Anyone with mobility issues will often miss out on communing with nature as it relates to hiking. Most trails, unless they’re paved, are not mobility scooter or wheelchair friendly.

This is why the state of Indiana deserves a huge shout out for an initiative they have at their all their state parks. According to this post on the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website, all Indiana state park properties and Inns offer motorized wheelchairs (track chairs) that can be taken on trails and around facilities. There is no charge for use by guests with a mobility disability.

The parameters for using these motorized, all-terrain track chairs, are as follows:

• The user or user’s legal guardian are required to read and sign the Wheelchair User Agreement.
• The user or user’s legal guardian will provide a major credit card number or state-issued identification card as security.
• Park staff will train the users to operate the motorized chair.
• Users 16 years or younger must be accompanied by an adult while using the chair.

Much of the funding for these track chairs came from a grant as part of the Lilly endowment. Here’s a video showcasing the track chairs and explaining this project in full.

Able Travels take

It’s things like this that mean so much. Going on a nature hike on a beautiful day is something most people take for granted. But someone with mobility issues it’s not an option. I would love to see more of these track chairs being donated to all state and national parks. We want the world to be fully accessible. Kudos to Indiana for making it just a little bit more accessible! Maybe put one of the Indiana State Parks on your travel plans this year and take advantage of these wonderful track chairs.