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Hiking For All: Four Wheelchair Friendly Outdoor Adventures

Orange handicap symbol with arrow

It’s never easy dealing with a disability. Whether it’s physical or psychiatric, it’s easy to feel like you don’t quite fit in. I understand this first hand, since I am on the Autism Spectrum and struggle with severe anxiety. For me, hiking with my service dog, Dexter, is an escape from reality. It’s a breath of fresh air, away from the stresses of everyday life. I’m grateful that I have the ability to hike, but not everyone does. That’s why I want to share with you four great wheelchair friendly hikes for people with limited mobility. Being outside is therapeutic and healing, and EVERYONE deserves to get the chance to enjoy nature.

Pink handicap sign that reads "step free route" sitting in the grass

Lake Junaluska Trail

First up on this list is the Lake Junaluska Trail. This trail is 3.8-miles long and surrounded by the Great Smokey Mountains. With plenty of lookout points and sitting areas to enjoy the view and lakeside experience, it’s easy to lose track of time and spend all day in this beautiful environment. As you travel on the trail, you will get the chance to literally go over the water on the Turbeville Footbridge, providing another unique and serene vantage point of the lake and mountains. My personal favorite, the Rose Walk, is another must see part of the Junaluska experience. This part of the trail goes through the rose garden, where you will see (and smell) over 200 rose bushes! This is a great spot to recharge and relax during or after your adventure.

The Cradle of Forestry

This is definitely the outdoor experience I recommend for anyone who is interested in history and wants to get outside. With three paved trails that cater to anyone with a wheelchair, you can easily maneuver and experience everything this place has to offer. There is the 1.3-mile Forest Festival Trail, the 1.3-mile Forest Discovery Trail, and the one-mile Biltmore Campus Trail. All three trails go by plenty of historic buildings and artifacts with a plethora of interesting information to accompany them. To top it all off, the Forest Discovery Trail is actually on the NC Birding Trail, which makes it great for bird watching. Whether you are a history geek, bird nerd, or simply want to get outside, the Cradle of Forestry provides a multitude of experiences for anyone and everyone!

Blue Jay sitting on a branch

Mt. Mitchell

The view from Mt. Mitchell is one that I guarantee will take your breath away. At a whopping 6,684 ft, Mt. Mitchell is the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Part of the Mt. Mitchell experience is the beautiful drive there on the Blue Ridge Parkway. On the Parkway there are plenty of spots to pull off the road and admire the mountain view, so take your time getting to your destination. Once you arrive, all that’s standing between you and a stunning 360 degree panoramic view of the mountains is a quarter-mile paved trail. Totally wheelchair accessible, the summit of Mt. Mitchell is the perfect place to go for anyone looking to clear their minds and gather their thoughts.

Roan Mountain Gardens

catawba rhododendron flowers

The final location on this list is the Roan Mountain Gardens, famous for its exceptionally voluminous population of Catawba rhododendrons. Accessibility isn’t an issue when it comes to admiring the beautiful blooms. Enjoy the half-mile paved trail through the gardens, as well as a lookout point and picnic area. For this experience, make sure to park in the Recreation Area, since there are other hikes around Roan Mountain that aren’t wheelchair friendly.

 

Taking time to unplug and slow down is something that everyone can benefit from. It’s easy to forget to breathe in the fast paced world we live in. Being outside has always given me the ability to unwind and recharge. I hope that this blog gave everyone some ideas for what adventure you will take next, regardless of your physical capabilities.

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Five Fun Hiking Games To Play With Kids

Child in yellow jacket with a blue backpack outside

Any parent who loves to hike knows how much fun it is to show your little ones the great outdoors. Any parent ALSO knows that it is never a bad time for a good game! Put two and two together, and you get these five fun hiking games that you can play with your kids!

The Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game is one that I used to play all the time growing up. It was definitely one of my favorites. This one is so simple, but so fun! All you do is pick a category, in this case, “things on the hiking trail.” You then have to take turns with each person in your hiking group naming things that start with each letter of the alphabet! You start with A, then go to B, then C, until you get to Z. Now, some letters are harder than others, especially for kids. It’s totally fine to skip a few and make the game your own depending on what is most enjoyable.

Tip: I find that this game is also a great opportunity to teach your kids about new things. If you pass a kind of plant or animal that your child doesn’t know (which also happens to start with the letter you are on), tell them about it! They can use their new-found term as their word for that letter.

Scavenger Hunt

A mother and father walking down a trail outside with their childWho doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt? I remember my Mom would have me play this game in the grocery store a lot (she would give me a small list of things to find and bring back as quickly as I could). However, playing this game on a trail is way more fun for everyone! You will have to tweak this game a little though, just to be sure that nothing in the environment is being damaged. Instead of asking your child to find and BRING you a purple flower, ask them to find and SHOW you a purple flower. You can spice this game up even more by creating a scavenger hunt check list before your hike! Below, I have inserted my own example of what one might look like:

  1. Find and show me: a bird in a tree
  2. Find and show me: a rock with moss on it
  3. Find and show me: a maple leaf
  4. Find and show me: a purple flower
  5. Find and show me: a squirrel
  6. Find and show me: a fern
  7. Find and show me: a very tall tree
  8. Find and show me: a rhododendron bush
  9. Find and show me: a cool bug
  10. Find and show me: a pine tree

You’ll notice in my example I included a mix of easy and difficult things to find. Again, if you make a list it will be whatever you decide is appropriate/fun for your child. If you do include more difficult things to find that they might not know, it is yet again another opportunity for education!

Finish My Story

This is one that never fails to make everyone playing laugh. “Finish my story,” as I called it growing up, is like fill in the blanks. One person starts a story with a single sentence. The next person has to then add on with another sentence. By the end of the game you have spun a ridiculous tale that will have you all cracking up! To play this outside, use the surroundings to set the stage for your story. Here’s an example of how a story might unfold with 3 people playing on a hike:

  1. Person 1: Once upon a time, there was a guy and his dog hiking down this same trail…
  2. Person 2: Suddenly, they heard something in that big tree over there…
  3. Person 3: The man and his dog looked up, and were shocked at what they saw…
  4. Person 1: Up in the tree, there was a giant 10 foot tall chipmunk!
  5. Person 2: The man and dog began to run until they reached this little stream right here…
  6. Person 3: They turned around, and the giant chipmunk was standing right there!
  7. Person 1: The chipmunk leaned down, and opened his mouth…
  8. Person 2: The man and his dog held their breath…
  9. Person 3: The chipmunk said, “hello, my name is Jim.”
  10. Person 1: Then Jim the giant chipmunk, the dog, and the guy kept hiking together and had a great day!

I Spy:

Mother sitting on a bench with her children outdoors

This one is pretty simple, but makes the perfect game when you decide to take a quick snack or water break. Convincing your kids to sit down and re-hydrate isn’t always easy. It might not seem as fun and exciting as exploring what lies behind the next bend in the trail, but it’s a necessary part to any outdoor adventure. One way to help persuade your child to take a quick break is by playing I Spy. There are never a shortage of things to “spy” in the woods, so this game will keep you and your little one busy long enough to fuel back up and keep going!

Trail Charades

This game is especially fun for all the little hams out there. First, you choose a category that applies to your hike. That could be anything from plants, trees, animals, landscapes etc. You and you child can then take turns acting the things out, while the other person tries to guess what you are! This can get really goofy, especially when you find your kid trying to be a river, or yourself acting like a bear. This game is another that is best played once you reach your hiking destination or are taking a quick break on the trail.

I hope these five games make your time on the trail with your kids memorable and full of laughs!

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5 Romantic Hikes Near Asheville

When you live in one of the most beautiful places on the planet with fantastic access to the outdoors, top restaurants, and every type of art there is, for something romantic that’s different from your weekly routine is easy: take a hike!

Melina Coogan

A winter hike offers many rewards for you and your favorite explorer. You’ll appreciate the refreshing temperatures as you climb a mountainside. Many times, you’ll have the trail all to yourself since there are fewer fellow hikers. The best views of the year are on display thanks to leafless trees and deep blue skies. While the higher peaks see snow, valleys have mild winter days perfect to get outdoors. Plus, no bugs mean you’re free to hold hands or snuggle.

Here are five great winter hikes that are close to home:

Lover’s Leap

While most of the Appalachian Trail is too remote for winter hikes, you can easily take a “walk in the woods” in this section in Hot Springs. The trail runs along Main Street, so just park and start your hike there. Cross the French Broad River and climb the ridge up to several outcrops for views across the valley and river. On the way back on the 1.5-mile round trip hike, stop for a soak in the hot mineral springs or enjoy one of the restaurants in this charming mountain town.

Deep Creek Waterfalls

One of the busiest camping and tubing areas of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the summer, Deep Creek is a lower elevation trail that receives little snow. To see three frozen waterfalls, you have the option of 2.4-mile or 5-mile roundtrip hiking routes. Plenty of seating means you can take your time on this hike that’s just three miles from downtown Bryson City.

Rattlesnake Lodge

While the name may cause hesitation, this 3-mile roundtrip hike is a local favorite on the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Hike the former carriage road up the ridge to the ruins of an early 1900s summer retreat. February is the perfect time to visit since you can more easily find the stone foundations of many buildings.

Bearwallow Mountain

Just 19 miles from Asheville is a short hike that rewards with 360-degree views from a treeless summit on the western rim of the Hickory Nut Gorge. Cattle often graze on top, but they will gladly share the meadow with you for a picnic by the historic lookout tower. Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy recently protected the mountain and built the 1-mile trail for all to enjoy. The uphill climb will quickly warm you up!

Mountains-to-Sea Trail at the Folk Art Center

You don’t even have to leave the city of this one! Hop on the Blue Ridge Parkway and follow the signs to the Visitor Center or the Folk Art Center (the trail starts at one and ends at the other). If you want a walk of 5.5 miles, then make it an out and back. If you want a shorter walk, just park a car at each end. This walk is a perfect blend of urban and rural coexistence with lots of features: two tunnels, a bridge over the Swannanoa River, steps, an overpass over US 70, walk under a BRP viaduct, an open field with a picturesque barn, and maybe cows.

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Featured image provided by Melina Coogan

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Winter Hiking in the North Carolina Mountains

A brisk trek with friends is one of our favorite activities during the season of staying inside. When a sunny day shines down between bouts of frosty mornings and blustery afternoons, it’s a great time to explore new trails that are harder to access during the warmer months. It’s the perfect prescription to warm you up on those chilly, gloomy days!

As a kid, winter is the season of finding the best spot for sledding, snowball throwing, and snow fort building quicker than anyone else. As an adult, it can be making fresh tracks in the snow or avoiding mud puddles as you check out a view usually obscured by leaves during the spring and summer. There are also few sights that compare to a frozen mountain waterfall and one of the coolest sights to be seen in WNC: needle ice.

There are plenty of rewards to a winter hike including refreshing temperatures, fewer fellow hikers, and endless views of deep blue skies. While higher elevations typically see snow, the valleys around Asheville are usually clear and great on mild days. The North Carolina Arboretum is a great place to explore during these months as sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are often inaccessible since it’s never treated or plowed.

As with any season, it’s best to be prepared when heading out for a hike of any length. Trail-tested essentials to keep in your daypack year round are water bottles, trekking poles, snacks, first aid kit, and whistle. A headlamp and a rain jacket are also imperative if you like to enjoy too-beautiful-to-miss sunsets or make a wrong turn. This is one season you can leave the insect repellant at home.

With heavier used trails, winter hiking can present packed snow turned slick or slushy mud. Consult with a footwear expert at Frugal Backpacker to choose footwear based on expected trail conditions. Winter hikers usually have better grip and sturdy ankle support. A good pair of hiking boots – no matter the season – provide great piece of mind.

Even though the days seem shorter, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy an afternoon or weekend hike and come back home for a warm bowl of chili or cup of tea. Layer up and get outdoors!

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WNC Trail Triple Crown Challenge

We’ve partnered with our friends at Asheville Trails and Diamond Brand Outdoors for the WNC Trail Triple Crown Challenge.

Visit Frugal Backpacker or any Diamond Brand Outdoors location to check out the awesome new Asheville Trails kiosks with dozens of local trails. We believe the outdoors are for everyone of all abilities, so you’ll find lots of good stuff at the kiosk, like directions and insider tips on easy, moderate, and difficult hikes of varying distance. Find a trail you like, and then snap a picture of the info sheet with your phone. And then visit the Asheville Trails website to get driving directions and more trail info.

Hit any three trails from the displays during April and we’ll give you 20% off up to five items, plus a free Asheville Trails sticker! Just post a pic to Instagram while you’re on the trail, tag both @frugal_backpacker and @ashevilletrails, and use the hashtag #WNC3C.

Once you’ve hiked three of the trails, return to Frugal Backpacker or any Diamond Brand Outdoors location to receive your discount. A team member will take a look a look at your tagged photos — which we’d probably like to share on our feed if you give us permission!

Discount cannot be used for gift cards, boats, or special orders. See store for any other exclusions.

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Winter Hiking in the North Carolina Mountains

It may be a little hard to imagine layering up for a winter hike with the unseasonably warm weather we’ve seen over the past few weeks, but a chilly trek with friends is one of my favorite activities during the season of staying inside. When a sunny day shines down between bouts of frosty mornings and blustery afternoons, it’s a great time to explore new trails that are harder to access during the warmer months. It’s the perfect prescription to warm you up on those chilly, gloomy days!

As a kid, winter is the season of finding the best spot for sledding, snowball throwing, and snow fort building quicker than anyone else. As an adult, it can be making fresh tracks in the snow or avoiding mud puddles as you check out a view usually obscured by leaves during the spring and summer. There are also few sights that compare to a frozen mountain waterfall and one of the coolest sights to be seen in WNC: needle ice.

There are plenty of rewards to a winter hike including refreshing temperatures, fewer fellow hikers, and endless views of deep blue skies. While higher elevations typically see snow, the valleys around Asheville are usually clear and great on mild days. The North Carolina Arboretum is a great place to explore during these months as sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway are often inaccessible since it’s never treated or plowed.

As with any season, it’s best to be prepared when heading out for a hike of any length. Trail-tested essentials to keep in your daypack year round are water bottles, trekking poles, snacks, first aid kit, and whistle. A headlamp and a rain jacket are also imperative if you like to enjoy too-beautiful-to-miss sunsets or make a wrong turn. This is one season you can leave the insect repellant at home.

With heavier used trails, winter hiking can present packed snow turned slick or slushy mud. Consult with one of our footwear experts to choose footwear based on expected trail conditions. Winter hikers usually have better grip and sturdy ankle support. A good pair of hiking boots – no matter the season – provide great piece of mind.

Even though it seems like spring has come early, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy an afternoon or weekend hike and come back home for a warm bowl of chili or cup of tea. Layer up and get outdoors.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

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