Open Trail Collective

Today, we’re correcting a headline! 📝

It looks like a few instagram news sources took a story and ran with it, extrapolating their own headlines and sharing incorrect information.

Recently, we have been receiving many messages sharing a post that said Zion is the first national park to offer all-terrain wheelchairs for public use. We’re excited to say that they’re NOT the first national park to have adaptive equipment but rather that they’re joining a growing list of national parks with specialized equipment for people with disabilities and mobility challenges.

Why is this important?✨

It is estimated that over 5 million people use wheel chairs in the US and many others use assisted mobility devices like walkers and scooters.

People who use wheelchairs and mobility devices are are often excluded from outdoor activities, not because their disability prevents them from getting out, but because outdoor spaces are not often built with their needs in mind. Most trails are not accessible without adaptive equipment which is expensive to buy, challenging to store when not in use, and often not available locally to rent.

We're excited that yet another national park has adaptive equipment available for visitors!

Below is a list of Parks with Specialized Adaptive Equipment:

- Acadia NP (ME): Offers beach wheelchairs for coastal access.
- Cape Hatteras NP (NC): Offers a beach wheelchair.
- Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA): Offers both beach wheelchairs and track chairs for off-road terrain.
- Cuyahoga Valley NP (OH): Offers a GRIT Freedom Chair to visitors to explore the park independently or with the help of volunteers.
- Great Sand Dunes NP (CO): Offers free specialized balloon-tire sand wheelchairs to help visitors navigate the deep sand of the dunes.
- Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC): Features all-terrain manual wheelchairs for rugged trail use.
- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (MI): Provides specialized sand wheelchairs to access the sandy shoreline.
- Zion NP (UT): Offers an Extreme Motus wheelchair to guests

NOTE: ZPS never said they were the first, just online news sources. We love you !

In the last 5 days I’ve been on three runs with friends, paddled on the Cuyahoga River twice, played on two nature playgrounds with my kids, visited a nature center, and spent a morning at the beach eating donuts with my fam.

There may be bigger rivers, taller mountains, gnarlier waves elsewhere but damn Northeast Ohio has some awesome outdoor opportunities and some amazing people.

I’m thankful every day that I’ve moved back here!

How did you spend your Labor Day weekend?

Shut the laptop, leave the phone in the car, and take your colleagues onto the river. I lovvvvve this 2-mile section at Cuyahoga Valley Adventures in Merriman Valley — it’s gentle, it’s splashy, it’s the perfect little 90 min adventure for your team. We were there at 9 AM and out of the water by 1030 AM. This also included a safety briefing and shuttle ride.

Learn more at https://paddletheriver.com/ 🚣‍♂️

TOMORROWWW 9/1 at 6PM .neohio and are hosting a *virtual* info session/planning session for our upcoming Bike Camping trip on 9/12.

If you have any interest, questions, etc. come on over and and join the meeting to learn more. Just send your email address to .neohio to be added to the meeting room tomorrow.

This adventure is open to those who identify as Female, Transgender, Woman, Non-Binary. All speeds welcome.

NOTE: I plan to come with my kids from the Akron start - we will def be at a slow, inconsistent, look at the birds, lots of a breaks, prob a few meltdowns type of pace. I also plan to drop our gear off at Heritage Farms before we leave so that I dont have to manage two kids and gear for 3 people.

SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!

Happy National Dog day to all you dog lovers. I want to give a special shout out to Dancing Paws for helping our Clif get a few extra months of creek stomping, grass eating, hikes, mailman chasing (in our fenced in front yard) and nights snuggled up with my kiddos. When he was diagnosed with an inoperable throat cancer in October of 2025, we didn’t think he’d make it until his bday in February. Little did we know that we’d get another whole summer with him!

Also big shoutout to Kermit's Kritters where we got our new snuggly girl, Ellie.

Here’s to the muddy paws and big kisses 💞

🔊SAVE YOUR STUFFFFF!

As we transition seasons, start school, clean up summer stuff, etc., don't toss your clean, gently-used, outdoor gear and clothing!! Stash it away for a few months and bring it to the first week of December for our 2nd Annual Gear and Clothing Swap. Keep this in mind as we roll through Fall and into Winter as well! Last year I even snagged several items for xmas presents.

For every item you bring, you can snag a new-to-you item on Saturday 12/5 at our Gear and Clothing Swap!

Simply drop your items off at Rockmill during normal business hours the first week of December and tell the staff how many items you’re bringing. They will document it so that on the day of the swap you can grab that same amount of items.

If you have nothing to swap but are in the market for new gear, fresh clothes, or second hand Christmas presents, you can buy items for $5 per item with all funds raised going to Open Trail Collective.

We're so excited to partner with , , and for round two of this awesome event.

NOTE: We will be accepting adult and kids gear and clothing for EVERY SEASON! ✨✨

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