Sedona, AZ –

The Crescent Moon Ranch at Red Rock Crossing is a wheelchair friendly park a part of the Coconino National Forest in Sedona, Arizona. It is here that one can visit a Vortex (1 of 4 main ones). Travel toward the back corner of the park towards Cathedral Rock. The path is accessible as far as I’m concerned expect for 3 crucial areas that mos will need assistance.

The first area of caution is the initial slope off the cemented path to the one that leads to the Vortex because there are a number of small rocks.

The Red Rock sediment was very easy to roll over. A little further down the path there was another set of small rocks, which was difficult to get over. Near the Vortex the last obstacle consists of a set of roots sticking out of the ground.

However,  it was certainly worth despite the 3 obstacles to be in the presence of the enormous piece of flat Red Rock in perfect view of Cathedral Rock and in view of the Vortex.

Wheelchair Traveling Guide: Sedona, Arizona

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Pleasanton, CA —
For those living in the Tri Valley of the East Bay Area, it’s likely you’ve driven on Foothill Road. This road has a lot of history for the town of Pleasanton, especially Old Foothill Road where the Alviso Adobe Community Park opened in 2008. Starting with the handicapped parking down to restrooms, this park is a great wheelchair friendly destination

Along the path that meanders up to the top of the park where the museum is located are historical facts about the very land you are standing on, including information on the Ohlone Native Americans. Furthermore, all the plantlife in the park was carefully selected to be native to this California area and there are signs that name and explain them.

There are two ways to make it up to the museum, but the one to the left is at a reasonable incline and width for a wheelchair traveler. Once at the top, you’ll have full access to the Meadow Lark Dairy Museum on your right as well as the replicated home of the early settlers of Pleasanton.

The museum is easily accessed and also has a restroom right before the entrance. The part of the museum that is a replica of a frontiersman’s home is also wheelchair accessible. There is a ramp to get up to the bedroom and living room and simply go back down the ramp and around the right corner of the house to see the kitchen and dining room. The barn adjacent to the home is also wheelchair accessible; you can roll right up to it.

Thank you Peg for suggesting this small serene historic park in Pleasanton on our  Travel Stories page.

Wheelchair Traveling Guide: California Parks
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East Bay, CA –

You can’t miss Mt. Diablo when traveling on the East Side of the Bay Area, the largest geographic landmark in the region. Before I became paralyzed I was a frequent hiker at Mt. Diablo and know there are endless trails to explore on every side of the mountain. Now, I am on a quest to find at least one trail that is suitable for a wheelchair traveler.

At the top of Mt. Diablo when entering through the South Gate is the Summit Museum, which opened in the 1930s and chronically explores the history and geological forces of this mountain. It is open daily from 10am-4pm. The drive to the top alone is incredible; most of the time the road hugs the very edge of the ever growing cliff of the mountain (see photos below). Once at the top, you’ll fine a paved parking lot, handicapped parking, ramps into the museum, and accessible restrooms.

Government websites for such regional parks are pretty far from helpful. After searching for a while, navigating through page after page, I finally found the link for more information on wheelchair access. And so I click on the link only to find that the parking lot is wheelchair accessible, duh! Well, what about the trail? Unfortunately, because such parks (and websites) are ran by the government, a park can only be deemed “wheelchair accessible” if the trail is paved. However, for those of us adventurous wheelchair users who are not afraid for a challenge and to get a little dirty (why else would you go for a hike?), we know that there are some “natural” paths that are suitable to roll over as long as they are hard enough not to sink your wheels.

So on the behalf of wheelchairtraveling.com, we are reaching out to the wheelchair community, asking where have you been that is somewhat accessible for at least some part of the trail? Where can we send one of our wheelchair travelers to? Please send us an email, respond directly to this post in the comment box below, or write us your Travel Stories on Mt. Diablo.

I hope there is an accessible trail at Mt. Diablo… the search continues!

Wheelchair Traveling Guides: CA Parks
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