These Nine Parks Welcome ALL Visitors
You might be surprised to discover how many remarkable places in our state park system do not require donning a pair of hiking boots to enjoy. New infrastructure has made it easier for a wider variety of audiences to share in the wonders of our state parks and historic sites.
Two obvious standouts are Niagara Falls State Park and Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. Both feature designs to accommodate visitors with physical disabilities and mobility issues. But there are many other locations in all regions of the state that have notable features are unexpectedly easy to enjoy.
Get a gander at the tallest free-falling waterfall in the northeastern United States (no, it’s not Niagara)
Just a short drive north of Ithaca along Cayuga Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes Region, a natural spectacle awaits in Taughannock Falls State Park. Upon pulling into the parking lot, visitors can easily venture over to the viewing platform at the edge of the lot to witness the 215-foot plunge of Taughannock Falls continuing its thousands of years of carving out the gorge before them. Although it does not have the volume of Niagara Falls, it does claim status as the highest, uninterrupted waterfall in not only New York, but the whole northeast(Katterskill Falls in Greene County, NY comes in at 260 feet but has two tiers). The Overlook Visitors Center offers restrooms, information, and a gift shop.
Sit upon the very spot where Ulysses S. Grant spent his final days
Historic homes can be a challenge for visitors with mobility issues. Many sites have difficulty adding accommodating infrastructure, but some manage to be flexible or find creative ways to do so without disrupting the aesthetic or historic integrity of the site. The Grant Cottage State Historic Site atop Mount McGregor just north of Saratoga Springs offers an easily navigable ramp leading directly from designated handicapped parking spaces to the spot on the porch where our 18th president and Civil War general sat while completing his memoirs. Only three rooms on the first floor of the cottage are open to visitors but those rooms are striking in that most of the items have remained untouched since Grant's passing in the summer of 1885. Other attractions at the site include a visitor center with exhibits and a short paved walkway leading to the Eastern Overlook, with a magnificent view of the Catskills, Adirondacks, Green, and Berkshire Mountains.
Tour miles of carriage roads laid out by John D. Rockefeller
Just north of New York City in Westchester County lies one of the many gems of our state park system. The Rockefeller State Park Preserve’s more than 1,700 acres boasts an impressive trail system consisting of 55 miles of crushed stone carriage roads, most of which are comfortably navigable for visitors in need of mobility assistance. In fact, a recent article in Mélange, a publication focused on accessibility for all (the article can be found on page 36) featured this exceptional location in a story about a two-week hike undertaken by the Friends of Access Israel, an international non-profit that works to provide universal accessibility for all people. The carriage roads are undergoing extensive rehabilitation (a heavily-used section of which was funded by a Park and Trail Partnership Grant) so check with park staff when you arrive to determine which sections are in the best conditions.
Chill out under a fantastical weeping beech tree
Visitors to Bayard Cutting Arboretum on the south shore of Long Island will marvel upon entering a canopy of leaves and branches cascading from an an immense weeping beech tree, a highlight of this 691-acre state park. The tree's interior wooden walkway provides a comfortable route over its thick roots and uneven surface. Gravel pathways lead to the tree, but soft grass lies between the pathways and the wooden walkway, so certain types of mobility devices may not be suitable if the ground is wet.
Watch the sunset over Oneida Lake at Verona Beach
A glorious sunset over the water can be viewed from many of our state parks bordering the Great Lakes in the Niagara and Thousand Island regions but Verona Beach State Park on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake in central New York also offers a wonderful end-of-day spectacle. The paved beachside walkway is a short distance from the parking lot, which is surrounded by large shaded picnic areas.
Marvel at a unique other-worldly geologic feature
Although a close-up view of these dramatic rock formations alongside Lake Ontario requires a short hikes, all visitors can still catch a view of the spiral-shaped bluffs formed from glacial drumlins for which Chimney Bluffs State Park is named for. The picnic area is accessible by a paved pathway, but to gain access directly to the shoreline requires traversing a grassy area, thus some mobility-assisting devices may not be suitable.
See through the eyes of a Hudson River School painter
The distinctive mix of Victorian and Middle Eastern decorative style displayed in the home of American landscape painter Frederic Church is enough reason to visit Olana State Historic Site. The breathtaking westward-facing view from the house and grounds is another. The home is partially accessible to people with mobility limitations and other types of accessibility concerns. Staff suggests purchasing an ADA ticket (no additional charge) so that they are prepared to host your visit. Visitors using wheelchairs may access the historic house approach road and the main floor of the historic interiors. Access to the historic interiors is via a lift elevator. The Visitor Center and restrooms are also accessible.
Visit a replica 1670s Seneca Bark Longhouse
Just southeast of Rochester, Ganondagon State Historic Site provides visitors an immersive experience into the life and culture of the Haudenosaunee. In addition to the abundant public programs offered throughout the year, the visitor center is easily accessible with films featuring closed caption. Most notable at the site is the replica of a 17th century dwelling of the Seneca people who originally lived there. The longhouse provides an experiential education to visitors, featuring colonial trade goods, Seneca crafts, and many other items that teach about Haudenosaunee life. A golf cart is available to accommodate those who may have difficulty navigating the hill to longhouse.
New York's state park system strives to provide universal access for its millions of annual visitors, from improvements to pathways for better navigation to aids and services at programs for those with sensory or cognitive differences. For more info,including the Access Pass Program which provides free or discounted use of facilities to those with disabilities, visit: https://parks.ny.gov/accessibility/)
Experience the most multi-sensory mile in all of our state parks
According to its website, the brand new Autism Nature Trail in Letchworth State Park, “is a one-mile looped main trail with eight stations at various intervals, offering a range of experiences from quiet engagement to active exploration and adventure. The gravel trail (which is suitable for wheelchairs) is dotted with engaging activities designed for visitors on the spectrum, yet anyone can benefit from the eight hands-on stations. Some of the participatory features include the shade-covered “Design Zone” that provides natural materials to build various structures. There is a quiet “Reflection Knoll” consisting of boulders that prompts visitors to use their finder skills to detect the animals carved within. A “Music Circle” provides instruments inspired by their surroundings. One can traverse a simple maze on the gentle “Sunshine Slope” where they can comfortably engulf themselves in one of three cuddle swings (pictured left). This is a not-to-be-missed one-of-a-kind trail in one of New York’s most remarkable state parks! Photo credit: Conrad Baker