Colorado’s Accessible Adventures for the Spring & Summer

As we head into warmer weather, getting out into the world to explore and soak in the sunshine rises to the top of the list for many! In this month’s blog, let’s explore some fantastic locations and adventures to be found in our very own state.

There’s nothing better than an inclusive place where every single individual’s needs are taken into consideration. Let’s take a moment to pat our state on the back for its efforts in this regard. After all, Colorado is known to have some of the best places in America for its offerings of attractions that are accessible to individuals with disabilities.

While Colorado is renowned for its mountainous landscape, heightened sense of adventure, and even higher elevations, there are several supportive device-friendly, and inclusive places for the entire family to enjoy.

The following are our Springtime Spotlights of accessible – and fun – places to visit in Colorado.

Image Source: @denverbotanic via Instagram

Denver Botanic Gardens

The Botanic Gardens in Denver are a terrific place to visit. Featuring a beautiful Sensory Garden that was established to commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 20th Anniversary, this picturesque location is a must-visit. The Sensory Garden is located close to the visitor center and features wide pathways, traction, and mild inclines to make navigating with an assistive device easier. Additionally, elevated flower beds are the perfect height for wheelchair users to properly appreciate (and smell) the blooms.

Wheelchair users can access virtually all of the interior and outdoor gardens, services, and restrooms as well, making the Botanic Gardens an overall highly accessible experience.

The Art Museum, Denver

This remarkable art museum, which houses over 70,000 works of art in the recently renovated iconic Gio Ponti-designed Martin Building and the new Sie Welcome Center, is among the most fascinating places to go when visiting Denver – especially if you have a love of interesting architecture.

It’s most well-known for its vast exhibit of Native American art – which is worth the trip alone. In addition, this museum has the distinction of being one of the largest art museums between the West Coast and Chicago!

The museum provides wheelchair rentals for those who may need one, and each area is wheelchair friendly. You will have no trouble moving through the exhibits, and restrooms are available in several accessible locations throughout.

Image Source: @wildernessonwheels via Instagram

Wilderness on Wheels

Wilderness on Wheels, also known as WOW, is the perfect getaway to explore nature up close and personal. They have excellent wheelchair-accessible cabins situated at the foot of Kenosha Pass that are simply wonderful.

Highly accessible cottages, tents, and huts make this outdoor location ideal for overnights. Thanks to a fantastic one-mile boardwalk that is eight feet wide, you can thoroughly explore all that the area has to offer intrepid explorers with assistive devices.

But hands down, the best part of this Colorado location is the fishing pond right outside of the cottages. This special find gives you the power to enjoy the outdoors and the possibility of catching rainbow trout for the ultimate outdoor experience.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Visitors can touch, hear, and engage with several of the one million pieces in the exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Travel down a mining tunnel (feel the stone walls as you go). Learn about the butterfly’s entire lifecycle using big contact models. Smell the musk of a deer. Make contact and explore a Navajo hogan, and hold fossil dinosaurs. We engage with our environment through our senses, and this location allows for a wonderland of sensory exploration.

And to top off this ode to exploration, museum activities, and exhibits are made as accessible as possible. Free American Sign Language translators are available, as well as free auxiliary aids for hearing – provided on a first-come, first-served premise. Visitors can also make use of canes and courtesy wheelchairs available at the information desk.

Colorado’s National Parks

Colorado has over 13 national parks catering to individuals with assistive device needs and people with developmental disabilities. The following are 6 of our favorites:

Exploring the renowned dunes, camping grounds, and picnic places in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, is absolutely possible thanks to special sand wheelchairs available at this park’s location (Advanced reservations available).

In the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, there are tourist centers, campgrounds, and picturesque viewpoints like Sunset View Overlook and Tomichi Point Overlook. And the views do not disappoint!

Rocky Mountain National Park trails, particularly those leading to Sprague Lake and Bear Lake, are well-known favorites for a reason!

The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is one of the richest fossil deposits in the entire world! For any budding Paleontologist, this is a must-see stop on the parks itinerary! Just be sure to check the weather conditions first because the Ponderosa Loop Trail can become icy and muddy in the spring and winter.

Mesa Verde National Park has campsites, breathtaking landscapes, and historic locations that offer accessible options. The Mesa Top Loop Road area is the most accessible of all the archeological sites in the park and comes highly recommended. Other breathtaking locations can be found throughout the park with varying levels of challenge. Though most of the overlooks are accessible with assistance, some can prove quite challenging as not all meet legal grade requirements.

Established in 1911, The Colorado National Monument has campgrounds, picnic areas, ranger talks, and stunning views, including the spectacular Devil’s Kitchen Picnic Area and Book Cliffs View. Though the trails leading off of the Devil’s Kitchen Picnic Area are largely too steep to accommodate accessibility, having a picnic here can be a fun time. This park has the quintessential frontier mystique down pat!

Wrapping Up

When it comes to inclusivity, Colorado excels, offering not only adaptive and assistive devices but also working to improve the use of inclusive language and practices. Overcoming barriers is essential in making everyone feel welcome. And we can all play a part.

Exploring the world and embracing adventure is incredibly fulfilling – at any age. Here at Adams Camp, we want to make sure that the experiences of our whole community are all the more wonderful and memorable through continued support, resources, adventure, and respite.

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