World on Wheels Home Page

The Hiking and Walking Page

Updated January 1, 1999

We like to hike & enjoy nature, but lets face it...trail planners just don't take into account the many wheelchair users that would also like to hike. There are a few places to enjoy and many more that could be enjoyable with just a litte effort on the part of those who maintain the trails.

What follows is a list, that will be hopefully growing, of good wheelchair accessible hikes and walks. These trails are also good for those who would like an easier, flatter walk than most backcountry trails provide. Every trail on this list is fully accessible for wheelchairs.

Recently I received a list a possible wheelchair accessible hikes from Tom Chester. Tom runs the best general hiking web site for our local mountain at his Hikes in the Angeles Forest web page. Check it out for your general, non-wheelchair hikes. It's an excellent resource with links to all kinds of other goodies too. I particulary enjoy the link to hikes with aircraft wreckage...a sort of back country Death Tour.

AZUSA CANYON, WEST FORK OF THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER

This is just about our favorite hiking trail. From the trailhead, the elevation gradually increases 600 feet over 6.5 miles. The entire route is paved and motorized traffic is heavily restricted...only workers and cabin owners are allowed to drive on the road. The gate that blocks access for cars allows hikers, wheelchair, and bikes through via a big turnstyle.

You'll want to pack along a couple of water bottles and a picnic or some snacks. Plan for an all day adventure here. There is some parking near the gate in the dirt and a full, paved parking lot across a bridge that has 2 handicapped spaces. There are accessible pit toilets here at the parking lot, at the 3.5 mile spot, and at the campground located at the end of the 6.5 miles.

The river is your constant companion as you hike this trail. Anglers can set up anywhere along the river (don't forget a license), however past the 1 mile marker, only baitless "catch & release" without barbed hooks can be done. That is because this stretch of river is the last wild trout stream in Southern California. A natural population of Golden Trout inhabits these waters. There are 3 wheelchair accessible fishing platforms along the trail, the first one located near the 3.5 mile marker.

There are lots of waterfalls along the way. Last summer we counted 12.

There are lots of trees here and it is very clean and quiet after the first 1/4 mile (the area where you start is a very popular swimming hole with some graffiti and trash). There is a campground at the end of the 6.5 miles with tables and restrooms that make a great place to picnic before heading back. It is possible to continue on the trail to Cogswell Resevoir but the trail gets very steep after the 6.5 mile point.

To get here, take the 210 freeway east from Pasadena and exit at Azusa Ave. (highway 39) in Azusa. Turn left (north) and follow Azusa Ave. right up into the mountains. There is a $3.00 recreational use fee to enter the canyon...Golden Access holders get 50% off of this rate (there is a $100 fine if you are parked in the canyon without this). There is a kiosk to pay this fee at the entrance. Continue up the canyon 1 mile past the East Fork Road bridge, just past the off-road vehicle area. The next bridge you see is where the trailhead is. If parking is available on the south side of the bridge, park there. Otherwise, there is another parking lot on the north side.

BIG DALTON CANYON/SAN DIMAS EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, GLENDORA

This trail takes you into a lovely, foothill oak forest in the San Gabriel Mountains just north of Glendora. The route is paved and makes for easy navigation via a wheelchair. There is a gurgling creek (Big Dalton Creek) that keeps you company during your hike. It is a lonely hike as most people in this area don't make to effort to get to any area you can't get to with a car.

First the specifics: Access is via a rather narrow detour around the gate blocking access to cars. It's a bit of a challenge but not impossible. Once past that, it's clear sailing all the way. There are no restrooms past this gate but there is a drinking fountain near the end of the trail at Big Dalton Dam. Parking at the gate is not a problem and it's free but there is no designated handicapped parking.

What you'll see on this trail is a typical Southern California style oak forest. At least it was typical before development wiped most of it away. Native flora such as Birch trees and poison oak (be careful, stay on the road) abound. It is not uncommon to see wildlife such as bears or mountain lions in the area...there are phone numbers posted at the entrance of the trail to report any sightings, mostly for tracking and research purposes. The trail does climb a bit and can be a challenge for manual chair users. The steepness won't phase any power chairs at all.

After about 3 miles, you'll come upon Big Dalton Dam. This concrete dam was built for flood control in the 1920's. Now it's mostly used to store water for the thirsty valley below. The small lake that is formed behind the dam is a bird watcher's paradise. The day we were there we identified yellow finches, kingfishers, blue herons, mallard ducks, and mudhens among others.

Just past the dam a yellow gate marks the entrance to wilderness area. Entrance through here is regulated to those with wilderness permits only...check the ranger station in Glendora for more info on permits. From here, we turn around and coast back down to the parking lot for a nice 6 mile round-trip hike.

It's not the easiest place to find but from Pasadena, take the 210 Freeway east to Grand Avenue in Glendora. Go north on Grand to Sierra Madre Blvd., way up by the hills. Turn right on Sierra Madre until Glendora Mtn. Rd., just before it ends, you'll reach Glendora Mountain Road. Turn left to Big Dalton Canyon Road and turn right. This will lead you into Glendora's Wilderness Park and will dead end at the entrance to the San Dimas Experimental Forest (a part of the Angeles National Forest). Park here and hike in past the gate...wheelchair users go around on the left side of the gate. Make a note that the road in closes at sunset.

BOLSA CHICA ECOLOGICAL RESERVE, HUNTINGTON BEACH

All that aside, however, it's still a great place to go for a walk. It's just across Pacific Coast Highway from one of the area's most popular beaches, Bolsa Chica State Beach. This is birdwatcher's paradise and you get a good close up view of the birds, the fish, and other wildlife in the area. The trails range from paved, to boardwalk, to packed dirt but all will accomodate wheelchairs. Accessible, portable restrooms are located in the small parking lots.

Take the 405 freeway south to Orange County to the Golden West St. exit. Head south, towards the beach, to Pacific Coast Highway. Turn left on PCH. The reserve will be on your right. Look for the small parking lot. If full, continue on PCH to Warner Ave. and turn right. There is another small lot there.

DUARTE RECREATION TRAIL

This suburban trail is just a little over 2 miles long on a abandoned railroad right-of-way. This is where the famous red car trolleys of the Pacific Electric Railroad used to roll. The trail is paved for its entire length and crosses 4 streets along the way. There are 2 water fountains along the route plus more at the trail's terminus in Royal Oaks Park.

Along the trail you will see many oak trees (it parallels Royal Oaks Drive) plus plantings of various other species of trees the city has done to create a more "forested" atmosphere.

There are also a lot of flowers at any given time, plus a few fruit trees along the way. The trail marks the dividing line between Duarte and its neighboring city Bradbury. On the Bradbury side of the trail are many horse ranches including an english riding academy where jumping is taught (you'll also share the trail with some of these horses). You'll also see many birds and squirrels.

The trail terminates at Royal Oaks Park where there are tennis courts, basketball courts, a playground and picnic areas.

To get to the Duarte Recreation Trail, take the 210 freeway east from Pasadena to Buena Vista Ave. in Duarte. Turn left to Royal Oaks Drive and turn right. The trail starts at the corner of Buena Vista and Royal Oaks Drive. There is free, 3 hour parking available along Royal Oaks Drive.

LEGG LAKE/WHITTIER NARROWS, SOUTH EL MONTE

This county-run regional park has many miles of good, accessible trails within its borders. At Legg Lake itself, more park than any kind of wilderness experience, you can cruise over 3 miles of lakeside trails. You can even stop to drop a line in this trout stocked lake. There are also areas to watch the radio controlled power boats race and feed the many ducks & geese.

Outside of the park, you can get on some more wild trails that lead over to the nearby San Gabriel & Rio Hondo rivers and access the San Gabriel River & LARIO paved bike paths. The bike paths are accessible adjacent to this area.

The San Gabriel River side of the area is a wildlife sanctuary so it's easy to see rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, lizards, snakes, birds, & more.

Take the 60 (Pomona) freeway east from L.A. to the Santa Anita exit and turn right. The parking lot will be on your immediate right. There is a $3 parking fee on weekends & holidays. To get to the more "wildnerness" feeling trail, continue on Santa Anita to Durfee Ave. and turn right. At the curve just ahead, before you get to Rosemead Bl., is an access gate to the trail that wheelchair users can negotiate. You can park there or back at Legg Lake, across the street & one block away. There is also a nature center on Durfee Ave., back past Santa Anita Ave. and before you reach Peck Rd. on the right, that has parking and a paved 1/2 mile interpretive nature trail. Handicapped parking & restrooms are located throughout Legg Lake park and the nature center. No facilities are on the more "wild" trails.

LOS RIOS RANCHO, OAK GLEN

Many people come up here to pick apples in the fall. That's what we did and found this great little wheelchair accessible trail about a mile long.

The trail starts just west of the parking lot at Los Rios Rancho, an apple farm owned by the Wildlands Conservancy. You can pick apples in season, buy fruit, have a picnic, or a slice of apple pie in their snack shop.

The trail starts off going through an apple orchard. About a quarter mile in there are accessible restrooms with running water, flushing toilets, and drinking fountains. An old packing shed makes a good bird watching shelter just beyond here. A short California tree forest detour trail starts right after the bathrooms but is too narrow for most chairs at this end. About 200 yards ahead is the other end which will allow most chairs in for a one-way trip, returning the way you came. You'll see coastal redwoods and sequoias here along with native oaks.

Continuing on the main trail leads to a pretty pond with lots of waterfowl. A floating dock allows chairs to get out on the water for a closer look. The main trail past this point becomes inaccessible for a bit as it heads down the hill. Chair users return to the packing shed and follow the trail from there to detour around the inaccessible part. When your meet back up with the trail, it'll follow a seasonal stream through an oak and decidious forest (gorgeous in the fall) before you meet up with a boardwalk that'll get you across the stream and loop back to the main trail to return to the parking lot.

This is a beautiful trail but I forgot the camera. Check the Wildlands Conservancy website for some pictures. To get to Los Rios Rancho, take the 10 freeway east from Los Angeles to Yucaipa Blvd. in Yucaipa (about 40 miles). Go north to Oak Glen Road and turn left. Follow Oak Glen Road about 10 miles to the community of Oak Glen and drive through to the other side of town and Los Rios Rancho will be on your right. The buildings are red and there is prominent signage. There is free parking in their lot with limited handicapped spaces.

RUNYON CANYON, HOLLYWOOD

Here's an urban hike for you city dwellers and Hollywood tourists. Just above the fray that is Hollywood Bl. is this beautiful, wild area nestled into the Hollwood Hills. Two miles of wheelable trails take you up, into, and around this canyon park which stretches from Hollywood at it's base to Mulholland Drive at the top.

Power chairs will have no problems on any trails. Manual chairs will do well on the trail in the canyon bottom and stronger users will be able to negotiate the steeper trails that wind up into the hillsides (or bring along a pusher).

The bottom of the canyon is lined with trees, including many palms, and the hillsides are typical Southern California brush. Going up on the hillside will reward you with a spectacular view of Hollywood, the Wilshire District, and the skyscrapers of downtown L.A.

There are only two problems here. First, many locals bring their dogs to walk here. While there are many signs and plastic bag dispensers, many owners do not pick up as they should so the areas near the entrance have a distinctly less than pleasing aroma. Second, parking is very limited along the streets near the two entrances. You can avoid the parking problems by taking MTA's Line 1 bus and walking (uphill) 2 blocks from Hollywood Bl.

The park is located two blocks north of Hollywood Bl. (or one block north of Franklin) just west of La Brea Ave (see map below). The two entrances are on north ends of Vista Street and Fuller Ave. While both entraces can accomodate wheelchairs the entrance on Fuller is much friendlier and provides instant access to the canyon bottom. All trails are smooth enough for chairs and connect with each other.

THOMPSON CREEK TRAIL,Clairemont. 2 mile paved hiking trail. More details are on our Route 66 Trip Report.

TRAIL OF 100 GIANTS, SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST

This is a magical trail which winds around-and sometimes through-some ancient Giant Sequoia trees. This trail is well off the beaten path. It's not in Sequoia National Park, it's in the national forest that lies south of that tourist-magnet. It'll take you more than an hour to drive here from the nearest town. It's a challenging drive.

This is not meant to put you off from coming here, merely to explain why once you're here you'll see very few other people.

While not officially a wheelchair accessible trail, nonetheless the trail is graded and hills are moderately ramped specifically to provide wheelers access. The trail itself is a 1 1/2 mile loop through a grove of Giant Sequoias. These trees are absolutely unbelievable. Well meaning people of the 19th century understandably thought explorers were handing them a tall tale when they heard of these 300 foot giants with trunk diameters of 30 feet and more. They're real, though, and if you've never seen one you owe it to yourself to go.

On the trail you'll see dozens of these giants...including one you can wheel into (see picture)...and cross many streams. It's very quiet here and many animals and birds live in the area.

The easiest way to get here is via Kernville in the southern end of the Sierras. From Kernville, take the very scenic state mountain highway 99 north to state mountain highway 60 and turn right (north) and go to mile marker 13. Here you should see a sign for the trail and a parking lot on the right side of the road. There are no dedicated handicapped spots but there's plenty of room. There are accessible toilets here also. The actual trail is across highway 140 from the lot.

Map It!

SANTA FE DAM, IRWINDALE

Head on over to our Other Places of interest page for pictures and information about this area.