Move Beyond Compliance. Design for Experience.
Is your trail system truly welcoming, or just technically open?
At Outdoor Access Solutions (OAS), we believe that accessibility is not a checklist—it is an experience. A trail might meet the legal requirements for width, yet still be terrifying for a wheelchair user or confusing for a neurodivergent visitor.
We provide comprehensive on-the-ground assessments that bridge the gap between “code-compliant” and “actually usable.” We look at your land through the dual lenses of lived physical disability and cognitive/sensory inclusion.
Our Assessment Approach
Most consultants look at a trail and see measurements. We look at a trail and see barriers to belonging. Our audits cover the entire visitor journey, from the moment they search for your trail online to the moment they return to their car.
1. The Physical Audit (Lived Experience)
Led by Enock Glidden, we don’t just measure your trails; we test them. Using adaptive equipment and manual wheelchairs, we stress-test the environment to identify:
Surface Integrity: Identifying roots, rocks, and washouts that stop wheels in their tracks.
Grade & Cross-Slope: pinpointing areas where gravity becomes an adversary.
Pinch Points: Locating gates, bridges, or turns that restrict access for adaptive cycles.
Rest & Recovery: Identifying natural locations for benches or pull-outs that make longer distances feasible.
2. The Cognitive & Sensory Audit
Led by Alexandria Sukeforth, we analyze the “invisible” barriers that keep families and neurodivergent individuals away. We assess:
Wayfinding & Signage: Is the trail intuitive? Is the language clear or confusing?
Sensory Inputs: Identifying areas of high noise pollution or sensory overwhelm, and finding “quiet zones.”
Safety & Anxiety: Evaluating how safe a visitor feels based on sightlines, cell service, and clear markers.
3. The Digital Audit (“Know Before You Go”)
Accessibility begins at home. If a visitor cannot find accurate information about your trail, they will not come. We review your website, maps, and trail descriptions to ensure you are communicating the right details (e.g., surface type, elevation gain, bathroom availability) so visitors can make their own informed decisions.
What You Receive
We don’t just hand you a list of problems. We provide a roadmap of solutions.
The OAS Assessment Report includes:
Segment-by-Segment Analysis: Detailed breakdown of your trail network with GPS-tagged locations of barriers.
Photo & Video Documentation: Visual evidence of obstacles to help your maintenance crews understand exactly what needs fixing, all geolocated on a map of your trail.
Prioritized Recommendations:
Low-Hanging Fruit: Immediate, low-cost fixes (e.g., moving a rock, changing a sign).
Capital Projects: Long-term structural changes (e.g., regrading a hill, replacing a bridge).
Neurodiversity Recommendations: Specific inclusion strategies for visitors with sensory processing differences.
Marketing Language: Suggested copy for your website to accurately describe the accessibility of your land.
Why Choose OAS?
The Difference is Lived Experience.
You can hire an engineer to measure a slope, but an engineer cannot tell you what it feels like to push a manual wheelchair up that slope. You can hire a designer to make a sign, but they may not understand how a neurodivergent child interprets that sign during a moment of stress.
We combine the data with the human element. We help you answer the question, “How can I?” for every visitor who steps onto your land.
Ready to Open Your Trails to Everyone?
Whether you have a paved urban path, a rugged backcountry trail, or a local land trust property, there are ways to increase access. Let’s walk and roll your land together.
Not sure if you need a full audit? Contact us to discuss a preliminary consultation.