According to a 2021 CDC survey, nearly a quarter of Vermonters have some form of disability—and about 10 percent face mobility-specific challenges—yet only 1 percent of Vermont’s 7,750+ trail miles are listed as “accessible” on Trail Finder[1]. This means a significant percentage of Vermont’s residents and visitors have a challenging time accessing and enjoying our forests and open spaces.

If you belong to a Conservation Commission, or help steward a town forest, you may have wondered how to make your community’s trails accessible to a wider group of folks.

Fortunately, the Vermont Trail Accessibility Hub (TAH) was formed to help address this issue and make access to the outdoors easier for everyone. Launched in mid‑2024 by the Vermont Trails & Greenways Council (VTGC) in partnership with Vermont Adaptive, the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Upper Valley Trails Alliance, and Community Geographics, the Hub offers resources, education, and technical assistance to help make Vermont’s trails accessible for people of all abilities.

Imagine a parent pushing a stroller along your favorite forest trail, a veteran using a handcycle on a newly graded riverside path, or an older neighbor navigating a boardwalk with confidence. That’s the future the Trail Accessibility Hub is building. The Hub has resources to help you make that future a reality in your community.

Housed on the VTGC’s website, the Hub has many resources, including best practices, case studies, and webinars. We encourage you to check out the Hub’s pages to learn about different types of trail accessibility guidelines, connect with professional trail builders, learn about funding opportunities for accessibility improvements, and participate in skill-building trainings. Their YouTube Library includes webinars on trail assessments, disability etiquette, and writing effective inclusive trail descriptions.

Through a grant from Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC), the Hub has also been offering fifty fully funded trail assessments in 2025. The assessments are valued at about $2,000 each—but are completely covered by VTGC. These assessments consider parking, signage, trail surfaces, grade, restrooms, trailheads, communications systems, and more. The results include a written report with practical recommendations and cost estimates. The report can then guide grant applications for making accessibility improvements. Inquire about the assessments here.

Don’t just think about maintaining trails—imagine transforming them. When we design for everyone, we build stronger, healthier communities and trail systems that are accessible for all.