Park Visitors with Disabilities
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) strives to offer recreational and sporting opportunities for children and adults of all ability levels. Take some time to explore the various programs Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers. CPW will make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures to ensure that every person in Colorado has access to the great outdoors.
Park Visitors with Disabilities
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) strives to offer recreational and sporting opportunities for children and adults of all ability levels. Take some time to explore the various programs Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers. CPW will make reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures to ensure that every person in Colorado has access to the great outdoors.
Colorado State Parks Passes
Colorado residents with disabilities may choose from a number of state parks passes and fishing and hunting licenses, which help provide an equitable recreation experience.
Columbine Parks Pass
The Columbine Parks Pass offers access to Colorado's state parks for Colorado residents who have a total and permanent disability.
Am I Eligible?
Independence Parks Pass
The Independence Parks Pass offers access to Colorado State Parks for Colorado resident veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Am I Eligible?
Blue Spruce Parks Pass
The Blue Spruce Parks Pass offers access to Colorado’s state parks for qualifying first responders with a permanent occupational disability.
Am I Eligible?Activities at Colorado State Parks
Each park offers a range of activities for visitors with disabilities. Visit the individual park pages to learn more about that park.
Barr Lake
A portion of the dirt Lake Perimeter Trail is accessible.
Boyd Lake
A portion of the park trails are accessible.
Castlewood Canyon
The Canyon View Nature Trail is paved.
Chatfield
The Mary Carter Greenway, Centennial, Columbine, Highline Canal, Waterton Canyon/Colorado and Dam trails are mostly paved and accessible.
Cherry Creek
The Cherry Creek, Shop Creek and Piney Creek trails are paved.
Cheyenne Mountain
The dirt Acorn Valley Trail is accessible with a gentle slope.
James M. Robb
There are six miles of paved and natural-surface trails winding around the three lakes that comprise the Connected Lakes section.
Eldorado Canyon
The wheelchair-friendly dirt Fowler Trail offers the best view of the lichen-covered canyon walls. The first 300 feet of Streamside Trail are wheelchair accessible.
Golden Gate Canyon
The dirt Show Pond Trail is a short interpretive walk around the Visitor Center pond.
Ridgway
The Mear's Bay and Marmot Run trails are paved.
Roxborough
The Fountain Valley Trail is accessible with minor difficulty during good weather conditions.
St. Vrain
All trails are flat, level and over six feet wide (some are over 10 feet wide), but trails may become difficult to pass over during or after bad weather.
State Forest
The first half mile of the Gould Loop Trail is accessible and follows the river, with beautiful views of the mountains.
Steamboat Lake
The unpaved Poverty Bar, Will Creek and Willow Creek trails are accessible.
Trinidad Lake
The paved Sunset Point and Park View trails are accessible.
Yampa River
The dirt Yampa Headquarters Trail is accessible.
Barr Lake
Two track-driven all-terrain Track Chairs can be reserved.
Ridgway
Two track-driven all-terrain Track Chairs offer year-round travel on all four of Ridgway's trails.
Staunton
Reserve a track-driven all-terrain Track Chair and travel three trails featuring high grass meadows, wildlife, and geological and water features with spectacular views of Pikes Peak, Lions Head and Mount Rosalie.
Cheyenne Mountain
At Cheyenne Mountain, visitors experiencing disabilities can use four-wheeled Terrain Hoppers (10-inch clearance and 35% incline climbing ability) to explore designated trails within the park.
Lathrop
The TrackMaster Track Chair offers users both unassisted and assisted steering options, and with a ground clearance of 10 inches and 35% incline climbing ability, the inaccessible just became accessible. Lathrop offers guided hikes on designated trails that utilize different parts of the park.
Steamboat Lake
Visitors with mobility challenges and/or disabilities can explore the Willow Creek Trail at Steamboat Lake State Park using a track chair. It is a guided 2.2 mile, roundtrip, out-and-back hike that offers views of gorgeous park features including high grassy meadows, a wide variety of wildlife and wildflowers, a view of the Clara Henry Cabin, and a view of the Steamboat Lake Dam.
37 parks offer accessible picnic sites or picnic tables, including: Barr Lake, Boyd Lake, Castlewood Canyon, Chatfield, Eldorado Canyon, Cheyenne Mountain, Cherry Creek, Eleven Mile, Golden Gate Canyon, Crawford, Elkhead Reservoir, Jackson Lake, Harvey Gap John Martin Reservoir, Highline Lake, Lake Pueblo, Lathrop, Lory, Mancos, Navajo, Mueller, North Sterling, Paonia, Rifle Falls, Ridgway, Rifle Gap, Pearl Lake, Spinney Mountain, Stagecoach, State Forest, Steamboat Lake, Sweitzer, St Vrain, Trinidad Lake, Sylvan Lake, Yampa River and Vega state parks.
Accessible picnic sites include:
- A paved path or staff assistance to reach the site
- A wheelchair-accessible picnic table
- An accessible grill
- An accessible toilet nearby
Accessible Group Picnic Sites
Castlewood Canyon, Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Jackson Lake, Lake Pueblo, Lathrop, Staunton, and Trinidad also offer accessible group picnic areas for large gatherings.
Boyd Lake
Cherry Creek
Crawford
Elkhead Reservoir
Highline Lake
Harvey Gap
Jackson Lake
Lake Pueblo
Lathrop
North Sterling
Rifle Gap
Stagecoach
Sweitzer Lake
Steamboat Lake
Ridgway MobiChair
During the summer months, Ridgway offers a MobiChair, a floating beach wheelchair, for accessible swimming and wading at the swim beach.
Ridgway Accessible Paddleboard
During the summer months, Ridgway offers an accessible paddleboard with mounted rings for accessible supports.
Activity
Fishing
Colorado Parks and Wildlife maintains a list of accessible fishing locations. Select the region below to find accessible fishing access near you:
Columbine Lifetime Fishing License
For any Colorado resident who has a total and permanent disability.
Activity
Hunting
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers accommodations for hunters experiencing disabilities during their hunt and for hunter education classes.
Facilities at Colorado State Parks
Accessible campsites have paved or gravel walkways, elevated fire rings, table extensions and are relatively close to restrooms.
The accessible-designated sites can only be reserved by customers with a valid disability license plate or placard. Not all sites are reservable online. When booking an accessible site through the CPWShop call center, the disability plate or placard number is required at the time of booking. If the plate or placard cannot be supplied at the time of booking, the reservation will not be made. Plates or placards must be valid. If the plate or placard is expired, you will not be able to occupy an accessible site.
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain offers two accessible cabins.
Golden Gate Canyon
Golden Gate Canyon offers one accessible cabin.
Navajo
Navajo offers one accessible cabin.
State Forest
State Forest offers one accessible cabin.
Steamboat Lake
Steamboat offers one accessible cabin.
Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake offers three accessible cabins.
Vega
Vega offers five accessible cabins.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
The campgrounds along the Arkansas River offer 17 accessible campsites at Five Points, Hecla Junction, Railroad Bridge, Rincon, Ruby Mountain and Salida East.
Boyd Lake
Boyd Lake offers two accessible campsites.
Chatfield
Chatfield offers nine accessible campsites.
Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek has five accessible campsites and three accessible group campsites for large gatherings.
Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain has four accessible campsites and one accessible group campsite for large gatherings.
Crawford
Crawford has six accessible campsites.
Eleven Mile
Eleven Mile has four accessible campsites.
Elkhead Reservoir
Elkhead has five accessible campsites.
Golden Gate Canyon
Golden Gate has four accessible campsites.
Highline Lake
Highline Lake has five accessible campsites.
Jackson Lake
Jackson Lake has one accessible campsite.
James M. Robb
The Fruita section has four accessible campsites. The Island Acres section has seven accessible campsites.
John Martin Reservoir
John Martin has two accessible campsites.
Lake Pueblo
Lake Pueblo has 19 accessible campsites.
Lathrop
Lathrop has four accessible campsites.
Navajo
Navajo has 16 accessible campsites.
Mancos
Mancos has one accessible campsite.
Mueller
Mueller has six accessible campsites.
North Sterling
North Sterling has one accessible campsite.
Paonia
Paonia has four accessible campsites.
Ridgway
Ridgway has 203 accessible campsites.
Rifle Falls
Rifle Falls has one accessible campsite.
Rifle Gap
Rifle Gamp has six accessible campsites.
St. Vrain
St. Vrain has 80 accessible campsites.
Stagecoach
Stagecoach has two accessible campsites.
State Forest
State Forest has one accessible campsite.
Steamboat Lake
Steamboat Lake has one accessible campsite.
Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake has three accessible campsites.
Trinidad Lake
Trinidad Lake has six accessible campsites and one accessible group campsite for large gatherings.
Vega
Vega has 10 accessible campsites.
Yampa River
Yampa has one accessible campsite.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
One accessible yurt is available in the Salida East river section.
Golden Gate Canyon
Golden Gate Canyon has one accessible yurt.
Mancos
Mancos has one accessible yurt.
Pearl Lake
Pearl Lake has one accessible yurt.
Ridgway
Ridgway has one accessible yurt.
Sylvan Lake
Sylvan Lake has one accessible yurt.
Castlewood Canyon
Castlewood Canyon has an accessible conference room in the Visitor Center.
Lory
Lory has an accessible conference room.
Ridgway
Ridgway has an accessible conference room and an accessible scenic overlook.
Thirty-eight parks offer accessible or accessible-with-assistance restrooms, including: Barr Lake, Boyd Lake, Cheyenne Mountain, Castlewood Canyon, Chatfield, Cherry Creek, Eldorado Canyon, Crawford, Eleven Mile, Elkhead Reservoir, Harvey Gap, Highline Lake, Jackson Lake, Golden Gate Canyon, John Martin Reservoir, Lake Pueblo, Lathrop, Lory, Navajo, Mancos, Mueller, Paonia, North Sterling, Ridgway, Rifle Falls, Pearl Lake, Rifle Gap, Spinney Mountain, Roxborough, State Forest, St. Vrain, Sweitzer Lake, Stagecoach, Steamboat Lake, Sylvan Lake, Vega, Trinidad Lake and Yampa River state parks.
Contact the park you would like to visit for the locations of accessible restrooms at the park.
Accessible restrooms may include:
- Indoor restrooms with separate accessible stall
- Outdoor accessible pit toilets with an International Symbol of Access sign
Twenty-eight parks offer accessible Visitor Centers, including: Castlewood Canyon, Barr Lake, Boyd Lake, Crawford, Cheyenne Mountain, Eldorado Canyon, Golden Gate Canyon, Eleven Mile, Jackson Lake, Highline Lake, John Martin Reservoir, Lake Pueblo, Lathrop, Lory, Mueller, Navajo, Ridgway, North Sterling, Rifle Falls, Roxborough, State Forest, Steamboat Lake, Rifle Gap, Trinidad Lake, Sylvan Lake, Sweitzer Lake, Vega and Yampa River state parks.
Accessible visitor centers include:
- Designated parking
- Paved sidewalks
- Ramps in addition to stairs
- Entrances with 'Push to Open' button
- Accessible counter heights
- Accessible restrooms
Twenty-five parks offer showers with some accessible features, including: Boyd Lake, Cherry Creek, Chatfield, Cheyenne Mountain, Crawford, Eleven Mile, Jackson Lake, Golden Gate Canyon, Highline Lake, John Martin Reservoir, Lake Pueblo, Lathrop, Navajo, Mueller, Ridgway, Stagecoach, North Sterling, St. Vrain, Steamboat Lake, Sweitzer Lake, Sylvan Lake, Trinidad Lake, Vega, State Forest and Yampa River state parks.
Most showers are closed for the cold-weather seasons.
OPDMDs Regulations
Use of Other Power Driven Mobility Devices on CPW State Properties
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) regulations (28 CFR Part 35), Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability across all state and local government services. This directive applies to all properties owned or managed by CPW, including state fish units, state wildlife areas, state recreation areas, and state parks.
The DOJ regulations separate mobility devices into two distinct categories: traditional wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices (OPDMDs). Traditional wheelchairs and manually powered mobility aids (such as walkers, crutches, canes and braces) are permitted in any indoor or outdoor "areas open to pedestrian use." CPW has established the following guidelines for the use of newer OPDMDs to ensure access while maintaining legitimate safety and environmental standards.
An OPDMD is defined as any mobility device powered by batteries, fuel or other engines — whether or not it was designed primarily for use by individuals with mobility disabilities — used by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Golf cars
- Electronic personal assistance mobility devices (EPAMDs) such as the Segway® PT
- E-bikes
- Any mobility device designed to operate in areas without defined pedestrian routes
Standard wheelchairs are not OPDMDs.
The use of OPDMDs on CPW properties is reserved for individuals with mobility disabilities. CPW is not obligated to allow nondisabled individuals to use OPDMDs in restricted areas. To balance this, CPW personnel may lawfully confirm whether an individual qualifies to use an OPDMD by requesting "credible assurance."
Acceptable forms of credible assurance include:
- Presentation of a valid, state-issued disability parking placard or card
- Other state-issued proof of disability
- A verbal representation that the device is being used for a mobility disability, provided that the verbal representation is not contradicted by observable fact.
Note on inquiries: CPW personnel are strictly prohibited by DOJ regulations from inquiring about the nature and extent of a person's disability.
To protect natural resources, historical features and the safety of all park visitors, CPW has adopted specific guidelines for where certain types of OPDMDs may be operated. OPDMD operators must exercise reasonable care, adjusting for trail conditions, user volume and weather, and must not exceed manufacturer specifications. Devices may not enter unmarked open spaces where pedestrian access is prohibited. Users must not operate devices in a way that adversely impacts ecosystems, historical features or cultural features of the park or state property. Users must follow legitimate safety requirements.
Approved Devices and Routes
Property / Route Type |
Device Restrictions |
Operational Requirements |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Defined Parking Lots and Roads |
Open to all OPDMDs |
Check that the area is open to motor vehicles and pedestrian use. |
|
|
Paved Trails, Aggregate Trails and Sidewalks |
No internal combustion engines permitted. Maximum width of 36 inches. |
Must be designed to transport one individual |
|
|
Natural Surface Trails |
No internal combustion engines permitted. Maximum width of 39 inches. |
Must be designed for one individual. Must safely handle varying trail conditions (grades, topography, surfaces) and be able to stay within the boundaries of the trail. Cannot be used on grades exceeding manufacturer specifications. |
|
|
Designated Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Areas, Trails and Roads |
Allowed if capable of traversing protruding rocks, ruts and steep slopes |
Users must exercise reasonable care in areas frequented by larger, faster vehicles, especially where forward visibility is limited. |
|
|
CPW Buildings |
No internal combustion engines permitted. Maximum width of 32 inches. |
Must operate at three miles per hour or less |
CPW has a legal duty to consider and evaluate requests to modify the guidelines listed above (for example, requesting to use a 42-inch device on a trail restricted to 39 inches). If CPW grants a modification, it applies to all persons with mobility disabilities for that specific state property. The modification serves as an amendment to the general rules rather than a person-specific variance. Specific property modifications are limited to those properties and do not impact other CPW properties.
CPW property managers assess modification requests based on the following DOJ standards for devices and locations rather than the traits of the person making the request:
- The type, size, weight, dimensions and speed of the desired device
- The facility's volume of pedestrian traffic, which may vary at different times of the day, week, month or year
- The facility's design and operational characteristics (e.g., whether its service, program or activity is conducted indoors, its square footage, the density and placement of stationary devices, and the availability of storage for the device, if requested by the user).
- Whether legitimate safety requirements can be established to permit safe operation in the specific facility
- Whether the device creates a substantial risk of serious harm to the immediate environment, natural or cultural resources, or conflicts with federal land management laws and regulations
Colorado Parks and Wildlife will consider reasonable requests from people with disabilities under the following circumstances:
- When a disabled individual requests to use a device with characteristics that deviate from one or more of the characteristics of an approved device as described in the Approved Devices and Routes section.
- When a disabled individual requests to use a device in a location that deviates from the list of approved routes as described in the Approved Devices and Routes section.
All requests should include the following information at a minimum:
- Credible proof that the device is required for locomotion due to a mobility disability. Please refer to the section on this page titled Who May Use OPDMDs for the types of acceptable proof.
- A description of the requested device, such as type of device, make/model, device length or wheelbase, overall device width, device weight (not including user), estimated noise level produced by the device, and whether the device produces emissions.
- A list of which state park units or wildlife areas the device will be operated in, including the requested routes (please include road or trail names). Reviewers will evaluate the suitability of the requested device for the requested locations.
Requests may be submitted in the following ways:
- By Email: Send a written request containing all required information to [email protected]
- By United States Mail: Send a written request containing all required information to
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Attn: CPW ADA Coordinator
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216
Accessibility Statement: If you require an alternative method for submitting a request due to a disability (such as submitting your request verbally), please contact the CPW ADA Coordinator at (303) 291-7485.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests
CPW adheres to both federal and state anti-discrimination laws and offers ADA accommodation services.
CPW receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or age.
Reasonable Accommodation Requests
If you need sign language interpretation, assistive listening equipment or require other ADA accommodation services unrelated to hunting, please complete and submit the Reasonable Request Form.
Submit an Accommodation Request
Nondiscrimination and Grievance Procedure
If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any CPW program, activity or facility, please review our Nondiscrimination and Grievance Procedure to file a complaint.
Review Our Procedure and File a Complaint