety of cabins and lodging options. FISHING/HUNTING
Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources provides public sport fishing piers around the state that provide hard surface access from parking areas to the docks. Many Wildlife Management Areas allow hunting on easily accessible plots around the state, ideally suited for those who enjoy the Tour vehicle with wheelchair sport, but are limited in the area they can cover. ramp at Blue Many special exemptions are available for hunters Mounds State with disabilities as well. Park. Several projects are going to add or improve facilities in the near future. This includes $10 million in upgrades to accessibility at both William O’Brien and Fort Snelling State Parks. Plans are also underway for additional development at Whitewater State Park. Last year, improvements to the beach area at Sibley State Park expanded accessibility to its swimming area. Minnesota state parks offer special permits and exemptions for those with disabilities and special needs. For complete information it’s best to contact each park individually to learn how you can safely and comfortably enjoy all of Minnesota’s outdoor treasures. Minnesota Trails
3/5/20 6:58 AM
