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

[JasonCleghorn]

I just wanted to say that I think that it is fantastic that you are still so enthusiastic about hiking. I'm not sure that I am phrasing that the right way, but I hope you know what I mean...

[Tough_Boots]

Margie's Cove Trail in the Maricopas is really wide-- its old road. You might also try up on the Mogollon Rim. There's lots of old logging roads. Get on google earth or even our very own HAZ route manager for the satellite view and see if you can work out any routes

[wha]

How long of hikes are you looking for? I can think of some hikes that might work for a part of the trail.

For example, I was in the Tucson Mountains today so the Kings Canyon trail comes to mind. It starts out as a jeep road. It's rocky (small rocks) but from your description it sounds like the chair would handle it. At about 0.9 miles it descends into a wash and is a bit steeper there. If you could make it past that bit, I think you could continue up the wash for a ways, maybe a half mile. It's course sand, gravel and rocks. It is in Saguaro National Park though, and there is a gate to pass through at the beginning and I can't picture how wide it is.

[Nighthiker]

Woods Canyon Lake has a paved hiking trail from the main campground to the Rim overlook.

[outdoor_lover]

One that comes to mind for me is Mt. Ord....3 Miles Round-trip I believe, from the Gate, and it's all Dirt Road. You would drive in on the New Road and Park at the Gate. The only "if" though, would be if you can get through the Gate, I don't remember how that is configured when you walk in. If you walk around or what...Someone could chime in if they know or have a Photo...That would be a Nice one with some great Views....

[The_Eagle]

@Outdoor Lover
I don't think you can get around it.

http://hikearizona.com/photo=424973
http://hikearizona.com/photo=189337

[SuperstitionGuy]

There is a cut off section of Apache Trail (highway 88) that is not in the Superstition Wilderness that you can probably explore. There are two sections to it because of a missing bridge in the middle but you can access either end from Apache Trail. If your wanting to visit Apache Junction sometime in the future I could go with you and we could see if your tracked chair could handle these two old roads. I do drive the west section with my little Suzuki Grand Vitara and have walked the eastern section.

There are other old roads off of Apache Trail as well that we could consider and perhaps someone on HAZ could tell us more about them. Either way it would be nice for you to spend a day or two on and off Apache Trail this spring when the flowers are in bloom.

I am retired and can schedule time if your interested. Just PM me when your ready to explore this area.

[Igotwheels]

@Jason Cleghorn

Thanks Jason I know what you mean. I'm just passionate about nature and being outdoors. I had hoped to become a landscape photojournalist for ASLA or another garden design magazine before my injury. After years of being relegated to hard surfaces I was getting a little stir crazy, I think my sanity depended on purchasing this chair, haha. Its not the life I wanted but its what I got, ces't la vie. There are others that are much worse off than myself.

[Igotwheels]

How long of hikes are you looking for? I can think of some hikes that might work for a part of the trail.

For example, I was in the Tucson Mountains today so the Kings Canyon trail comes to mind. It starts out as a jeep road. It's rocky (small rocks) but from your description it sounds like the chair would handle it. At about 0.9 miles it descends into a wash and is a bit steeper there. If you could make it past that bit, I think you could continue up the wash for a ways, maybe a half mile. It's course sand, gravel and rocks. It is in Saguaro National Park though, and there is a gate to pass through at the beginning and I can't picture how wide it is.

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?

[Igotwheels]

Margie's Cove Trail in the Maricopas is really wide-- its old road. You might also try up on the Mogollon Rim. There's lots of old logging roads. Get on google earth or even our very own HAZ route manager for the satellite view and see if you can work out any routes

Old logging roads would be great. I will check these out. Thank you.

[Igotwheels]

One that comes to mind for me is Mt. Ord....3 Miles Round-trip I believe, from the Gate, and it's all Dirt Road. You would drive in on the New Road and Park at the Gate. The only "if" though, would be if you can get through the Gate, I don't remember how that is configured when you walk in. If you walk around or what...Someone could chime in if they know or have a Photo...That would be a Nice one with some great Views....

Ill drive up and check out the gate. From the pictures that were posted it looks iffy, but its definitely possible that I could maneuver around it. Maybe I could schedule to have someone open it or borrow a key. Thank you.

[Igotwheels]

@Outdoor Lover
I don't think you can get around it.

http://hikearizona.com/photo=424973
http://hikearizona.com/photo=189337

Looks iffy. I might be able to maneuver around it though. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks

[Igotwheels]

Woods Canyon Lake has a paved hiking trail from the main campground to the Rim overlook.

I will look into it. Thank you.

[Igotwheels]

There is a cut off section of Apache Trail (highway 88) that is not in the Superstition Wilderness that you can probably explore. There are two sections to it because of a missing bridge in the middle but you can access either end from Apache Trail. If your wanting to visit Apache Junction sometime in the future I could go with you and we could see if your tracked chair could handle these two old roads. I do drive the west section with my little Suzuki Grand Vitara and have walked the eastern section.

There are other old roads off of Apache Trail as well that we could consider and perhaps someone on HAZ could tell us more about them. Either way it would be nice for you to spend a day or two on and off Apache Trail this spring when the flowers are in bloom.

I am retired and can schedule time if your interested. Just PM me when your ready to explore this area.

That would be fantastic. I will definitely do a little research and get back to you. I get up to that area every few weeks but do not have a planned date yet.

Thank you.

[BobP]

in Arizona (more specifically Tucson)

A ways south...Patagonia...off of Temporal Gulch Rd (FR72) the AZ Trail runs thru here and might be a good area to check out. Th AZT actually is road for about the first 10-13ish miles of this passage http://hikearizona.com/gps=10202

[nonot]

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.

[outdoor_lover]

How about the Desert Classic Trail at South Mountain? I know there's a lot of wide Dirt Bike Paths in that whole area. I've only done a small part to access the Corona Loop, but that Area might be a really good option...A lot of Mountain Bikers use that Area a lot....

[wha]

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.

[SuperstitionGuy]

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: