Time spent outdoors offers physical and mental health benefits for everyone, but people with disabilities may feel that their options are limited. Thanks to an emphasis on accessibility at Virginia State Parks, exploration of the great outdoors is within reach.
Virginia’s award-winning state parks are known for their stunning trails, scenic waterways, and family-friendly recreation. Recently, they’ve also gained recognition for another important feature: accessibility.
Across the Commonwealth, Virginia State Parks are working to remove barriers to outdoor adventure for visitors with disabilities. From specialized wheelchairs to color-enhancing viewfinders and more, the park system is setting a national example for inclusive design and making nature accessible for everyone.
Highlights of accessibility at Virginia State Parks
All-terrain wheelchairs expand trail access
Most of Virginia’s state parks include trails that are easy to maneuver for wheelchairs, personal mobility scooters, and similar devices.
To open trail exploration up to even more visitors, including those with mobility challenges, several state parks now offer all-terrain wheelchairs, available at no cost. This opens up opportunities to explore forest trails, lakefront paths, and natural terrain at six state parks — Claytor Lake, Mason Neck, Powhatan, Shenandoah River, Wilderness Road, and York River.
These durable chairs (made for both children and adults) are equipped with wide wheels and a sturdy frame designed to handle uneven surfaces like a gravel path or a grassy field. They open up new areas of the parks that might be inaccessible with a standard wheelchair.
Guests are encouraged to request the chairs at least 48 hours in advance so park staff can ensure their availability. The reservation process is user-friendly and can be completed online through the Virginia State Parks website. Park staff will follow up with you to confirm your request and coordinate any assistance you might need on-site.
Funding for the program comes in part from Virginia State Park license plate sales – $15 from each purchase is reinvested in projects like this, improving accessibility and enhancing the visitor experience for all.
Related: The Value of Time Outdoors, Plus Ideas for Seniors
A colorful innovation for colorblind guests
In 2024, Virginia State Parks became the first park system in the country to install EnChroma-adapted viewfinders at all of its parks – that’s 43 in all. These devices allow guests with red-green color vision deficiency (colorblindness) to experience a fuller spectrum of colors in the natural world.
Using lens technology that filters overlapping wavelengths of light, EnChroma viewfinders make reds and greens more distinguishable, bringing greater contrast and vibrancy to scenic overlooks. (My favorite is the VDOT Workers’ Memorial and Scenic Overlook in Albemarle County, near the entrance to Walnut Creek Park.) For someone who’s never fully seen the true contrast of autumn leaves or a field of wildflowers, the difference can be dramatic.
The program began as a pilot effort at Natural Tunnel State Park, where staff worked closely with EnChroma and colorblind visitors to evaluate the devices. Encouraged by the response, Virginia State Parks expanded the offering statewide with support from the “Round-Up for Parks” program, an initiative that allows visitors to round up purchases at park gift shops and contribute to improvement projects.
To celebrate the installation of the viewfinders, a public event was held at Pocahontas State Park. Guests with colorblindness were invited to try the devices, and many described the experience as deeply moving.
The EnChroma viewers are permanently mounted at scenic locations and are available for use at no charge, with no reservation needed.
Accessible cycling
Bike trails at many state parks range from difficult to easy, with dedicated mountain biking trails as well as multiuse trails. High Bridge Trail and New River Trail state parks are among the easiest, with little elevation change and a smooth gravel surface.
Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County has about 64 miles of gravel fire roads and 44 miles of single-track directional mountain bike trails. Many riders can easily navigate the fire roads, with the wider tires of hybrid bikes or gravel bikes. The single-track trails range from easy to difficult, including several hand-cycle friendly trails.
In addition, Virginia State Parks allows the use of class one and class two electric power-assisted bicycles on any bicycle path or trail designated for such use.
A broader push for inclusion
Beyond equipment, the accessibility mindset is now embedded in how Virginia designs and operates its parks. Cabins, picnic areas, restrooms, fishing piers, and even trails are being assessed and upgraded for ADA compliance. In some locations, new surfaces are being added to trails or boardwalks to make walking and wheeling easier for people using mobility aids.
Staff training is another crucial component. Park employees are encouraged to approach accessibility with a visitor-first mindset, learning how to ask helpful questions and offer practical solutions that ensure every guest feels welcome.
Whether planning a solo visit, meeting up with friends, or taking grandkids on a camping adventure, the expanded accommodations make outdoor time safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Plan your visit
Virginia State Parks offer tools and resources to help visitors of all abilities plan ahead:
- Accessibility overview and links to accessibility at all state parks
- Download a free map: All Virginia State Parks offer print maps as well as free geo-referenced Avenza maps for Apple and Android devices.
- All-terrain wheelchairs: Free to use with advance reservation (at least 48 hours). Details and reservation request form available at: Virginia State Parks All-Terrain Wheelchairs
- EnChroma viewfinders: Available at all 43 state parks, no reservation required.
- Park Passes: Seniors (62 and older) can purchase an annual pass for all state parks for only $40. People with disabilities, including veterans, get free parking and admission (official proof of disability required).
- Support accessibility: Contribute by purchasing a Virginia State Parks license plate or donating through the “Round-Up for Parks” option at checkout during your visit.
If you haven’t been to a Virginia State Park in a while, this might be the year to rediscover them. Whether you’re catching a mountain sunrise through a color-enhancing viewfinder or rolling down a woodland trail, there’s more than ever to experience.
Purchasing a Virginia State Park license plate? Plate owners will receive special discounts and offers, as well as free parking in state parks on Earth Day, Arbor Day, Kids to Parks Day, Virginia State Parks Anniversary Day (June 15), Veterans Day, and Opt-Outside Day.
PHOTO CAPTION, TOP: Kris Gulden, Mason Neck Friends Group Accessibility Advisor, giving a demonstration of an all-terrain wheelchair, part of the emphasis on accessibility at Virginia State Parks. Photo courtesy of Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation.
