The Disabled Hiker's Guide to Northern California: Outdoor Adventures Accessible by Car, Wheelchair, and on Foot is a trailblazing guide that removes one of the barriers to access in the outdoors by providing detailed trail information written by a disabled person, for disabled people. The book features over 40 scenic drives and viewpoints, verified wheelchair accessible trails, and foot trails for disabled hikers. The trail guides provide a step-by-step or roll-by-roll description of what you will encounter on the trail from the parking lot to the end of the hike, including obstacles like roots and rocks, steep sections, and more. Information about places to rest, restrooms and other amenities, as well as features such as tactile elements and audio descriptions are also provided in detail. Public transit and driving directions, detailed maps, and full color photos are featured in each chapter. The book covers the northern region of California, from Monterey to the Oregon state line, and offers options that meet a variety of accessibility needs to ensure there is something for everyone.
This guide includes:
- Drive-up Adventures: Places that can be reached via car or accessible transportation that offer sweeping views or beautiful surroundings without having to go out on trail. Where trails that meet the guidelines are also available, a full trail guide is provided.
- Wheelchair-Accessible Trails: Descriptions of verified wheelchair accessible trails. Trails are reviewed for adherence to accessibility guidelines and inaccessible features are noted. Descriptions of trail surface, grade, and detailed directions are also be provided. Wheelchair users need more information than simply listing whether a trail is "wheelchair accessible" or not, and this guide expands the definition of wheelchair accessible to include a variety of wheelchair users and equipment.
- Hiking Trails: Listings include trails with varying degrees of accessibility and difficulty, rated on a signature Spoon Rating System. There are trails in developed recreations areas, backcountry or wilderness area hikes as well as lesser-known trails.
The introduction includes definitions of common hiking terms and explains how to understand elevation profiles, trail grades or slopes, and more. Whether you are an experienced disabled hiker or just starting to explore the outdoors, this book offers something for you. It is also a helpful resource for anyone who is interested in outdoor accessibility.
