Off Road Wheelchair Hike Suggestions

[Igotwheels]

I have hiked a lot over the last 20 years in Arizona, but I was injured a few years back and use a wheel chair now. I have recently purchased an off road wheelchair (www. actiontrackchair.com, see attachment for reference) and was looking for some "hikes" I could use it on. This chair will handle a lot: 18" of water, mud, sand, gravel, softball sized rocks, it'll even climb a staircase as long as its not too steep or narrow. Its limitations really are width of trail (think 2 people walking side by side) and steep/rocky conditions. The chair has a pretty docile footprint, floats above the terrain and leaves very little evidence it was there, that wouldn't be washed away in the next rain. As a landscape architect, I worry about damaging landscapes and am very cognizant of that fact. I also say this because I wonder if the parks will limit my use of this chair "off-road". Anyways, if anyone has any ideas for "accessible" trails, fire roads, ATV paths, etc.. in Arizona (more specifically Tucson) that would be fantastic.

Thanks,

Jeff

[wha]

3) Do you have a small portable generator to recharge your batteries?

Or is it possible to carry a spare battery?

in Arizona (more specifically Tucson)

It's not offroad but the walk in Sabino Canyon is nice. It's even ok for regular wheelchairs (check your brakes). You can take a shuttle ($8) to the top and start from there. I'm pretty sure one of the shuttles has a wheelchair lift. Go as far as you like, then catch the shuttle back to the parking lot.

Another in the jeep road as trail category, the Mount Lemmon Trail and Meadow Trail are both jeep roads at the beginning, and you could probably do a mile out on the Lemmon Trail. They start right near the observatory on Mount Lemmon. There is a gate across the road and I'm not sure you could make your way around it, but they do open the gate for people taking a tour so perhaps you could arrange for someone to let you in. Of course this is a warmer weather hike. The road to the top is closed until March or until weather permits.

[chumley]

None of these are off-road, but I just saw this article in today's Arizona Republic and thought it might be worth adding to this thread. Unfortunately most of these are fee-based parks, but there are some scenic spots among them.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/travel/2 ... /22720507/

[tibber]

while Ambika and I were out in the Goldfields yesterday, she mentioned that this area definitely has some wheelchair access stuff since a lot of the trails are actually roads. There is a lot of ATVing out there. Wonder if they would require you to get a permit but you could look into that. There are some great views out here; especially if you can get as far as Top Hat. The TH we've been using is the one off of E Tonto and Cactus n. of McKellips off of Idaho Road. You can probably get a good idea by looking at the area via satellite of course.

Meanwhile as we hike about, we'll see if there is something else out there that might work for you.

and KUDOS for trying to keep at it.

[CannondaleKid]

Wonder if they would require you to get a permit but you could look into that.

Permits for the Bulldog Canyon OHV Area are free and can be applied for by email.
Click here for the Bulldog OHV permit info page

[Igotwheels]

South Mtns - I think it is called the Old Rd trail.
The Gilbert Riparian Preserve, likely use a southern entrance by parking in a subdivision, or the northern one directly off of Guadalupe.
Perhaps some of the McDowell Mtns would be wide enough - I don't think the pemberton trail would present a problem.

I know that many trails have ATV barriers and would be reluctant to make too many suggestions for fear that the ATV barrier might preclude wheelchair access. I guess its not something I tended to pay attention to. ATV barriers are getting more and more common as people try to abuse the rules restricting ATV use in many forest areas. Wilderness areas tend to have vehicle (ATV) barriers (often just big boulders) as wilderness rules prevent motorized vehicles. I am not sure if your wheelchair falls under that rule or not and can only suggest you contact the forest service for clarification.

It seems like my chair is about 1/2in to wide for the ATV barrier. I keep staring at the chair wondering how I can narrow it down an inch. Ive been hesitant to ask for the rules on it because its generally easier to ask for forgiveness than permission and more than likely there aren't rules on it

[Igotwheels]

@BobP Thanks Bob, I'll investigate.

[Igotwheels]

I think the chair can do 3 miles. I'm going drive around on a paved loop today until the battery dies and then use google earth to calculate the distance. I can only imagine the newspaper article if I ran out of battery in the back country and needed rescuing, haha.

I stopped in the visitor center at Saguaro NP and they recommended King Canyon as well. I made it from the parking lto, I made it over the rocks (slow going, but fun!) and then I hit the gate, grrrrr. I am about an inch to wide for it, so disappointed. Are these gates typical on National Park lands?

Sorry that didn't work out. Is the big side of the gate locked, or permanent? If l locked, maybe you could ask to borrow a key. As nonot said, probably a lot of trails that used to be roads will have gates on, like this one, otherwise people would be driving up Kings Canyon.

Permanent the whole way.

[Igotwheels]

Jeff,

Three questions for you.
1) What is the steepest grade this can climb in degrees?
2) Do you have a vehicle that can get us over the tough spots in order to get you to a proper trail or old road where we can offload and use your tracked wheel chair?
3) Do you have a small portable generator to recharge your batteries?

I have been looking for places off of Apache Trail and asking others for their recommendations as to where to go. Most places recommended have a difficult entry point and would require that we drive past them with a four wheel drive vehicle before we could off load your tracked wheel chair.

Also many of the entry points are gated by the USFS and would require that we obtain a key or combination for the lock. This also would mean that we would have to have their permission which may include a permit. The jeep tour operators use the permit and key or combination system and of course they have to pay for the use of the jeep roads they use.

Those of you reading this post please chime in with your suggestions where it may be possible for Jeff to take his tracked wheel chair for a real off road experience.

:thanx:

1) Honestly not sure. It has some wheels that keep it from tipping which you can see in the pic. If I had a person behind me so that it wouldn't tip back (which I will have with me) it would climb the steepness of a typical staircase.
2) I have a big, lifted van, 2 wheel drive. It would handle off road baring a soft/wet riverbed that would require a 4 x4. If the issue is clearance i have it.
3) I do not. The chair has 2 heavy duty car batteries. Id have to consult some experts on what it would take to rejuice them

This is great info about jeep tour operators. They would be a good resource for info to. Thank you

[Igotwheels]

3) Do you have a small portable generator to recharge your batteries?

Or is it possible to carry a spare battery?

in Arizona (more specifically Tucson)

It's not offroad but the walk in Sabino Canyon is nice. It's even ok for regular wheelchairs (check your brakes). You can take a shuttle ($8) to the top and start from there. I'm pretty sure one of the shuttles has a wheelchair lift. Go as far as you like, then catch the shuttle back to the parking lot.

Another in the jeep road as trail category, the Mount Lemmon Trail and Meadow Trail are both jeep roads at the beginning, and you could probably do a mile out on the Lemmon Trail. They start right near the observatory on Mount Lemmon. There is a gate across the road and I'm not sure you could make your way around it, but they do open the gate for people taking a tour so perhaps you could arrange for someone to let you in. Of course this is a warmer weather hike. The road to the top is closed until March or until weather permits.

It would be possible to carry a spare battery, but there are two of them and weigh 50ish lbs a piece. They are used for counterbalance, so heavy!

Ive been meaning to drive up to lemmon and poke around. Thanks.

[Igotwheels]

while Ambika and I were out in the Goldfields yesterday, she mentioned that this area definitely has some wheelchair access stuff since a lot of the trails are actually roads. There is a lot of ATVing out there. Wonder if they would require you to get a permit but you could look into that. There are some great views out here; especially if you can get as far as Top Hat. The TH we've been using is the one off of E Tonto and Cactus n. of McKellips off of Idaho Road. You can probably get a good idea by looking at the area via satellite of course.

Meanwhile as we hike about, we'll see if there is something else out there that might work for you.

and KUDOS for trying to keep at it.

Thanks for the info. Sounds perfect.

...and Thanks